Larina is an intended Computer Science and Studio Art double major from Ashburn, Virginia. Her love for art started at 4 years old, when she lived in Pasadena, California, through attending a family friend’s art studio. She began to submit her artwork to local art competitions, and found she really enjoyed it! She mostly enjoyed the process of watching her art form – but also found she liked feeding her competitive side. She worked with mainly dry materials, like pencils, markers, and oil pastels, until she moved to Virginia, where she began to work mainly with acrylic paint. Despite her love for paint, she also enjoyed experimenting with different materials like clay sculpting, yarnwork, and wire wrapping. As Larina continued to compete in art competitions, they grew larger in scale – her favorite competition to date is the National Junior Duck Stamp competition, which she competed in six times over seven years. Entering high school, Larina thought that she wouldn’t be able to keep making art as her schedule became busier. Despite taking a break from competitions, she found that she continued to make art just for her own fulfillment. At UVA, Larina was thrilled to find a bustling artistic community. She is so honored to join the Miller Arts scholars, and she cannot wait for the fun that lies ahead.