Junior Laura Grice is known throughout Western for her superior artistic talent, and is now getting well deserved attention from the Virginia Scholastic Arts and Writing. Grice won three awards for her exceptional artwork, making that only the second time a student from Western Albemarle has been selected for three different categories. “I never expected to win this many awards,” she claimed. Grice received the Gold key award for ceramics, the Silver Key for her drawing, and Honorable Mention for her engraved print.

She explained how her admiration for art has always been what has pushed her to pursue her talents. “It’s always been an innate part of me; I’ve always sort of had a natural talent for it. Of course I’ve grown over the years, but  I’ve always been attracted towards it,” she said. Her main inspiration for her artwork is nature, which is exemplified through her designs and patterns in her pieces.

She also gets inspiration from many renowned artists. “I enjoy Gustav Klimt and contemporary art like Mark Rothko and Van Gogh,” Grice explained, “people who are just willing to push their boundries of art.”

And with one year left at Western, Laura talks post-graduation, “I think I’m going to go to PVCC and learn a trade, something practical for a day job. And maybe go to school for graphic design at VCU.”