Whiz Kid: Clara Caasi Sharhran Huff

Name: Clara Caasi Sharhran Huff (affectionately known as “Lady Clara”)

Grade: 4th Grade

School: PS 305 Dr. Peter Ray

Accomplishments: At just 11 years old, Lady Clara has accomplished quite a bit. She is an artist whose piece, “The Cool Nurse,” is displayed in the pediatrics division of St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan, NY. Additionally, she illustrates children’s books, including “When I Look at You” and “Clara’s Day of Courage.” Lady Clara graces the cover and is found throughout the pages of “Mirror Mirror: An Empowerment Book for Black Girls."

Lady Clara started The Clara Huff Collection to showcase her artwork on baby tees, totes and all the cute things that girls wear. Through her company, My Budding Picasso Art Gallery, Lady Clara displays her paintings, drawings and sculptures, and that of her brother and friends in her home art gallery. She will be participating in a girls-only conference in Bethlehem, PA, on February 26, 2011, where she will sell her artwork and fashionware.

Key to awesomeness:  She is passionate about creating. She has a supply bin filled with colored pencils, markers, paint, glue, pretty paper, sketch books…. You name it! She is meticulous – spending countless hours sketching to perfection. She is quick to tell you that she is an artist. Her artwork is available for viewing at www.myspace.com/mybuddingpicasso.

Want to nominate a Patch Whiz Kid from Little Neck? E-mail Editor Paul Leonard at paul.leonard@patch.com.