Canvas to Clinic: Student Artist Isabella Topete Blends Creativity with a Calling to Medicine

Artist Isabella Topete explores her love for creativity while planning a future beyond the studio.

By: Madison Moya

Artists aren’t only found in Spain or Italy, they’re also found at Redwood High School.

Isabella Topete, ’26, is one of Redwood’s very own artists.

She doesn’t have an art studio, but she does have an art class.

Topete is Redwood’s Art Club President, she’s great at art now, but Topete didn’t always have this talent.

“[Art] came from a lot of practice. I was never good at art, but then in like 2020 quarantine, when I was super bored, I just got into it. I practiced for hours on end and I found out that I really liked it,” Topete says.

Topete is fortunate to have a great support team by her side, including her best friend Ava Gutierrez, ’26

“She’s really talented in drawing and she’s put so much effort and time into it…she has great leadership and a good person to be president of the Art club… She is going to be the next Picasso in my opinion,” Gutierrez says.

Topete’s interests consist of more than just art.

She has big goals for her future. She’s interested in pursuing a degree that will let her work as an OBGYN.

But don’t worry, Topete isn’t leaving art behind, “I do plan to keep [art] as a hobby,” Topete says.

Mr. Steven Harris has been Topete’s art teacher for three years now.

“If she’s doing something and she makes an error, she erases it, fixes it, throws it away, or restarts. But she never quits.” Mr. Harris says.

Topete carries her great personality to every new face she sees.

Mr. Harris says, “She’s a really nice person…she gets along with everybody, and she’s organized, takes care of business, friendly to all the people, and responsible. She makes sure she gets things done.”

Even though she isn’t interested in a career in the art field, Mr. Harris still strongly believes in Topete.

Mr. Harris says, “She’s going to be somebody who makes it, because she doesn’t give up.”

Tags: Art & Entertaiment, Art Club, artist, artist spotlight, artistspotlightprofile, Ava Gutierrez, clubs & lifestyles, Isabella Topete, medical field, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood rangers, senior class, student artist