Christian ‘Myles’ Pratt Foundation Fine Arts Scholarship

My biggest inspiration has always been myself. That’s because I never followed anyone’s journey: I built my own. I never had a community or meaningful relationship in any part of my life growing up: I lacked a genuine connection with my family, I was made fun of in school, and I had no close friends or role-models to look up to. I therefore endured my ever-present internal struggles of insecurities of my Korean identity, anxieties of meeting new people, and depression in feeling inherently unlovable all alone. I used art as an escape from all of this, drawing characters that gave me comfort, company, and a sense of belonging when the world around me didn’t. The impact this had was quiet, yet significant. I slowly began to develop a distinctive creative style, gain confidence in my art and ability to improve, and started incorporating my struggles and complex emotions into my work. This was crucial in helping me make sense of my experiences and eventually, begin to heal from them. As a result, I slowly built the confidence to try discovering who I was outside of my art, encouraging me to seek connection with my Korean heritage, experiment with new hobbies and extracurriculars, and start engaging with the people around me which ultimately, led to building genuine friendships for the first time in my life. These friendships were transformative. In finally feeling truly seen and accepted for who I was, I became motivated to use my art to connect with others. I therefore became the designer of the school and art logo for Queens Valley School of the Arts, an underprivileged art school in New York. Shortly after, I became a mentor for a performing arts organization called ArtStream, where I assisted adults with disabilities in rehearsing their lines and performance on stage. I then served as a student ambassador for a North Korean human rights nonprofit called No Chain, where I created advocacy artwork to be sent directly into North Korea. I found newfound fulfillment and purpose in seeing my art’s role in helping these diverse communities. That’s why I’m now pursuing a degree in graphic design at the University of Florida, eager to expand my ability to positively impact the world through art. I plan to work with nonprofits of diverse missions, people, and cultures, designing logos and outreach materials that visualize their objectives and magnify their impact in countless social equity initiatives. I plan to work in hospitals and community health centers, creating art activities that help patients facilitate resilience through trauma, build a strong support-system, and ultimately discover self-acceptance, inner-strength, and hope. I plan to work with underserved communities in addressing their issues, launching public art projects that foster connection, facilitating community art workshops that spark civic engagement, and spreading art education that emboldens students to share their unique stories, struggles, and perspectives through design. I’ve come to realize that my artistic gift is both distinctive and profound. It can serve as an outlet of self-expression, a tool for social justice, and a powerful source of connection all under one illustration. I therefore have taken incredible pride in my art: it’s something I built entirely independently, holds boundless potential for positive change, and fully represents my authentic sense of self. As a student funding my entire tuition independently, receiving this scholarship would give me the necessary funds to make my ambitions a reality, and continue developing my creative voice and impact. I look at university with a profound sense of optimism, ready to use design to turn isolation into belonging, and adversity into strength.

As my sophomore year of high school was coming to an end, I sat in the counselor's office, judging the classes I could choose from for my junior year. I'd always heard junior year was the most difficult, with students taking as many advanced classes as they could to put on their college applications. However, I was so lost and had no idea where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. Then I saw it; AP Art. My counselor informed me that the class was typically reserved for senior students, but after the worst year of my life, I was determined to have a schedule that I could look forward to which made me excited to come to school. After submitting a portfolio, I was accepted into the class by a teacher who would change my educational journey, Mrs. Hill. Mrs. Hill's class challenged me so much as an artist and helped me build the time management skills I would need to develop a portfolio for the class. Previously only having drawn in my sketchbook, being tasked with creating 15 full illustrations was daunting. However, I learned how to thumbnail and come up with ideas to make the process a lot easier for myself. I ended up enjoying the class even more than I thought I would, so much so that I decided to take it again the following year to push myself even further. I received the top score of a 5 on both. Two years of experience creating portfolios gave me an advantage when applying to university since I wasn't so nervous about the process. Mrs. Hill always encouraged me to study art in college and connected me with resources to better my application and push my art into the world. If not for my teacher's guidance and belief in me, I wouldn't be where I am today, which is why she is my greatest influence. I will soon be an undergraduate at the University of Southern California, studying design and business. I dream of becoming a background designer for an animation studio or an advertisement designer for a big company. I often use my background and heritage as inspiration in my artwork, and coming from a smaller town, I have a unique perspective that isn't seen in Los Angeles. Everyone dreams of making their name in the city of angels, but it takes hard work and hunger to actually make it, and I am nothing short of determined. My work provides a window into my core memories of growing up in the Central Valley and being surrounded by Mexican culture. Everything I do is for my grandparents and parents who never went to college and worked so hard to give me the opportunity they missed. I have worked since I was 16 and will continue to work through college to fund my education, so scholarships deeply aid me in achieving my goal of becoming a professional artist. I hope one day to return to Merced, connect with my art teacher Mrs. Hill, and help inspire the next generation of artists.

