As I stepped into the paint covered art room, I was greeted by a warm hello from the YC art teacher, Armon Barrows. We eagerly sat down, Mr.Barrows seemingly amused about the entire interview.
Before his time as an art teacher for YC, Barrows worked previously in Denver Colorado at Byer’s High School before then moving to Oregon as his wife’s family all live here. Upon moving to Oregon, Barrows worked at Crater High School in Central Point Oregon for five years.
When looking upon his teenage years, Barrows can look fondly on it.
“I kinda look fondly back then, mostly the people I know and the relationships I formed. That was the most important thing back then, not really the classes or what we did in them”.
His main inspiration for being a teacher was his father. Him being a teacher helped Barrows formulate his path in life and he thoroughly enjoys teaching the tons and tons of students he has each and every day.
“I know what kind of art I can do all the time,” Barrows said. “Here, I get to see the widest range of what everybody else can do.”
Art to Barrows can be an immense escape for him. It’s something for him that’s always there even when something, anything could be going on.
“When other things are going on or other things are happening, it’s always there; so you can always come back to it, or I could always play an instrument or you can draw something or you can paint something,” Barrows said. “Ever since I was younger it was always there and it’s still there.”
During his free time, art, in all forms, essentially takes up most of his day. He’ll go home and hurriedly get to work on freelance, or personal art he does on the side.
“I do a lot of freelance work,” Barrows exclaimed. “When I leave here, I get to do more art at home.”
The only gripe Barrows has with YC is the fact that the back staircase is still, unfortunately, broken.
