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Hyattsville resident Jose Vivar has been painting, drawing and creating since he was a 10-year-old taking art classes in Mexico, but after only a few years of computer graphics classes, the Northwestern High School senior is making a name for himself as a graphic artist.

The 17-year-old was one of only two Prince George's County students selected to participate in this year's National Gallery of Art high school seminar program, held from October to March, in which students spend 10 weeks at the museum learning about careers in art and creating original works using the gallery's collection.

Jose's AP computer graphics teacher, Linda Niemi, encouraged him to apply after seeing Jose's summer project in which Niemi asked students to alter a paperback book.

Jose's book, based on a song, is full of pop-up elements, collages, drawings, mixed-media and surrealistic portrayals.

"Each page is an entire work of art," Niemi said as she flipped through the book. "It's so elaborate. There's not a page that's not interesting."

In order to be accepted to the program, a teacher must sponsor a student and they both have to write admission essays. Niemi said Jose was a clear choice because of his work ethic and creativity.

"He's already so good," she said. "He was already an outstanding student and so self-motivated."

Jose said he was surprised when he found out he was chosen for the program, which selected 19 other students from around the Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area. The other Prince George's student was Nina Allen of Suitland High School.

"It was a great opportunity," Jose said. "I never thought I was going to get into it."

Elisa Patterson, high school seminar coordinator, said the program strives to bring in diverse artists every year so students can learn from each other.

"We encourage students to explore artists and styles and themes they don't know anything about," she said.

Jose said he is drawn to art because he's able to express himself freely through it. He paints, draws, uses pastels and started taking computer graphics classes during his sophomore year.

"It's a way to show feelings and emotions and thoughts," he said.

Jose said he was inspired by the gallery's collection and his fellow student-artists and enjoyed creating in a supportive environment.

"I got to know people who were interested in art as well," he said. "Everyone had a different style from everyone else."

Jose calls himself a surrealist artist and wants to attend the Art Institute of Washington and study interior design next year.

Despite his accomplishments as an artist, Niemi said Jose is modest about his talent.

"He's kind of, in a way, the typical artist. He's not going to go around boasting about his art and himself," she said. "But he's really right up there with the competition."