Through art classes after school, to creating her own studio at home, Junior Mira Zelle goes the extra mile in order to continue her passion for art.

For Zelle, art plays a big role in her life.

“I don’t see it as a hobby. It’s more just like a thing I do, like breathing or eating,” Zelle said.

Zelle is currently creating a broad range of art at Studio Seven Fine Arts. The class is year-long and features units ranging from still life drawing and painting, to clay, mask making, and printmaking. The class also provides an end-of-year gallery showcasing each of the students’ best pieces of art. Zelle’s first time in the gallery was when she was in ninth grade. “The first time is really exciting because it’s really cool to see something you made up on a wall,” Zelle said.

Although Zelle enjoys creating many different types of art, she especially enjoys printmaking.

“I only get to do it at the studio… Printmaking is just a special thing that I only get to do in January,” Zelle said.

However, Zelle also really enjoys painting, focusing especially on people.

“For some reason, whenever I paint, I always paint people… I don’t really know why I always paint them, but I think it’s because they always look interesting,” Zelle said.

For inspiration, Zelle looks to the internet.

“There are a lot of pictures online that I’ll see, and I’ll be like ‘that’s really pretty! I want to paint that,’” Zelle said.

In the future, Zelle will have to change a bit of her normal routine when it comes to her art.

“I won’t be able to do so much. Right now, with my brother away at college, I have so much room in the house. I can have painting here, and drawing there, and watercolors. I guess when I go away to college I’ll have to pick one thing to bring with me,” Zelle said.

Despite these changes in the near-future, Zelle will continue to incorporate art into her daily life.

Zelle’s art will be showcased in the annual gallery this June at Studio Seven Fine Arts.