Artist of the Week: Grayce Miceli

Congratulations to Warwick Valley Middle School eighth-grader Grayce Miceli. Grayce won 1st Place in the Middle School division of the annual Wallkill Invitational Art Show in December, at Wallkill Valley Regional High School (Hamburg, NJ). Art students from 17 middle and high schools around the region competed in this year’s show, which celebrated its fifteenth year in 2024.

Grayce’s piece, entitled “Eagle Portrait,” was done using a technique known as “scratchboard,” which was new to Grayce. Scratchboard is a form of engraving that involves scratching a dark surface – in Grayce’s instance, wood – to reveal lighter colors underneath. Not only was Grayce’s award-winning portrait her first attempt at scratchboarding, but it was also the first time the longtime artist ever submitted her work for a competition!

“I’ve done art my entire life,” said Grayce, who studies art both in and outside of school. “I started art classes in third grade at a place called Pura Vita. It’s right in town.”

At Pura Vida, Grayce studies with art teacher Jeff Benoit, who she said has been an influence on her own art. At the middle school, she is in class with art teacher Leah Mednick.

“Grayce is a wonderful artist who excels at many mediums,” said Ms. Mednick. “Art is something that comes easily to her, but she doesn’t let that keep her from growing and trying hard.” 

Between her classes, lessons and personal time spent creating on her own, Grayce has gotten to experiment with several different techniques.

“I’ve done charcoal, I’ve done painting, I like markers, but I would say painting is my favorite,” Grayce shared. “I feel like with painting, as far as coloring stuff, you have to layer, and it’s easier to just get that [with painting]. I like that you can just put directly whatever you’re thinking of onto the canvas.”

It was Grayce’s dad who got her interested in art. He would tell Grayce stories about how he and his grandmother would paint together, following along with Bob Ross. She remembers him telling her that even though he was never particularly good at the paintings, the process was always something he enjoyed and that was fun for him.

“When I started doing art, it was just a way of me being creative and being able to get stuff from my mind onto a piece of paper,” Grayce said. “Now I do it, essentially, as a stress reliever. It’s just like there’s nothing else on my mind besides making a good piece of art.”

Grayce plans to continue her artistic pursuits when she gets to high school next year, and has her eyes set on the Foundations in Art class, an honors program for freshmen that requires a recommendation from a student’s middle school art teacher. She is also looking forward to exploring some of her other interests in the high school’s Taste of Culinary and Cosmetology classes.

Grayce isn’t just an artistic standout; she also excels in academics and athletics. She has been an Honor Roll student for every marking period of her middle school career. Grayce also plays softball for the modified Wildcats and is a member of the JV cheer team.

Congratulations, Grayce!