Kira Reinhartz: Specializing in shoes

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Reinhartz has customized eight pairs of shoes so far, but her first pair remains her favorite.”I love impressionism and Van Gogh, especially his works that are predominantly blue since it’s my favorite color,” Reinhartz said. “It is the pair that is the most me.” (Photo submitted by Kira Reinhartz)

From painting her own “Starry Night” to recreating Claude Monet’s “Impression, Sunrise,” junior Kira Reinhartz has immersed herself in the world of painting. However, the canvases she paints on are different than most artists’. 

At the start of summer 2019,  Reinhartz developed a passion for customizing shoes; but, instead of the usual sharpie doodles people customize shoes with, she customized shoes by painting artwork on them inspired by late, great artists. 

“I wanted to stand out from everyone else who had [the same shoes as me] and put my own creative twist on them, make them unique to me,” Reinhartz said. “I had seen a lot of Instagram posts with pictures of custom shoes and decided that I could do my own. I found a post with a pair that had a famous painting on them, and designed my own with ‘Starry Night,’ my favorite painting.”

Reinhartz always knew that she had a passion for the arts, as she has wanted to be an artist since third grade. She tries to involve art in all different aspects of her life, as seen by her shoe customization. Along with shoes, Reinhartz paints shirts, purses and jeans and volunteers at an art museum over the summer and helps underprivileged children create art.

  • One of her most recent pairs she customized were white Adidas Stan Smith shoes inspired by a painting done by artist Sarah Paolucci. (Photo submitted by Kira Reinhartz)
  • (Photo submitted by Kira Reinhartz)
  • (Photo submitted by Kira Reinhartz)
  • (Photo submitted by Kira Reinhartz)
  • (Photo submitted by Kira Reinhartz)

Aside from art projects Reinhartz does outside of school, she continues to study art at school as well. Originally starting on the pre-law track freshman year, Reinhartz then switched her law classes for art classes. She is currently taking Painting 2 Honors and Level 3 Photography. Reinhartz also became the newly elected co-president of National Art Honor Society alongside junior Michelle Guo.

Reinhartz has gone so far as creating an Instagram account for her customizations @kikiskustoms, and she plans to continue with art in the future. 

“I like watching my artwork walk around on other people’s shoes, and painting clothing as a hobby. I am sure that I would like to pursue some kind of career in the arts, whatever that may be. I’m currently building my portfolio and looking to apply to an art school for college,” Reinhartz said. 

Reinhartz began taking art classes her sophomore year. She designs shoes mostly for her family and friends and has given them away as birthday presents. “Usually when designing shoes, I work with the person ordering them to figure out what they want. Sometimes they have a clear idea of what they want, like a design they’ve seen on Instagram or online,” Reinhartz said. “In that case, I replicate the idea they have almost exactly. If they don’t have the exact idea already, they usually have some sort of concept in mind and I help them to figure that out.” (Photo submitted by Kira Reinhartz)

Madison Lynn is a senior at American Heritage School in Plantation, Fla. This is her second year on staff and she is so excited for the many amazing things to come for this school year for the Patriot Post. Madison is also a member of TASSEL and Best Buddies club. She has a passion for photography and loves all type of music.