Art Is Student's Destiny

by Melanie Camacho

Destiney Granillo, an 8th grader at CRMS, has done winning artwork for the CRMS yearbook cover, the drug calendar for Las Cruces Public School District, and also has a sculpture on display at Central Office. Destiney likes different forms of art. She won the drug calendar cover for the district out of 592 students that entered. This year is the first year Camino has won the front cover. The calendar says, "Don't Shut the Door on Your Childhood...Don't Do Drugs". She got the idea for the calendar drawing from a T.V. commercial. The commercial talked about drugs and showed young children starting to give up their innocence. Destiney thought of happiness and childhood and got the idea of a circus. Then she began to draw a circus theme and thought about how children are giving up their fun. This is the connection she made between the children and the circus. For the recognition of the calendar, she met District Attorney Susanna Martinez. She received a mountain bike, $100 savings bond, a $40 gift card and a $192 gift card for a jacket.

Destiney also has a sculpture at the LCPS central office. The sculpture is called Midnight Blue. The sculpture is a tiger with really bright blue eyes. This sculpture was originally for her baby brother because her brother was born on her birthday. The sculpture is made out of cardboard boxes and paper machie. Destiney worked on it at home when she had spare time. She brought it to Camino and Mrs. Wagner, the art teacher, entered the sculpture at the central office. Then, at central office they determined if they had enough room for the sculpture. Destiney got recognition for the sculpture through the main office and had the chance to celebrate with others.

Destiney also won the drawing for the yearbook cover for Camino Real Middle School. Destiney tried her best to win the yearbook cover contest and she was surprised when she actually won. The yearbook cover is beautiful, displaying many activities at Camino such as Battle of the Books, Band, Cheerleading, and Breast Cancer Awareness. Destiney was acknowledged with a free yearbook. Destiney was the winner out of all of her advanced class and others who entered. The yearbook for 2008-2009 is on sale for $30 until February 1st, 2009.

Destiney expresses her art. "It's a fun and creative way to show emotions like heavy metal music." She is inspired by a couple of music artists like Paramore, Slip Knot, Ozzie Osborne and Good Charlotte. Her drawing ideas come from what these artists sing about. "The beat could interpret different lines, emotions, and feelings," she said. Celebrities have also inspired her like Jim Carrey, Robert Pattinson, and Sandra Bullock. Destiney can draw the way their faces are shaped. Different poses are easy for Destiney to draw of these celebrities.

Destiney wants to continue art on the side because she wants to become a forensic anthropologist. Destiney would like to thank her friends; they have encouraged her and love her art when it is finished. Destiney was inspired to pursue her art by her dad; he used to draw. Her cousin also showed her different techniques on how to draw. She would like to acknowledge her mother because she pushed her to do what she loves even when she felt like quitting. She would also like to thank Mrs. Wagner for helping her develop more art skills.