Mountains and rivers curl within one another. Trees tower high in their fields. Colors are carefully chosen. A compilation of mini-worlds, each with its own scene to explore, are all inside one deck of playing cards. This creation is only one of the many made by senior Natalie Price.
Natalie Price (she/they) continuously finds ways to incorporate each of their artmaking abilities into parts of their daily life to make art a constant, whether that be schoolwork or the friendships she develops. Price said she has experimented with different art forms, including metallurgy, jewelry, collage and dancing, in and outside of the high school. Price said that one example of how she has been able to showcase art has been through her outfits.
“I made these earrings that are three-fourths of a citrus fruit and it eats your ear, so I really like those,” Price said. “Other than that, my first sewing project that I made was that I made a tote bag and it has a chicken on it.”
People in different parts of Price’s life have been able to notice their creations, such as math teacher Danielle Rabina. She has taught Price’s IMP math class for three years in a row including this year.
“All year long Nat was making a lot of their own clothes and there were certain things I just couldn’t stop complimenting them on. One of them was this sweater with all these different threads and colors, it was just so fun,” Rabina said.
Senior Elena McGinnis has joined Price in Rabina’s math class. Rabina said that Price and McGinnis have performed original dances for Pi Day multiple years in a row.
“[Their school projects are] always something that is really creative and beautiful, a unique interpretation of the assignment,” McGinnis said.
Both Rabina and McGinnis said they have received art pieces as gifts from Price. Rabina showed a deck of cards Price gifted her that was based on Rabina’s love for hiking and making different table groups with card assignments.
“They had made playing cards for each of my tables and had painted each and every one of them a different national park,” Rabina said. “It is so beautiful and so thoughtful. I just feel like, first of all, clearly they’re super talented, second of all they use their talents and their knowledge to pay such close attention to what people value and enjoy and then find this way to capture it in a gift.”
Price said that she is able to balance school and artwork in ways that work for her.
“I’ll spend my afternoons doing school work and then sometimes I’ll wake up really early in the morning before school to do art,” said Price. “Like, this morning I had Z-block but I wanted to do something else beforehand.”
Rabina and McGinnis both said that Price’s passion and drive for art allowed them to find those time slots to create.
“[They] value this so much in [their] life, [they] are always finding time for it. It just brings [them] and everybody else who sees it so much joy,” said McGinnis.
Price’s creativity is widespread in their life and ability. Rabina and McGinnis both said she collaborates those skills into her school and friendships. Price herself also said she intertwines it into her mornings and outfits.
Price shared advice for students balancing similar interests based on personal experience.
“I think that honestly the times I have the most fun making art and when I feel the most proud of the result is when I make whatever I want to,” Price said. “I let my inspiration and my imagination guide what I am making.”
