ARLINGTON — Jordan Faux has always doodled during class.

But with a little direction from Arlington High School art teacher Bev Schatz, he’s taking his sketches in a different direction — and collecting some acclaim along the way.

Faux recently won an honorable mention award for his entry in the Scholastic Art Show. He drew a portrait of singer-songwriter Jason Mraz for the show, which is organized by the Arts Council of Snohomish County.

“It was a fairly quick one that I did one weekend,” the senior said. “After coming in here with Mrs. Schatz, I realized that I could draw and now I’m in here as often as I can.”

Faux’s feelings are not uncommon.

Students who partake in one of Schatz’s art classes often find themselves taking the skills that they learn in unique or unexpected directions.

“Everyone is always doing something in here — there’s always a million things going on,” said Schatz. “I leave it like an open studio.”

While the art instructor teaches five periods of classes during the day, her classroom becomes a working art studio during the school’s three lunches.

Students filter in and out of her room most afternoons, working on sketches, editing photos on their laptops or just talking.

After school, Schatz’s art club meets for the same purpose — students can utilize that time to work on art projects for inside or outside of the classroom.

“I try to get these kids involved in all kinds of things,” Schatz said. “Anytime there’s competitions, I try to let my students know.”

Schatz’s support seems to work.

In addition to his portrait being recognized, Faux also has another piece displayed at the Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics Art Exhibit — a drawing of a building.

Faux calls it a “perspective piece.”

But Faux is not the only student to use take their art outside of the classroom.

Jenni Perkins, another Arlington senior, originally took Schatz’s glass art class her sophomore year. She enjoyed it so much that she’s currently enrolled it for the third time.

“At the beginning I thought I was horrible,” Perkins said. “But Mrs. Schatz helped me and I got better.”

She’s also pursued her interest in photography, and three of her photos titled “Frosty Lights,” “Party Time” and “Restlessness” are also on display at Cascade.

But it’s not just traditional art that Schatz’s students are involved with.

Senior Nikko Azucena uses his time in the art teacher’s classroom to add to his already extensive graphic arts portfolio.

Azucena has created logos for an area church and a book cover, but said right now he’s mostly interested in apparel design and screen printing.

One of his more recently designed shirts features Mario, the Nintendo video game character, with a beard and dressed in a white robe known as “Jesus Mario.”

He also created a piece of digital art using Adobe Photoshop titled “Used and Abused,” which features Kermit the Frog. The piece won a silver award in the Scholastic Art Exhibit.

He said he became interested in graphic design during his junior year and has learned a lot during his high school career.

Azucena has been accepted to Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

“I had no interested in art during my freshman year, but I’ve matured through my art and I’ve learned a lot.”

Schatz said many of the students who have either taken classes with her or simply enjoy art aren’t working for a grade.

Art is not just for fun — rather it’s a way for students to use their creativity in a way that can provide them with income or a career.

“Students are learning so much about their potential careers,” she said. “They can go out there in the real world and they work so hard.”