Since taking art classes as a child, art has been a strong interest for senior Kamila Ramirez’s. She recalled, “My art journey started in elementary school when my mom enrolled me in Pratt Art Program [k-12 art program].” Now, as a senior, Ramirez is a skilled and talented artist.
Ramirez has taken Drawing and Painting 1 & 2, AP Studio Art, and Portfolio Preparation throughout her high school career. During AP Studio Art as a junior, Ramirez used the theme of Catholicism, using religious symbolism–including rosaries and prayer candles, along with Biblical symbols such as angels–to convey this theme in her art. Art teacher Michael Kunz, who taught her in AP Studio Art and Drawing and Painting 1, said, “Her strength [in art] above anything else is that she just loves to do it, so she’s never really working when she’s doing art because it’s something she just likes to do.” Ramirez scored an impressive 4 on the AP Studio Art submission, showcasing her rich art skills and hard dedication.
While she enjoys using mediums like graphite and pen, Ramirez’s favorite material is acrylic paint. “It’s very simple and easy to control. It helps me create realistic paintings,” she said. Ramirez is a narrative artist and enjoys telling stories through her artwork. She also enjoys creating full figure portraits or still lifes. Ramirez often uses acrylic and oil paints as her mediums, and she has even begun combining both mediums in her newest works in Portfolio Art.
Ramirez has grown over the years and has taken the time and courage to evolve as an artist. Art teacher Thomas Sena, who taught Ramirez in Drawing and Painting 2 and Senior Art Portfolio, expressed, “Kami is definitely more of a risk taker now; she is better at taking constructive criticism than earlier in her career in the art department, and she is extremely passionate about her subject level.”
Throughout her time in high school, Ramirez has achieved much within the LHS art community. She is currently a member and officer in the National Art Honor Society, serving as the communications officer. Last year, one of Ramirez’s art pieces for AP Studio Art made it to All County, a prestigious event for artists. Her All County piece used Catholicism to explore religious ideologies while using only pen. This year, another one of her pieces, created during Portfolio Preparation this year, will also go to All County. This piece once again uses religious ideas, demonstrated in her portrait through the use of rosary beads.
Every year, Ramirez proves that art has no bounds, and she pushes her creative limits with each piece. Ramirez’s dedication throughout the years accompanied by her extraordinary art skills are recognized, appreciated, and will not go unnoticed.
