Junior Nicollette Kuniski is a talented artist, but she has worked hard to be at the level she is now.

“Art has been in my life for a while,” Kuniski said, “I first became interested in it throughout elementary [school].”

Art teacher Katie Haas has seen her grow as an artist. She was Nicollette’s art teacher in the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade, and is also her art teacher this year.

“She’s really dedicated,” Haas said, “She puts in a lot of extra time, and has a good eye for design.”

It’s a useful talent too, since Nicollette plans on going to school to be a clothing designer.

“I want to go to FIDM,” Kuniski said. “Drawing will help with getting creative ideas down.” 

Haas also believes her talent as an artist will help her reach her future career goals.

“All those skills she has overlap, and will help her,” Haas said, “She’s working towards her goal of [attending] design school.”

It is not only her ability to put down her creative ideas on paper that is fascinating, but she also can master new techniques. When the class tried print making for the first time she did exceptionally well on her project.

“So far this year that [project] is her best,” Haas said, “It was her first time, but she went above and beyond.”

Although Kuniski also felt she did well on that particular project, she doesn’t agree it was her best work so far this year.

“I have many [works] I like,” Kuniski said.

Kuniski does remember the first piece she created that she would consider art.

“When I was seven, I drew a flower, and the background was really pretty,” Kuniski said, “It had a sunset. My mom still has it.”

She then advanced to painting things for teacher meetings and painting the band door at Frontier Elementary.

“I’ve seen her ideas develop,” Haas said. “Her work is very intricate.”