Palette & Purpose Scholarship

I love art and am very self driven off of this love because it has shaped me into the person I am today. I I want to become a very well respected film director and producer. I love film and recording what is in front of me because it kind of gives me an excuse to be a fly on the wall. I've always been pretty introverted my whole life and have always be an observer. When I'm holding a camera and capturing the world in front of me I feel in my element and it comes so natural that I get lost in it. I love the editing process and putting those final touches that finalize my vision, it brings everything together. My inspiration for my work comes from a wide range of sources, including my favorite artists and their music, their unique fashion sense, and any eye-catching fashion I see in my daily life. A lot of my thoughts come from a combination of feelings and visuals. I like to immerse myself in various forms of art and look into the ways in which they influence and relate to one another. My greatest motivation is the desire to establish myself as an established name in the creative industry. I want to make a variety of work like short films, music videos, commercials and clothing line campaigns. I strive to have a significant influence in the fields of music production, design, and filmmaking, which I am extremely passionate about. I can express myself in different ways and create connections through creativity and storytelling in each of these fields. I prefer to read nonfiction books about my hobbies, like music and film, when I'm trying to learn new things. Andrew Huang's Make Your Own Rules is among my favorite books. Andrew describes in this book how he fell in love with music and the arts at a young age. He was open about his difficulties, emphasizing the importance of choosing your own path over giving in to outside influences. His narrative strikes a deep chord with me, and I frequently refer back to his teachings in my own creative work. It showed me methods of staying on track and focused. Prioritizing my goals and dreams is my biggest priority. I believe I can get there with the right education and spaces to be able to exercise my visions and ideas. Another book would probably Diary of a Wimpy Kid By Jeff Kinney. I loved the series as a kid and feel in love with the world of it. In the books Greg Heffley is very self driven. He doesn't stop until his goal is met and put his self first. I like these books because as an audience we see Greg's world through his eyes. This inspires me to become someone who produces work that audiences can get lost in. I have the chance to move closer to my goals as a result to this scholarship. It will make it easier for me to get the training I require to better my abilities and develop as an artist. My ultimate ambition is to become an exceptional filmmaker who tells good stories and deliver messages with impact that audiences can relate to. I'm committed to making my dreams come true with perseverance, hard work, and the help of chances like this one. I want people to see my work and immediately know I made it. This scholarship will help in me getting into the right doors and rooms so I will be able to get the beginning of my journey started.

A trance is the best word I could use to describe it. There I was, glued to the couch in awe as I watched something that captured ALL of my attention…which was pretty hard to do for a toddler struggling with ADHD. Little did I know, this moment was an omen revealing the course my life would take. Of course, I didn’t have the words to describe it at the time, but it was the way “Tom and Jerry: Classics Collections” visually and audibly conveyed plot and character that won me over. From a very young age I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Before I could read, I had every age-appropriate art supply available. Unfortunately for my mom, I used them to draw a 5’x4’ brontosaurus across my bedroom carpet after watching a show where drawings came to life. Illustration wasn’t the only artistic interest I showed early; I thoroughly enjoyed creating narratives. I would perform puppet shows so enthralling one of my preschool teachers demanded my mom enroll me in puppetry-art classes because she was so invested in my stories. And in elementary school, I would create graphic novels each year for Halloween because we were required to bring a book to match our costume, and my costume-characters were my own creation. My trademark was always ending my stories in a cliffhanger. Still today, I constantly lose track of time sketching characters, writing their back stories, and theorizing about different scenarios involving them. Books have been my guiding light in this journey. They have taught me about diverse narratives and have shaped my desire to create art that reflects a multitude of perspectives. Works like “The Artist’s Way,” by Julia Cameron inspired and instructed me on how to unlock my creativity, whilst graphic novels from Marvel served as inspiration as a medium for powerful visual storytelling. Both demonstrated how art could shape the world by speaking about experiences that might otherwise remain unheard. They have strengthened my passion and elevated my skills for creating visual stories that inspire, empower, and spark social change. In the summer last year, I worked at an art-based youth summer camp for two months as an assistant camp counselor. I was able to lead kids from age 3 to 7, around the age I first discovered my love of art. And this year, my senior year, as President of my National Art Honors Society chapter, I’ve not only grown as a leader, I’ve helped my peers as officers develop as leaders as well. The beginning was rough, so I sought advice from professional leaders. After rearranging officer roles based on their strengths and weaknesses, we’re now a cohesive team. Although I’m grateful for the consistent support from my mom as a single-parent, no one close to me is an artist. My goal is to further develop my skills at a robust collegiate art program so that I’m able to showcase my passion to others. This scholarship will be a crucial step in helping me gain the opportunity to further my education, giving me the tools to refine my skills and broaden my knowledge. I strive to create art that doesn’t only entertain, but also reflects our shared humanity, explores critical social issues, and fosters connection in an individualistic world. Who knows, maybe there is a little one waiting to be glued to the couch in a trance watching something I create with awe.

