Canvas to Classroom: Artist Mia Veiss Aims to Inspire Future Kids

Student artist, Mia Veiss’s kind personality and talent in art, carries her into a passion to teach.

By: Madi Moya

When a kindergartner finger paints, that moment sparks a future high school student artist.

Mia Veiss, ’26, is an artist at Redwood High School.

“I’ve loved art since kindergarten, and I like it because it lets me be creative.” Mia Veiss says.

Veiss was fortunate to always have a gift for art, but she didn’t stop there.

“I’ve always loved it, but I definitely have improved over the years…I used to be really bad at watercolors, and now its like my favorite medium.” she says.

Her love for travel has been a big influence on her love for art.

“[I’ve traveled] all over Europe, because I’m Croatian, I’m fluent in Croatian…[my family and I] go there every summer, I love bringing my watercolor set and I like painting what I see.” She says.

“A painting that I’m proud of is when I went to Greece a couple summers ago, I painted some of the ruins, and I’m really proud of that painting.” She says.

Veiss says people should always “Paint the things around you.”

Although Veiss has a strong love for art, it isn’t something she plans to pursue in college, but she still plans on doing art on the side.

Veiss’s heart has pushed her into education, she aspires to teach elementary school children and wants to attend CBU (California Baptist University)

Veiss shares an art class with one of her good friends Ava Gutierrez, ’26, who she says is one of her biggest supporters.

Gutierrez says, “Mia is really thoughtful, shes always helping me with my art and she just gives me pointers here and there, I think that’s very nice of her.”

Gutierrez is very proud by her friend Veiss’s talents.

“Mia practices a lot, shes very good at basically anything she touches.” Gutierrez says.

Redwood’s Studio Art teacher Steven Harris has many students, but Veiss has stuck out to him for a good reason.

“She is a very kind person, very generous, very kind, very smart person. [She cares] about what she does and about life and other human beings. Shes a very caring person, that is a good soul to have in this world.” Harris says.

Viess’s kindness and talent will take her far in life through all she aspires to be.

Harris says, “She would be an amazing elementary school teacher. She has [it all] to be just a terrific elementary school teacher.”

Tags: artist, Ava Gutierrez, cal baptist university, CBU, elementary teacher, mia veiss, Mr.Harris, redwood high school, Steven harris, student artist, teacher