Brandon Hill loves art. He studies watercolor with his grandfather, Owen Hall, an Island resident and member of the Northwest Watercolor Society and the Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL).

Because Hill carries a full schedule at Mercer Island High School, he does not have room for art classes. He also noticed that outside the classroom, few opportunities existed on the Island for high school art students to exhibit their art, to interact with adult artists or to mentor younger artists.

Hill saw an opportunity. He approached MIVAL with an idea.

Is there a way to expand on MIVAL’s current annual high school art scholarships and Junior Art Show to include more opportunities for high school students? The answer was “yes,” and the idea for MIVAL Junior was born.

Hill took this concept to MIHS administration and Art Club faculty. After a series of meetings and planning with both organizations, the MIVAL board approved the creation of MIVAL Junior with Hill serving in the dual role of MIVAL Junior representative and MIHS Art Club community outreach director.

MIVAL Junior supports, mentors and empowers young artists (grades K–12) to initiate art events, create art, network and participate in art-related activities.

MIVAL Junior has scheduled two future community events: a holiday art workshop for children in December and a children’s art exhibition at Covenant Shores’ Lighthouse Gallery in May 2017.

It will also lead MIVAL’s annual Junior Art show at Summer Celebration in July 2017.

The Holiday Art Workshop takes place from 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Mercer Island Community Center. The workshop, designed for kids K-8, will be led by MIVAL artists with help from MIVAL Junior volunteers. Participants will create a personal holiday cards and gifts for friends and family.

Space in the Holiday Art Workshop is limited. Registration is now open at http://tinyurl.com/mivaljrholiday16. More information is available at MIVAL.org.