As a child, I immersed myself in colors and shapes, trying out different sketches on my drafts. My journey with art has always been a constant companion as it has tied with my growing up and consequently, the person I am today. For me, art is more than just a pastime. Rather, it is a medium through which I can speak about my ideas and feelings, and I consider it as an important device that I wish to positively utilize to impact the world. In high school, I became the chairperson of the community service club for St. Jude’s, and at that place, I created events and structured the community to make cards to donate to patients. Through this experience, I was able to understand the essence of leadership and how creativity is important in motivating others towards a common goal. I remember how I struggled whenever we organized bake sales and jewelry-making workshops, but eventually, we earned over 2000 dollars and eventually, the club became the biggest service group in the college. Witnessing the power of art every day and knowing how it can bring happiness to those in need was fulfilling and satisfying. My commitment to the arts is not limited only to community service. I remember teaching art classes to the students at the West LA Art Center, wherein they were encouraged to unlock their creative potential. Helping people through their artistic endeavors was rewarding and it helped to further solidify my perception that art can be changing and empowering. I also ran the center’s social networks and promoted the center through my design skills so as to get more students. I have always looked out into the horizon and imagined myself as a bright mind in the world of architecture & design. Art and worldbuilding have always gone hand-in-hand for me, and I wish to create structures that stand out, whilst being beneficial for the environment. The kind of work that I wish to be involved in is that which inspires people and gives them hope and a sense of belonging. Creativity has been a driving force of change for me throughout my lifelong journey in the art world. I aim to realize my ambitions in various fields whether it be architecture, community projects, or teaching art to kids. Receiving the Palette & Purpose Scholarship would enable me to pursue my career further and pursue my sound artistic concepts to make the world more colorful and beautiful.

Observe, Invent, and Sensitize. When you've been an artist for so many years, you learn how to see things in a very different way than everyone else. The ability to create strong works of art that deeply resonate with people and that can be interpreted in many different ways is a skill that is often overlooked in our society. It transcends language barriers and allows us to communicate and explore complex ideas together. As artists, we have to wear multiple hats in order to be truly effective in our craft. Through architecture, fashion, performance, and paintings, art tells us how people have and will continue to live. We’ve used fashion as a form of rebellion and a way to claim space in ‘places we don't belong.' Ultimately, I plan to own an art school where young artists can come to learn, create, and talk about their work. It will be in Los Angeles to employ and support artists from here. I want to teach traditional art since those skills can easily be transferred to digital art, the foundations of dealing with businesses. and the relationship between art and politics. I have enjoyed doing art since elementary school, and the advice my teacher gave made it easy for me to love it without pressure. “There are no mistakes in art” Whenever I felt like my work was ruined over something like spilled paint or messy coloring, she encouraged me to make the best of it. To make the best of our ‘mistakes’ we need to learn how to see them as something else. I choose to see mines as opportunities to expand. My current short-term goals to get to this point start with selling the stickers I make and working with small businesses through the Sola Tech and Entrepreneurship centers to begin to raise money for the property I'm going to buy for my school. I’ve had the chance to experiment with multiple different mediums, and I’ve learned it truly does not matter what medium you’re using as long as you are producing something. When you make something, it can generate feelings for yourself and the observer. Artists create new ideas every second, and they bring those ideas to life through physical media like paintings and sculptures and through forms of expression like dance and music. I believe that taking time to make or do something, and being able to find meaning in the most obscure things is what makes art special. My vision drives me to continue sharpening my skills and expanding my knowledge so that I can provide the best support to my future students.

