By Sarah Szczepanski
Staff Writer

Critics who claim that there is nothing exciting that comes out of West Lafayette are terribly mistaken. Talents can be seen all over the city, from the sports teams to the walls of the coffee shops.

Rachael Berman, who plays tennis, is drawing attention to her other talent — her artwork.

Berman is a senior at West Lafayette High School. This week at the Vienna Coffee Shop marks the first public showing of her artwork.

Although this West Lafayette student has enjoyed art for much of her life, she just began painting portraits during her freshman year of high school.

After only about four years of experience, Berman has been accepted at some of the most prestigious art schools in the country, including the Art Institute of Boston, the School of Visual Arts of New York and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Although she is undecided about which school she will attend, there is no doubt that Berman would like to study visual design and photography.

Some of this artist's paintings are painted from pictures that she took herself. But she does improvise. One portrait on display at the coffee shop is a landscape scene that Berman changed from a stormy scene to a sunset.

Berman simply paints when she is inspired. Music, friends and events contribute to this. "It has a lot to do with what is going on around me," she said.

One of her favorite paintings was painted after one of her friends died. Included in the center of the portrait is the Chinese symbol that means soul and spirit.

Along with her feelings and experiences, Berman credits much of her success to other people. "My (art) teacher, Tom Shafer, has helped out a lot."

She also attributes success to help from her family. She considers her whole extended family to be artistic. "I remember my grandmother used to paint pictures when I was younger."

Shannon Meagher, a sophomore in the School of Nursing, frequents the coffee shop where the paintings are displayed and appreciates Berman's work. "I like them," she said. "I think she is very talented. I can't believe they are done by someone in high school."