Arts Student of the Week - Olivia Raichart

At the beginning of the 2023 school year, Niwot High School freshman Olivia "Liv" Raichart was working on a large landscape painting for a school project. She was in the hallway because the canvas was so big it would not fit in the classroom.

Suddenly another young woman came out of the classroom crying, and Raichart wanted to help. So she invited the other student to paint with her, and immediately the tears stopped. "We just painted together," Raichart said. "And it made her feel better. It was a memorable experience. Because art brings people together."

The painting, a landscape with flowers in a field, went on display in the spring. "Every year," Raichart said, "they asked a new artist to paint something for the season."

Raichart was selected as Arts Student of the Week by her art teacher, Crystal Hinds, who was impressed by the young woman's kindness. "Liv is a really dedicated student, artist, and caring human. She has exhibited kindness in spades by adopting one of our newcomer students," Hinds said, "taking the initiative to create a path of communication, sharing her knowledge and translating the instruction for this student's success."

Maria, the new student Raichart assisted, does not speak English. "When we were drawing," Raichart said, "I noticed that she was lost. So, I helped her out." Now, the two students communicate using Google Translate. "And even though I can't talk to her directly, she's a really nice person and I'm glad that we have become friends," she said.

As a child, Raichart liked to sing. It wasn't until she was much older that she grew interested in the visual arts, inspired in part by her grandmother, who is also a painter. During quarantine, Raichart also had a friend who was an artist. "That's where I picked it up," she explained. "Seeing art really inspired me, and I just wanted to express my emotions in that way."

"She is a talented artist, polite and respectful in the classroom," Hinds said.

Now, Raichart uses a variety of mediums, but most often works with acrylic paint or graphite, creating landscapes, still lifes, and portraits.

Her favorite artist, she says, is Vincent van Gogh. "I was introduced to him when I was little. Growing up, seeing his art and truly appreciating the real meaning behind it." Recently, she had the opportunity to see the immersive Van Gogh exhibit in Denver with her grandmother. "It was really fun, being able to be in the art."

Having an idea or emotion and being able to express it on paper or with another medium such as clay is what Raichart finds most appealing about art. "Nature has really inspired me. I live part time in California and seeing the ocean--it's really beautiful, and when I see something that beautiful, I just want to paint it right away."

Raichart has a variety of other interests and hobbies. She studies French, plays volleyball, surfs, skates and participates in the NHS Mock Trial club. The mock trial process involves pretending to participate in a trial. "There are attorneys and witnesses," she explained. "And there is one case for the whole year that every school in Colorado has. And you go to a real courthouse, and you go against other schools, to try to win your case."

The case this year involves an immune-compromised individual who attended a party and contracted COVID-19. "Now they are bringing a lawsuit against the person who hosted the party," Raichart said. "We just finished regionals this weekend, and we got qualified to go to state." This year Raichart is serving as a witness. "But hopefully in the year to come, I will be an attorney," she said.

As a freshman, Raichart does not believe she needs to rush into making plans for the future. "Right now, I'm interested in computer programming. That's fun--to problem solve, to figure it out. For college, I don't really have an idea. I'm interested in art and law and computers. Hopefully that will take me somewhere."

Raichart will definitely continue to create art. And she has advice for others who would like to try it. "I want them to know that you don't have to be good as an artist, to actually do art. It's just a way of expressing your emotions. There are many different mediums, from metals to clay. You don't have to be the stereotypical artist. You don't have to be good straight away. I think everyone should try art," she said. "At least experiment with it."