As I've solidified myself in the pursuit of an education and career in the arts, a question I have begrudgingly become familiar with is just that: "Why art?" I could have been a doctor discovering the cure for cancer or the head of an aspiring corporation but I chose art; why? While I have detested the question ever since I first heard it, I believe this repetition has forced me to internalize it and ask it for myself in recent years, instilling a certain sense of doubt and worry in my mind that perhaps I have been misled and overly optimistic. From a young age, rereading the children´s books that filled my bookshelves, I found much solace in art. I replicated what I saw with cheap sketchbooks and markers and, after time, hoped to one day be alongside the artists creating for the public's viewing pleasure. As I've matured, my interests have changed but it is undeniable that my goal never has. Instead, I've only found more reasons that I believe art to be a worthy career, no matter the uncertainty and hardship that come with it. I don't believe there is anything I could see myself doing besides creating. It is the reason I auditioned for and attended the High School of Art and Design after years in a charter school. It is the reason I decided to become a representative for my school on our senior committee. And it is the reason I have won medals and awards from the School Art League and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. I have allowed art to involve itself in every aspect of my life and, naturally, I would like it to remain that way. Art, of course, extends far past cartoons on bookstore shelves. It is the cause of revolution and innovation. It is a byproduct of change and ideology. It incites emotion, violence, and inspiration. There is nothing more versatile in its influence than art in all of the many forms it has and will forevermore continue to take on. In many ways, I wholeheartedly believe the world we know today would not and could not exist without its presence. The world keeps changing and so too will the artistic endeavors of creatives inhabiting it as it does. There has been plenty of fear about the state of the industry at this given time and what is to come in the future with the rise of artificial intelligence and theft that has succeeded in convincing even the most perceptive of individuals of images and realities that simply aren't there. Layoffs and disregard towards artists and their passion projects by higher-ups have disheartened many hard workers that there is no future for them in their field of interest. I believe that now, more than ever, the world needs artists; their visions, their voices, their passion. That´s why I am committed to my craft. I refuse to stand by in a world that throws aside personal and passionate creations in exchange for that without heart or vision. I want to be able to inspire the next generation of young artists the same way I once was inspired by publishing my own work. I hope that my efforts in pursuing this passion of mine won't be for naught and that I will, in some way, make a difference. Whether that be through spreading a message, inspiring others, or showing that there is success to be made, I am ready for it. It is my hope that this scholarship will be able to aid my studies and make these dreams a reality.

For art is so intertwined in our lives that most of the time we take for granted the presence of these creations. I could see it in my upbringing, I can see it in the advancements of technology, and it can be seen in society- how these negative stereotypes about pursuing art facilitated the action of diminishing the value of art in my life. However, through time, the support of those who love me, and newfound courage I have found that art is an undeniable necessity in my life. Through the years my view and idea of art has changed constantly; however, I have learned that in its essence art to me is my, and other people’s, view of the word-our voice. And as a person who lost the courage to use their voice, this new form to express myself was lifesaving; all the emotions, both good and bad, that I had suppressed would find a way to make themselves known or feel acknowledged. From the worlds of words found in literature that gave me a place of comfort or the melodies tuned to the range of my emotions or the culture preserving food in my life or the imagination that transcends visual knowledge of acting to the fragments of beauty in the world being capture in a canvas the art that surrounds me has allowed me to keep on living. I have learned so much and come to appreciate the world more through all these different mediums and I would like to do the same with the art I’m most familiar with, painting. I would like to continue to create art that show my life- my struggles and joy, so that others like me (Mexican American women, sexual assault victims and those with economic struggles) feel acknowledge and continue to have hope for a better future. I would like that my future works consist in the exploration of topics such as “The impact of family members on women”, “Mexican Culture Inertia in 1st gen children”, “Beggars can’t be choosers, but they were dreamers”, amongst many more ideas. I want my art to be meaningful; I want it to open people’s eyes to different life circumstances. Therefore, because I believe art school can help me further develop my art skills and allow me to interact with people who share the same values, I’m trying to attend college as soon as I’m financial stable enough, and this scholarship along many other one available will help me achieve my goal. I submitted my FASFA the first week it was open but have faced problems due to the recent changes; and, although I have gained a pretty decent scholarship from SAIC, I’m still trying to reduce the financial burden even more. These next few works are some examples of how I have explored topics about art that have interest me. For this “series” of artworks I was inspired by how literature can affect people and so I wanted to show different views, feelings, thoughts, etc. people had about reading through my paintings.

