Teen adds a real dash of artistry

Kaitey Mosgrove has always had a passion for art.

Her dad, Tim Mosgrove, is a well-known artist in Coeur d’Alene.

“I’ve always really been interested in art because of my dad,” said Kaitey, a freshman at Lake City High.

But Kaitey said she’s always been self-conscious of the art she’s created.

Now her talent has been validated.

The 15-year-old’s artwork has been chosen to appear on thousands of T-shirts awarded to finishers in the 2008 Spring Dash. The 5-mile race along the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene is one of three races qualifying runners for second seeding in Bloomsday.

It’s also a fundraiser for United Way of Kootenai County.

Kaitey entered her drawing of a running tulip as an assignment for Lake City’s commercial art class.

“They had the criteria and it said it has to have tulips,” Kaitey said. “I was like, I want to be a little more creative than a couple of tulips.”

Kaitey’s colored-pencil drawing has a tulip bedecked in a jersey and headband running through a ribbon that says Spring Dash.

“She had very stiff competition,” Lake City art teacher Pam Asher said. “We had some awesome drawings. I was very proud of her. Very.”

The design was chosen from 50 entries.

“We had a lot of incredible entries,” said Caryl Johnston, executive director for United Way of Kootenai County.

Kaitey’s running tulip design was generic enough that men or women could wear the shirts, Johnston said.

“It wasn’t too feminine and it wasn’t too masculine,” she said.

In addition to bragging rights, Kaitey won a $100 savings bond.

She plans on participating in the Spring Dash, but said she’s nervous to see so many people wearing her artwork.

It’s good practice, though, for her possible future career as a tattoo artist.

“I really think they’re a unique way to express artistic ability,” she said. “Having my art on people forever would be really cool.”