Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

PF student receives national recognition for artwork


Katie Berberick is pictured at her home in Post Falls. She just finished her junior year at Post Falls High School, and has been painting for less than two years. 
 (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)
Patty Hutchens Correspondent

Two years ago, Katie Berberick never imagined she would be called an award-winning artist.

“I’ve been painting only about a year and a half,” said the 17-year-old. “I just decided to try an art class.”

But the Post Falls High School student quickly discovered she has what it takes to be an artist. Now, she is receiving national recognition.

Berberick recently was named Idaho winner of the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest.

She credits Post Falls High teacher Larry Alexander with teaching her what it takes to paint.

“He is a very good watercolor painter himself, and he encourages me a lot,” said Berberick, who adds that Alexander has put in a lot of time helping her outside of regular classroom hours.

Berberick’s subjects are primarily animals. Inspired by her father’s collection of National Geographic magazines, Berberick pages through them in search of animals to sketch. Once she completes her sketches, she paints them in watercolor.

For her latest creation, the prize-winning duck stamp design, Berberick chose to paint Canada geese. She said the organizers of the contest provide a list from which contestants choose their subjects.

“The winning painting is put on a stamp, and all the money (from the sale of the stamps) goes to wildlife conservation,” she said.

In addition to her painting, Berberick was required to write a conservation message.

“I talked mainly about Canada geese and the importance of maintaining their habitat,” she said. “Especially since we have so many (geese) here.”

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program consists of a nationwide curriculum for kindergarten through high school students. It teaches wetlands and waterfowl conservation as well as science and wildlife management.

Money raised from the sale of the stamps helps support environmental education.

Nationally, there were more than 34,000 entries in the art contest, so Berberick was excited to learn she had finished in the top 50.

In April, Berberick entered a watercolor painting of a gorilla in the Coeur d’Alene art show at North Idaho College. Last year at the same show, she finished in first place in the watercolor division with her painting of geese.

In addition to art, Berberick is active in school sports, theater and honors-level classes.

She just completed her second year on the cross-country team and has participated in track since she was in the sixth grade.

She also was in the Post Falls High School play this year, which she says she enjoyed a lot. She did not have a big part in the production, “High School Musical,” but she says that didn’t matter.

“I had a lot of fun with it and met a lot of new people,” she said.

Berberick also takes pre-calculus and an Advanced Placement U.S. history course.

When she has time to paint, Berberick has created many works of art that she soon will try to sell. She says Alexander is helping her do that and also is encouraging her to continue with art beyond high school.

Unsure of where she wants to attend college, Berberick said she has been looking at smaller schools in Washington and Oregon and definitely wants to attend a school where she can run track.

Whether she ends up with a career in art remains to be seen, but Berberick says she definitely will continue it as a hobby.

She encourages anyone who may be interested in art to do what she did – just give it a try.

“Sign up for an art class and don’t get frustrated,” Berberick said.

“There’s a lot that someone can try – ceramics, painting, drawing – and they probably will find something they are good at. I really had no idea that I would like it so much.”