DHS Artist Excels At Her Craft

With her passion for art discovered relatively recently, some may be surprised to learn that senior, and aspiring artist Mia Koutoulas's first official art classes only took place in her sophomore year.

That same year every one of her art pieces were chosen for the annual Danvers High School Art Show.

With a concentration on 3-D art and splatter painting, and her artwork being shown at Endicott College's Young Artist's High School Art Competion this year, she is quickly becoming one to watch.

“My parents are extremely supportive of my love for the arts. In fact, my walls in my bedroom are covered in splatter paint. They weren't exactly excited when they saw a masterpiece on my wall, but they admitted that it looked really cool,” she said.

Koutoulas said she knew in middle school that she enjoyed art, but she wasn’t involved in the advanced art classes at the time. “I knew I had a passion for it when I was the only student staying after school until the janitors kicked me out,” she recalled. It was her teacher in tenth grade, Charlotte Calnek, who recognized a unique talent and advised the young artist move on into ceramics for the following year.

A member of the Art National Honor Society at Danvers High School, Koutoulas is also in an AP art class, and has recently begun taking photography. Although Danvers High doesn't offer a 3-D curriculum for AP Portfolio Art, Koutoulas will instead be receiving honors credits. This busy senior, who also plays a varsity sport, is currently looking at Salem State College, and would love to work at an art or clay studio.

Koutoulas is in the process of submitting artwork to the annual Young Artists High School Art Competition 2012 at Endicott College. “I plan on submitting two of my pieces: a skull that I sculpted my junior year for a science project, and a rustic-looking plate that took me weeks to finish," the young artist said. “I've received many compliments on both pieces.” The show runs from Feb. 22 - Apr. 20.  

High school can be a very stressful time, and she credits her passion for art with helping her navigate through the rough waters. Next year, Koutoulas anticipates continuing her studies in college, where she will explore visual arts or filming. “I definitely want to do something with art in college, even if it means not majoring in it,” she said.

To view the artists work, the gallery will be open: 

• Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. til 8 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. til 5 p.m
• Saturday and Sunday:  2–4 p.m.  

A reception is scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 6, from 5-7 p.m. with the Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.