Inside the Studio Art classroom at College of Western Idaho (CWI), easels line the walls while paintings, sculptures, and half-finished projects fill nearly every corner of the room. Music often plays softly in the background as students move between canvases, clay, and scattered art supplies.
For Bronwyn Hitchcock, the studio has become more than a classroom.
“It’s an inspirational space,” Hitchcock said. “Seeing everybody at work on their individual projects is really cool.”
Graduating from CWI with an Associate of Arts degree in Studio Art this spring, Hitchcock credits that environment with helping her grow more confident as both an artist and a student.
Hitchcock moved to Idaho from western Australia with her family when she was 13 years old. Growing up with dyslexia, she said school often felt challenging, but art was what always made sense.
“That was how I could express myself,” she said.
She spent much of her childhood drawing with her siblings, renovating dollhouses, building miniature art, and creating sculptures out of cardboard, paper, and other materials.
“My siblings and I were always drawing or doodling,” she said. “We were always outside and creating. We would sometimes make things like mud houses.”
Although art had always been part of her life, Hitchcock said she did not initially see it as something she could study professionally or pursue as a career.
That perspective began to shift after Hitchcock finished her high school education in 2023, earned her GED, and enrolled at CWI. Several of her siblings had already attended the College and encouraged her to apply.
At CWI, Hitchcock was introduced to collaborative studio spaces, new artistic techniques, and mediums she had never formally explored before. As she learned more about the possibilities within Studio Art, she began to see it as a future path.
“I was surprised because I really didn’t know much about it before,” she said. “When I realized it was an option, I felt like it was the best path for me.”
The Studio Art program provides students with foundational experience in visual art techniques, materials, and art history while preparing them for transfer programs and creative careers. Students learn from professional art faculty and have opportunities to participate in visiting artist events, exhibitions, portfolio development, and other professional experiences.
For Hitchcock, those opportunities expanded both her artistic skills and her understanding of what a future in art could look like.
“The classes allowed me to explore many mediums that otherwise I might never have tried at home,” Hitchcock said.
Her first classes included sculpture and drawing, and she quickly connected with the hands-on nature of studio work. Working alongside classmates and receiving feedback helped her become more comfortable sharing her ideas and creative process.
She also credits her instructors with helping her grow throughout the program.
“I’ve had great instructors,” Hitchcock said. “Their enthusiasm, motivation, and encouragement really helped me get through the classes when things felt challenging.”
As she explored different mediums at CWI, sculpture became the form of art she connected with most. Although she had worked with sculpture informally at home for years, CWI was her first experience studying it in a classroom setting.
“It was inspiring to know that what I’d been doing at home could be considered art,” Hitchcock said.
She said sculpture appeals to her because of its physical and hands-on nature.
“I think it is because I am actually building something that’s three-dimensional,” she said. “You can also use a variety of different materials — you can use anything to make a sculpture.”
One of her favorite projects was a sculpture featured in the 2026 CWI Capstone Artist Exhibition, What Makes Us Human. The piece included ordinary packing boxes with miniature interiors hidden inside, reflecting themes of nostalgia, relocation, and childhood memory.
“The interiors represent childhood wishful thinking that things might remain as they are, while the exterior boxes represent the reality of packing,” Hitchcock said.
The project became one of the works she felt most proud of during her time at CWI.
“I got kind of lost in it,” she said. “The process is always fun. If the process is really fun, I’m usually happy with the result.”
Through experiences like that, Hitchcock said she began to see art as more than a hobby.
“The more I study, the more I feel like this is where I need to head,” she said.
This fall, Hitchcock plans to attend Boise State University, where she plans to continue studying art and eventually become a children’s book illustrator.
Looking back, Hitchcock said attending CWI helped her discover both confidence and direction.
“I feel like I have achieved a lot,” Hitchcock said. “Going to college was definitely intimidating to begin with, but I am pleased that I came this far.”
As she prepares for her next chapter, Hitchcock encourages future Studio Art students to stay open-minded and willing to experiment creatively.
“Even if it’s something you don’t think you’ll pursue in the future, it helps you learn new styles, techniques, and materials,” she said. “It opens up many artistic possibilities.”
Interested in turning your creativity into a future career? Explore the Studio Art program at CWI and discover opportunities to develop your artistic skills, build your portfolio, and connect with Idaho’s creative community.
