MIPA helps sisters bond

 

Sisters Natasha and Shea Vatalaro from Grosse Pointe are the type of sisters who do everything together. Even at the MIPA summer workshop they can be found eating breakfast together and walking to the Dairy Store. They rely on each other for support and are both attending the workshop to learn more about visual storytelling.

Natasha, 16, is taking the Creative Illustration Techniques class while Shea, 13, is enrolled in the Beyond the Basics photography class.

“It’s just like having a friend you brought with you,” Natasha said. “But because I’m not rooming with her, there’s no arguing.”

Natasha is returning for her second year at MIPA and this is Shea’s first year at the workshop. Shea had an easier time adjusting to the camp since her older sister is here to show her around.

“At first I was really nervous because I was scared that I wouldn’t find my way to class,” Shea said. “But since Natasha is here, I feel a lot more comfortable about coming here and it made me feel more open toward MIPA.”

Both sisters work on literary magazines in their schools, and both are excited to use what they’ve learned here at the workshop when they get home.

“I’m doing Photoshop and Illustrator stuff, so I can submit it to the publication I’m working on and also I can use that knowledge to help out the design editor who I’ll be working with,” Natasha said.

The girls consider themselves friends, but like most siblings, they do have their moments.

“The thing is, we can never stay mad at each other for more than about two minutes,” Shea said. “About 15 actually,” Natasha interrupted. “Yeah, but either one of us forgets that we’re mad at the other or we both just start laughing. We literally can’t stay mad at each other. It’s annoying!” Shea said.

But even through the arguments and button-pushing, they’re glad to have each other at the end of the day, they said.

“My favorite thing about having a sister is probably that I’m never truly lonely,” Shea said. “Even when I’m away from home, she’s usually with me and sometimes I feel like I see her too much. I just like having another person around.”