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Age: 6.

Grade: First.

School: Gastineau Elementary School.

Art of choice: Drawing and painting. "I like to draw about mermaids because they can swim, they're cool, they've got all kinds of hair-braids, ribbons, long, short."

Reason: "I like it because it's pretty cool because you can get decorations on it. There's all kinds of stuff you can do on paper - mermaids, people, braids - all kinds of hair."

Experience: "I started when I was 2 or 3."

All in the family: "I'm getting better and better because my grandma shows me all kinds of cool stuff."

Favorite artists: "(I like) the one who does fingerpainting - Eric Carle. Markers and pastels are really cool because you use your finger to change it."

Art plans: "I can do a drawing on a little paper in a day. I spend more time on a bigger piece."

Future plans: "I want to be a doctor because they help people and stuff. They're really nice. I just feel like I'm going to be one."

Activites: "I like to read books, play outside with friends."

Her teacher, Diana Brann, says: "Alyssa has an eye for color and detail. She is very self-motivated and will spend as much time as she can to make sure her art is just the way she wants it.

"Although we had many great samples of Alyssa's art to choose from, we chose this ocean scene with mermaids because it has so much detail and Alyssa spent over three weeks drawing it. The drawing includes many different kinds of mermaids (including a cat mermaid), a little kid swimming up, fish going up in the air, coral and rocks with seaweed on them, and a fisherman. Her favorite part is the mermaid called the Queen of Greens, because she has whiskers, red lips and great eyes."

• Student Artist in the Spotlight is a weekly feature on the Neighbors page and done in collaboration with the Juneau School District Elementary Art Program. To have your student art included, contact your school office.