Hunter Dean Temple Art Scholarship

The worst “compliment” someone can give me in regards to my artwork is “wow, you’re so gifted”. Although the intentions behind this comment are always positive it’s simply not an accurate remark. I’m not gifted. The walls of my childhood home were adorned with the traditional folk paintings of my Norwegian great grandmother. Despite not knowing her for very long, I’ve been compared to her throughout my life especially in regards to the beautiful art we both created. Although, I attribute my initial love for art and storytelling to my family's annual Walt Disney World vacations. Art never came easy to me but instead made me frustrated to the point of tears. Regardless, I spent hours practicing and trying new methods and mediums until I saw success. Sophomore year of high school is when I saw my efforts finally pay off in the form of local and regional recognition. Instead of feeling complacent, the pride that I felt fueled a fire within me to continue improving. There is no artistic gift. I’m a hard worker. I’m stubborn and passionate about what I do and the stories I want to tell. Like I mentioned earlier, art takes time. As a full time art student with straight A’s and division one athlete I have very little of this time to spare but I wouldn’t have it any other way. So where will my art take me in the future? I plan on going back to my roots. Although my art style has matured greatly over the years, my fixation for Disney has never faded. Next fall I will be applying for my university's brand new animation BFA program with big dreams of someday working for the company that inspired me to pick up a pencil so many years ago.

In my life, art has become a trusted companion that shapes how I interpret the world around me. It allows me to explore possibilities past the ordinary and more deeply display my emotions and thoughts. One of the hurdles I’ve had to overcome was the trauma of cyberbullying. It was so bad the principals of two high schools had to get involved. Thankfully, my family and a small handful of others surrounded me with love. Art was my escape and sometimes the only friend I had. It allowed me to transform my hurt and frustration into artwork. I want to use my talent for more than just personal experience and connections, but also for giving others the visual representation of their own emotions and dreams not yet unraveled. With the help of this scholarship, I can continue my journey of art to inspire and transform the world. Another challenge has been the financial constraints. Although I have graciously received college funds from my great aunt and grandmother, the funding runs out after my sophomore year, which is next year. This scholarship would ease the financial burden on my parents for the rest of my college education at Gardner-Webb University. Since I am majoring in photography and minoring in art, I look forward to learning from experienced professors and professionals to further develop my craft there. Art brings people together. It displays a world of the unique and unimaginable, showing what the world could be, rather than what it is. I want to be a part of expressing that.

Art has been my lifeline since childhood, the language through which I navigate and express my emotions and perceptions of the world. It is not just a hobby or interest; it is an intrinsic part of who I am. My dream is to integrate art into my career, leveraging its power to impact others. My passion for art runs deep, rooted in a profound personal connection that shapes my identity and self-expression. Each creation I bring to life is imbued with an emotional resonance, both with the subject matter and the process of crafting the world within my art. However, amidst this passion lies a challenge that threatens to hinder my aspirations: financial constraints. While Winthrop University has offered me a scholarship opportunity as part of my affiliation with Kappa, making it the most feasible option, the financial burden of obtaining my bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with a focus on graphic design still looms large. My family, despite working tirelessly, faces the harsh reality of insufficient funds to support my education without sacrificing more than we can afford. This scholarship represents more than just financial aid; it symbolizes the gateway to realizing my dreams and alleviating the burden on my family. With its support, I can pursue my degree with renewed vigor and focus, unencumbered by the financial worries that have plagued us. Moreover, it will reignite my passion for art and graphic design, ensuring that my creative pursuits never feel like a burden to those I love. Ultimately, this scholarship will not only enable me to complete my education but also reignite my excitement for learning and creating. It will empower me to pursue my passion for art and embark on a career path where I can utilize my talents to craft beautiful and impactful works.

For a long time, I thought I wanted to be an artist simply because it was the thing I did best. But as I got older, that reasoning felt too shallow, and I felt lost about why I wanted to keep pursuing art. I was most interested in the art in comics, but I didn't know how to put my passion into words or explain why I connected to them so much. I would read and reread comics, study them, and take notes about what made them unique and what I liked about them, but I could never put my finger on why I wanted to make them. Eventually, I read a manga by Inio Asano with a character who’s striving to be a comic artist. In a late-night rant to her friend at a bar, she said “I want to write something that doesn’t just move you or bring you to tears for a few seconds. I want it to be something that affects your life in some lasting way. It’s not for escaping reality… it’s for fighting reality.” I had to just sit for a few minutes. I thought, “That's it. She put it in words.” I love all the comics I do because they have each changed the trajectory of my life in some way, from what my art style looks like to how I think about life and see the world. I want to make comics that can do that for other people. I want people who read my comics to feel more at peace with themselves, or like they’re a part of something bigger. This scholarship will help me be able to learn more skills in college to better communicate those feelings, and help get me on a path to inspire others through comics.