Josie Carmichael of Ravenswood won first place in the State Youth Art Month show at Tamarack for her charcoal drawing of her grandfather Steve Carmichael. (Photo Provided)

RAVENSWOOD — “Real life is real life but drawing can be anything you want it to be,” says Josie Carmichael, a sophomore art student at Ravenswood High School.

Josie, daughter of Jason and Jodi Carmichael of Ravenswood, recently had her charcoal drawing of her grandfather Steve Carmichael selected as the first place award winner at the State Youth Art Month show held at Tamarack in Beckley. Her grandfather’s portrait was as a coal miner which he posed for in respect for the occupation.

Josie also took five drawings to be juried by Tamarack jurors to become a Tamarack Artist. She had the honor of being accepted and is the youngest to ever be juried in for fine art at Tamarack and the third youngest in Tamarack in all categories, which includes retail artisans, according to a press release.

One of Josie’s artworks that helped her earn this honor is a charcoal portrait of her great-grandmother Helen Hinzman, of Joe’s Run, Jackson County. Hinzman will soon be celebrating her 90th birthday.

Josie’s family is extremely proud of her and her accomplishments with her artwork. Josie’s natural talent, which she has worked on since a small child, has been given the opportunity to be encouraged by having art classes in the Jackson County School System under the direction of Neil Loprinzi, Rachelle Bennett, Lola Smith and Kaitlyn Casto Skeens, who is her current high school art teacher, said Smith.

Josie’s charcoal portrait of her great-grandmother Helen Hinzman helped Josie to get accepted as a Tamarack Artist. (Photo Provided)

“I am beyond proud of Josie and her accomplishments in art. I feel blessed to have such a talented and dedicated student in my class,” Skeens said.

“She has an amazing gift and I am excited for her artwork to be seen and loved by many,” Skeens said.

All of the teachers who have helped Josie along the way said they are honored to have worked with her and very proud of her accomplishments.

Debbie Sisson, a retired Jackson County Schools art teacher, saw Josie’s work on Facebook and encouraged her to try the jurying process at Tamarack, which bills itself as “the best of West Virginia.”

Josie’s charcoal drawing of her grandfather Steve Carmichael as a coal miner. (Photo Provided)