From a young age, senior Rachel Stein demonstrated a strong passion for drawing and painting. She was a self-taught artist before taking any art classes in school: “It came very [naturally] to me,” she recalled. Now immersed in art daily, Stein finds deep joy in art and could not enjoy the activity more.
Stein pursues art as a way to explore her thoughts and emotions, share her unique perspectives, and leave a lasting impression on the world. “Art is all about failing and succeeding, which has taught me to always trust the process,” she explained. Additionally, art serves as a stress-reliever for Stein during the busy school year. “I always look forward to starting or working on a new painting,” Stein remarked. “I also love to watch each piece come together, [and] the end result is always the best part.”
Throughout her time in high school, Stein has taken a variety of art classes, including Drawing and Painting, Digital Design, Drawing and Painting 2, and AP Art. “AP Art was definitely a challenge,” she shared, “but [was] incredibly rewarding in the end.” Art teacher Michael Kunz praised Stein’s growth over the last four years: “Rachel has always been a talented artist since entering my drawing and painting class in ninth grade. Over [her] years at LHS, Rachel’s drawing and painting techniques have improved from year to year. In addition, Rachel has learned how to create more dynamic compositions with her work that create focus and guide the viewer’s eye through the piece.”
Stein primarily envisions her own ideas for her artwork but occasionally draws inspiration from nature or photographs. “Sometimes if I see a picture of someone or spot something in nature, I take it straight to the canvas and translate it into my own [unique] way,” she noted.
Among the many artistic mediums she has explored, Stein’s favorite has to be acrylic paint. She finds that it is much easier to blend with compared to other mediums like colored pencils and enjoys using vibrant colors in her pieces. Kunz further highlighted Stein’s exceptional painting abilities: “Rachel is a painter. She is talented at many other mediums, but her painting ability is what makes her stand out. She has a painterly approach where she is able to capture a sense of realism, but does not try to hide her brush strokes and mark making.”
Stein’s impact within the LHS artistic community extends beyond her individual work. She has been a member of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) since her junior year and currently serves as its public relations manager. “My job is to run our famous Instagram account, @thefinestfinest,” she explained. “I love creating weekly ‘Member of the Week’ posts because it allows for each member to shine in their own spotlight.” She also enjoys posting about the various NAHS events, such as the art auctions and her favorite event, Night of the Pumpkins.
Recently, Stein earned national recognition for her outstanding artwork by receiving a High Merit award in the Celebrating Art Spring 2024 Competition. Her piece, part of her AP Art portfolio titled “Reflections of a Childhood Halloween,” stood out among thousands of entries, placing her in the top 45% nationally. As a result, Stein’s artwork will be published on the Celebrating Art website (celebratingart.com) and featured in its 2024 art anthology that showcases the creative works of today’s student artists. Reflecting on the honor, Stein said, “This award is so important to me because it shows me that I can do anything I put my mind to.”
Looking ahead, Stein plans to major in creative advertising next fall. “Although I do not plan to major in art, I hope that wherever I attend college that I can have an opportunity to create and paint in an open studio,” she shared. “I would like to continue to pursue art as a hobby for sure.”
