Since kindergarten, art has played a vital role in junior Camilla Miculek’s life. From elementary school art classes to becoming an art major and Art Society officer, being creative has always been an outlet for Miculek’s emotions.

“Art helps me process things,” Miculek said. “It also helps to have something to do with my hands for emotional regulation. Through creating something, I can think more.”

A major component of Miculek’s art stems from personal experience. When her sister left for college, Miculek turned to painting to help process her emotions. 

“A lot of times I paint things from my childhood, and it helps me honor who I used to be,” Miculek said. “I’ve done a lot of pieces of me and my sister reflecting on our time together. I think it’s just because I miss her, so my emotions come out through my paintings.”

If you have seen Miculek around campus, you might have noticed designs and patterns on her arms. Since 7th grade, Miculek’s passion for doing henna has not only been a hobby, but also a part-time job. 

“My aunt gave me a little kit for my birthday, and ever since then, I’ve gotten a lot better,” Miculek said. “One day, I brought it to a kid I was babysitting, and his parents reached out to me after and asked if I would do henna at his birthday party.” 

After booking her first paid event, Miculek kept improving her designs and posting them on social media. 

“I have an Instagram account dedicated to my henna,” Miculek said. “It’s just a way for me to put my designs out there and get more people interested.”

In addition to henna, Miculek has taken a passion for sewing. Since receiving a sewing machine at 8 years old, Miculek has dreamed of designing in a fashion show. This year, that dream is coming true. 

“I’m modeling and designing for the fashion show in the spring,” Miculek said. “It’s really exciting because I’ve always loved fashion design. I got a mini sewing machine and I would make designs for a mannequin when I was little.” 

Despite being too busy to pursue her love of fashion design alongside other interests in the past, Miculek looks forward to combining passions in her designs. 

“I think fashion is a really interesting medium,” Miculek said. “You can create a lot of visual effects through fabric and sewing choices. It’s more sculptural in a way, but also functional, which is really cool.”

Although she experiments with many styles of art, the majority of Miculek’s work falls into the sculpture and painting categories. Her most recent painting stemmed from an assignment in her painting class where students were instructed to emulate an artist and incorporate texture. Miculek chose to be inspired by Vincent Van Gogh and painted a portrait of junior Lujain Al-Hallaq. The piece was based on a selection from a group of portrait paintings executed by Van Gogh in 1888 and 1889, featuring postman Joseph Roulin.

“In ‘The Postman,’ there’s a man posed for his portrait with a bunch of flowers in the background. I was like, who better to do that for than Lujain because she has this beautiful curly hair that reminded me of the painting. I incorporated lilies in the background, because that’s her favorite flower.”

Miculek said that when painting, she often experiences artistic block. However, her portrait of Al-Hallaq came naturally. 

“Often, my biggest struggle in painting is that I get really excited at the beginning, and I paint a lot, and then when I get towards the end, I lose motivation and get upset when it isn’t turning out as I imagined,” she said, “So, when my Lujain piece did turn out as I imagined, it made me really happy.”

Al-Hallaq said that Miculek’s painting was a testament to their friendship.

“Camilla is the funniest, kindest, most understanding person ever,” Al-Hallaq said. “It was such an honor that she chose me for her project. She always works so hard in her art and everything she does. It was also super exciting that she let me keep it.”

Since meeting Miculek as a freshman, art teacher Sarah Massey was impressed by her level of dedication. 

“What stood out to me about Camilla is the commitment she has for her art work, as well as other things, like Art Society and different clubs that she’s in.”

When Massey was assigned with a badge for her daughter’s girl scout troop, Miculek immediately jumped in to help.

“Camilla is still in Girl Scouts and my daughter, who’s six is also in Girl Scouts,” Massey said. “I had to do an art and design badge with them, and Camilla, right away, was like ‘we’ll come help, we’ll get all the girl scouts together,’ and that just gives you an idea of how willing she is to help out with anything and everything.”

Miculek’s dedication to helping others through her art paid off. This year, she was appointed as an Art Society officer, a position Massey said is reserved for a select few upperclassmen. 

“[Art Society officer positions] are only for a few juniors and seniors so you definitely have to be respectable and dependable to get into that position.”

As Art Society officers, students will manage school events and participate in volunteer art projects around the city.

“We manage the costume contest, and we do service projects like the Austin Pets Alive portrait fundraiser in the spring,” Miculek said. “Our empty bowl project, which we’re finishing up right now, is where we donate bowls for people to buy and the money goes towards a food shelter.”

Miculek said that all of the art styles she pursues are tributes to different aspects of her personality. 

“I’m a very social person,” Miculek said. “I am passionate about a lot of things and I love a lot of things. I think if I didn’t do the things I love, then I would just be unhappy.”