At LHS, Isabella Waite’s work is admired in the art case near the cafeteria, but as her high school career comes to an end, her work has caught the eye of multiple art institutes, which offered her scholarships to attend their programs.

“I did receive a very generous scholarship to Memphis College of Art, as well as unbelievable scholarships to the Kansas City Art Institute, Maryland Institute College of Art, and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design,” Waite said.

Artistic expression is nothing new to Waite. From a young age, she recalls using art to express herself.

“I still have a drawing of a bunny from my preschool years if that says anything,” Waite said. “I can’t remember a time when drawing didn’t play a large role in my life. I was either doodling on my own or making paper dolls with my grandmother. From birth to now, I have always been a creative person.”

Waite has hopes of continuing her connection to art throughout her life.

“I plan to work day and night during school to hopefully have a successful career as a fine artist,” Waite said. “I understand the business is hard to break into, but I’m determined.”

Waite’s artistic style has a combination of floristic allure while also incorporating stronger aspects using intense colors along with traditionally feminine shades.

“I incorporate flowers, colors and figures in almost every piece,” Waite said. “So I’m inclined to refer to the style as quirky femininity.”

Waite commits after school time to be the president of Art Club, in which members created decorations for events in Lawrence.

“She has a really strong drive to do work,” junior Miranda Pratt said. “She also has a very developed style for a senior.”

In order to get into such a variety of art schools and also be offered scholarships, it was necessary for Waite’s portfolio to be competitive.

“The work I submitted when applying to schools was done either with oil paint or pastel, my two favorite mediums,” Waite said. “As far as subject matter, I submitted at least four plein air drawings of views of South Park, the courthouse, and various houses in the downtown area. Other pieces were life drawings done in a class last summer as well as life drawings from sessions at KU, and self portraits done with Mrs. Vertacnik.”

In her duration at LHS, Waite has worked strenuously to develop her knowledge of art and her own artistic skills.

“She worked lots of hours after school and at home” art teacher Wendy Vertacnik said. “She took summer classes. She’s also really smart and that helps with her developing concepts and ideas.” In the end, Waite decided to take her talents to Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

“I think she will do very well in art school…I think that she is very talented. She’s come a long way in just a year,” Vertacnik said. “The last painting that she did she was painting very loosely and seemed like she was making a really big breakthrough. She was looser and more comfortable with just putting the paint down.”