My eyes grew bright and widened as they lingered on the plastic box my mother was holding. Could it be? I raised my chubby hands to my face and toddled clumsily across the room to where she was standing, a lemony smile spread across her face. She handed me the object, and I squealed. It was finally mine. My own DVD of Disney’s The Lion King. My art journey’s biggest influence has been Walt Disney. I didn’t know it then, but that seemingly insignificant childhood moment was where my current aspirations emerged from. I was enraptured by the visuals of magic carpets, singing animals, and girls with fish tails - none of which I ever saw in real life. The carpet on my floor clearly wasn’t going anywhere, and the fish in my aquarium just swam around monotonously. My screen had exposed me to a world of endless possibilities, leaving me unsatisfied. Reality just wasn’t doing it for me. Consequently, my desire to create was born. Other children had gone through a similar phase. What kid hadn’t imagined themselves being a Disney princess and the like? The difference in my case was that the spark of imagination remains ingrained in me today. Walt Disney’s work made me realize how underrated the concept of creativity was. I learned that nothing was unattainable - that with some thinking outside the box you could solve any problem thrown at you. Creativity is my friend now; it allows me to view my surroundings in ways no one else can, and it acts as an escape route whenever I need one. Having a bad day in this universe? Just go to a different one. To quote one of my favorite things Walt has ever said, it’s kind of fun to do the impossible. Today I am an animation student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and upon graduating, I aspire to make an impact on the way people view my people and my culture. Being from a first-world, lesser-known country, I did not feel represented growing up. Bangladesh is not very well-known as a part of Asia and South Asians are often subjected to hurtful stereotypes. I have always been the only Bangladeshi in the classroom, and my art pieces are the only ones that include slices of my country. It is simultaneously overwhelming and flattering that I get to be the one who introduces my classmates to a new language and new culture. I commit myself to creating characters that better represent people from my culture. I tell diverse stories in my projects, in a manner that is authentic and derives from my lived experiences. Something that is crucial to me is breaking people’s preconceived notions and stereotypes they may have ingrained in them. When the world sees my work, I want them to see me and my culture for who and what we are. One can dream, right? In the future, I am an accomplished artist, and my art is helping someone else realize the power of their imagination. My work is educating people, shattering stereotypes and pushing forth the notion that someone out there is rooting for you. You are not alone.

My mother has had the biggest influence on my life, particularly because of the godly, gentle spirit that she embodies. During times of difficulty, I have watched how my mother patiently endured many hardships, and then stood still to see God's faithful hand of deliverance. At moments when I thought she should have forsaken others who didn't appear to reciprocate the same amount of love, compassion, and selflessness that she freely gave, my mother continued to give even more of herself (and even much more of God). Having such a great example of what is means to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ is the primary reason why I decided to become a Christian several years ago. I plan to keep the godly flame shining brightly through my artwork. In a world where we struggle to find hope, I want to help other individuals see the beauty and joy in what remains in the earth - whether it's people, tragedy, adverse circumstances, or simple pleasures. In my artwork, I use bold colors to add a sense of life to the objects and atmosphere. I am still developing my voice as an artist/illustrator, but subjects of interest to me are portraits, fashion, and food. I am currently interested in working as a freelance editorial, fashion, and children's book illustrator. I stand out from other illustrators in the fact that I do most of my work by hand. Although the majority of artwork today is digitized, I am not opposed to that. I do believe that a small amount of digital editing is needed to fine-tune certain details (depending on the job), but there is a special personalization that the artwork possesses when the artist's raw pencil marks and paint strokes remain. I believe that having the original "handprint" of the artist on a piece of art not only adds character, but it also helps communicate the story that the artist was trying to convey. My favorite mediums to work in are oil paint, colored pencils, and markers, but I am constantly developing my skills to stay relevant in an industry that is always evolving. While I am studying at School of Visual Arts, I am learning how to incorporate digital technology into my illustrations. Also, I am learning other skills that are in demand today, such as lettering, watercolor, gouache, and photography. I aspire to be an illustrator who possesses many diverse skill sets that are able to meet the needs of the clients who request my services.

My beautiful and unbreakable mother has had the biggest influence on my life. In the face of adversity, she has remained strong and raised me to be tenacious and unrelenting in a society that does not favor someone who looks like me. Born into a strict Haitian household, my mother never obtained the freedom to express herself and achieve a life she dreamed for herself. Instead, she kept her head down and traveled to America with my father seeking a better life for our family. My earliest memories of my mother consist of her getting dressed for work. Despite my lack of attachment to these memories, I recall her getting dressed in various uniforms over the course of my life. From nurse scrubs to housekeeping uniforms my mother was always getting dressed to provide us with the best that she could afford. In these moments she always encouraged me to chase my dreams and take advantage of all opportunities that came my way. However, as my eyes grew to sparkle, my mother’s began to dull. Older now, I realize the many jobs and countless hours of hard work dimmed my mother’s light. As an immigrant woman, she is underappreciated and constantly fights to be treated equally. Through all of this, she has never faltered or batted an eyelash at what life had to throw her way, until she broke down in front of me. My superwoman revealed her kryptonite and it broke my heart into pieces. My mother works so hard, and I believe it's only right to work just as hard to show her the fruits of her efforts. With the art she taught me to love, I want to paint her a new world. I want to make it for her, for me, and for all who look like me. To achieve this, I developed an outline for a clothing brand dedicated to social critique. This brand explores the mental health and treatment of People of Color to discuss what we, the next generation, would like to see in our futures. I discovered a passion for and a voice in this project during my sophomore year. I intend to use my artistic skills to bring this project into a reality. Not only would this brand amplify voices like mothers, but I also believe it would provide people of color with a chance to illustrate, and display their voices. No longer are we looked down upon, here we stand united to show who we are. For example, one design in this project featured a t-shirt available in multiple rich shades with an image of two different identities connected by the growth between them. While these identities face different paths, they share the same values and come together to enhance their understanding of each other. Consequently, I want the images presented on the items of this brand to be raw, thoughtful, and consistent with the true feelings of communities that deserve to be heard. My artistic skill is different in both technique and intention. I use lines to communicate ideas unique to my experiences. Recently decided to create artworks that generate a discussion about the significance of identity and being proud of who you are. Within these artworks, I use a meticulous linework style accompanied by various colors, textures, and mediums to indicate the power of black skin. I believe in sharing my story to connect with and empower others. With each art piece that I create, I hope to gain a greater understanding of who I am while helping others do the same.