Early Years
1988 - age 4
Pat Siray, Kyla’s Preschool Teacher (Millarville Community School, Millarville, AB)
"I have never seen anything like this before! I gave the 4 year old class play dough to make dinosaurs. Kyla made 23 different kinds of dinosaurs, all approximately 1/2 an inch tall using only 1/3 of the play dough.”
1990 - age 6
Anne Green, Grade One Teacher (Millarville Community School, Millarville, AB)
“Judging from the pictures of Kyla’s figurines, which she has fashioned in her adult years, there appears to be a body of work by a maturing artist that will communicate and encourage a deeper understanding and enjoyment for a wide audience.”
1999 - age 15
Okotoks Arts Council, (Okotoks, AB)
Presented Kyla with a $200 Scholarship to take a course with the Quickdraw Animation Society in Calgary, Alberta.
Sheep Creek Arts Council (Turner Valley, AB)
Presented Kyla with a $350 Scholarship to participate in an art course at Red Deer College, Red Deer, Alberta Canada
School of Hope (Vermilion, AB) Kelly J. Collver, Art Specialist,
"Kyla's abilities as an artist have developed over time. She is energetic and focused in her art work, and she has progressed to a level of excellence that is not taught, but encouraged. In the area of drawing and painting, I see a mastery of mark making skills in line, shading, volume, texture, and space. She has an intuitive knowledge of the elements and principles of design. Kyla has directed much of her art work towards the figure, using clay and clay polymers. Her work is exquisite, in form, volume, detail and proportion. Her portfolio in this area is technically appropriate and aesthetically pleasing. This is the area that Kyla would like to pursue in her training. She is taking courses this summer in "claymation" and computer animation. Kyla is familiar with computer technology and three-dimensional design programs."
2000 - age 16
Calgary and Area Regional Fine Arts Council, Calgary, Alberta
Linda Daley, President
Kyla instructed High School Art Teachers in the creation of sculptures from polymer clay in a half-day workshop in Calgary and a full-day workshop at The Banff Centre for the Arts in Banff, Alberta."
Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with teachers of the arts at our MADD Dash 2000. We greatly appreciate your advocacy and mentorship of the arts. Your participation contributed to making this a successful day."
St. Margaret Elementary & Junior High School (Calgary, AB)
Carmen Rodriguez, Art Teacher
"Thank you so much for coming in to make presentations on miniature figurines to my Grade 7, 8 and 9 classes. You fulfilled all the expectations of the students and more. They have been inspired by the quality of your work. Your gracious delivery of the workshops was well received by all the students and you left them excited to experiment with this new medium."
International Safety Poster contest for NUCA (National Utility Contractors Association, Arlington, Virginia)
Kyla won a $1000 US savings bond as first prize in an international contest for designing a poster to be used for NUCA Foundation promotions and other activities that promote the industry.
2001 - age 17
Alberta High School of Fine Arts Grade 11
Dr. Marlee Cole, Co-Founder of the school and formerly a Professor at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Canada
“It has been an honour and pleasure to work with such a highly gifted and talented artist/entrepreneur. Kyla optimizes creativity in action. Witnessing and experiencing her unique artistic blend, I encouraged Kyla to contact Stephen Spielberg as he would so benefit by including her on his creative team. I am confident that Kyla’s natural wealth of artist ability, passion and drive will send her flying to the top of whatever artistic path she chooses.”
Summer of 2000 and 2001
McFarlane Toys in (Bloomfield, New Jersey, United States)
Kyla interned with McFarlane Toys. She was the youngest sculptor that had every been employed by this company. See article.
2002 - age 18
Alexander Rutherford Scholarship
Kyla received $1,200 for academic achievement in high school.
1998 – 2002
Alberta High School of Fine Arts, Calgary, Alberta