Art is a form of speaking because I have trouble using words, but with art, I can say the loudest of statements. It is empowering to be an artist because as artists we have control over what we put on the table. We can conjure out creative ideas and express them in thousands of ways that are unique to ourselves. Art as an empowering form of expression has also helped me in my journey of becoming a leader. Before I was more anxious and afraid of taking charge or even suggesting ideas. But with help from others and my art journey, I have become a different person. Over the summer of 2022, I attended Elon University's Freedom Scholar program where we stayed on campus for 2 weeks taking a civics class and creating our civic organization. I and a few others had come together to form an art organization, Ignite Creativity. Our main focus is to help inspire and support marginalized artists within our community. Art organizations that support artists are typically organizations meant for older adults, so our main demographic is middle school-high school students. As an art student in high school, I had always feared that my dream of being an artist wouldn't support and pay the bills. That is a stigma I want others to push away and realize that they CAN make a living off of something they love. I have taken on the role of the main leader of the group, organizing meetings, event dates, supplies, and so on. This experience has made me a more confident and sociable leader. I hope to benefit my community and bring everyone closer together through art. But I also hope to inspire students and help them feel like they can do what they love without feeling afraid. A manga that has inspired me but has also shaped my goals is Vagabond. Vagabond is the story of a reckless samurai named Musashi. Musashi wishes to be the strongest and will cut down whoever is deemed the strongest. He starts off as an arrogant young man who only cares for the rush of battle, but as the manga goes on he becomes more humble and takes in life. His journey and the life lessons he learns have impacted my goals greatly. I wish to be someone who is kind and values all forms of life and arts. It is beautiful to see how Musashi begins to value the arts, and swordsmanship which intertwines.

I am passionate about art because it also allows people to express themselves and make others happy. Anyone can experience art despite where they're from. I think art should be shared with the world so being able to share it with others makes it much more meaningful to me because what I create can be enjoyed by anyone and is not just limited to me. I'm passionate about art because it can allow me to make others happy. My sister and I painted a portrait of my grandparents for a mother's day gift. My mom told us that she appreciated it and enjoyed it. I was happy to make it because I knew it would be special for her. After all, she hasn't seen her parents for a couple of years now. I was happy that I was able to create something that would be special and meaningful for her. I enjoy making tons of different paintings and drawings but when they're able to make others happy it makes me want to continue to create. I would like to be able to share my passion through teaching also. I've had a couple of art teachers but only one that really made me love art. The projects we had were out of my comfort zone but he was there to help when we needed it. He offered tips when we were stuck and gave encouragement when some of us were worried about our projects. His classroom also felt welcoming and he was someone you could ask for advice without feeling judgement. Although his projects were out of my comfort zone at the time I now feel more comfortable approaching or even thinking of trying something new. I want to be able to make others love and feel passionate about art. Through teaching I also want to be able to help others when they're in need of a safe space or someone to talk to. I want to be able to do this because I feel like a lot of the times we don't have someone to turn to when we need advice. I would like to be an art teacher because it would allow me to share my passion with others, help them find a love for it and to see how others express themselves through art. In this career I feel I would be making a bigger impact on others. Not only by teaching and helping them with art but by being able to help them with other struggles beyond art. Being able to do both is what makes me want to work in this career.

