Arts Student of the Week-Mina O'Dell

Growing up, Mina O'Dell loved to copy the colorful cartoon characters she watched on T.V., and, over the years, that turned into a passion for painting and drawing. Now as a sophomore at Niwot, she is exploring a new medium that is challenging her perspectives.

"I really like sculpting because it's so much different from drawing and painting," she said. "Because with a drawing, you can only see one point of view of the art that you're making. Whereas with sculpting, you can really put detail into all dimensions of what you're working on."

Due to the pandemic, O'Dell's high school art experience started online, a setting that presented a challenge.

"It was really, really hard to focus on what the teacher was saying," O'Dell recalled. "Because I have a problem with that kind of thing, especially with my room environment, since it was the same environment every single day. So the way I overcame that was I tried changing my environment frequently. Maybe one day I would do class in my room, and then maybe another day, I would do it in my living room. Or even sometimes I would sit outside if it was warm enough."

According to Niwot art teacher Crystal Hinds, O'Dell weathered the disruption well, and continued to produce quality work.

"Mina puts every ounce of energy into her work," she wrote of the second-year student. "Her work is clean and thoughtful. She is energetic in class and with her work. She is helpful to her peers and supportive in their processes. Mina started Niwot in 2020 and has remained focused with her artwork."

Though art has been a lifelong passion for O'Dell, she sees it more of a long-term hobby than a way to make a living.

"I like filling my room with things that I've done, like painting, because I am really proud of them," she said.

That includes her favorite piece, a self-portrait in primary colors that she completed as a freshman.

"I've really struggled with the way I look for a long time now. And that picture. I don't know, it just made me feel really pretty."

Elsewhere, O'Dell is a member of the Niwot girls varsity golf team, and recently joined the school's mock trial team.