My Art journey has always been in the background. Slowly peeking its head when critical times came by. These sparks of color molded who I am today. So let me paint the picture for you. I'll start way back in elementary school. During 2nd grade I received negative comments about my hair. Kids would ask, “Why does your hair feel like a sponge?” When saying this they were touching my hair up and down like a trampoline. While it didn’t bother me as much back then, reflecting on these words makes me feel less than my peers. These moments of my life shaped how I viewed my hair. Now skipping ahead to 8th grade. I moved to a new area around 30 minutes away. While at the new school I realized something. I realized that I am gay. This did not come easy. It was a lot of questioning and figuring out attraction and relationships. Slowing learning what I like and don’t like. My family has always been very supportive of me since I was a little tomboy back in Elementary school. While I knew they were supportive, some part of me didn’t want to take the risk yet. Once I was “ready” I texted my mom that “i’m bisexual.” which was a lie … that I didn’t know was a lie yet. Like an ordinary coming out, she waited for me to say the words she already knew were coming. Later that day I finally said the word lesbian. With these words I shaped how I viewed myself. Now entering High School in a rural area you see the different mindsets and opinions people have. Hearing from peers, parents, and siblings about racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, etc. I stepped out of my box and started to speak out. Started holding protests, walkouts, demonstrating how you should act in the face of diversity. Forcing change when we needed it the most. This shaped how I viewed activism. Now with all this in mind I wanted to pose a question to you. Can your identity shape your art and creativity? Art itself is human expression in a visual, spiritual, musical form that represents a powerful statement of life, imagination, and fulfillment. Knowing how you fit into society can change how you express yourself. Being a Queer black Afab person in America it sets me apart from the rest of the population. Because of this, activism has always been something that is ingrained into my hand. With every stroke of the pencil it shows the life of a minority on the page and slowly gives a voice to the oppressed.I've read many books on the introduction of activism. How they have changed the nation they live in and slowly but surely adopt new values and traditions into their countries. This is a passion I have had ever since I knew I had different hair from the rest of my classmates Or when I knew that I had different crushes than the rest of my friends. Without identity art would be a shallow remembrance of ideas. And without Art my identity would not be the same.

Ever since I was a kid, music and film have been passions of mine. I enjoy the creativity and hardowrk that goes into both these fields. These are career fields that, on the outside looking in, seem so simple but in reality are not. I hope one day I can influence people with my own art such as other artists have done for me. I am passionate about the arts, specifically filmmaking and music, because it's an industry that can speak multiple volumes and reach out to people in such an emotional way without even having to do much. A director is able to bring their imagination and turn it into reality with the help of others. They use their skills to push a message to people and have them take something away from their art. Musicians are able to turn their feeling, whether that be happy, sad, overwhelmed, angry, and turn it into a masterpiece that multiple people can listen to and connect with on a deeper level. They turn their experiences, as well as their feelings, into a universal one that anybody can relate to. This is an experience that only true forms of art can do. They can take simple words and expressions and turn them into something way bigger than that. I haven't had the experience to work closely with others in the field of filmmaking and music, but I do record music and write mini scripts when I get flows of ideas. I hope that this scholarship will award me the oppurtunity to get to work closely in the field of filmmaking and music. When it comes to filmmaking/directing, I want to showcase the diversity of all different people and create a space where the less represented can feel more represented. I am always fascinated by films but I find it hard to connect deeply because I am watching people that don't look like me. I know that I will benefit the film industry by boosting diversity for people of color and including more representation when it comes to lgbtq+ community and the disabled community. I hope that my music will allow people to reach deep in themselves and allow the emotions they don't express to be expressed. I want my music to show people that it truly is ok not to be ok. But I also want to show people that happiness is obtainable and your life doesn't have to be sad all the time. The amazing directors and musicians whose artworks I have had the pleasure of experiencing have impacted me in tremendous ways. A director who changed my view on film is Martin Scorsese. Before I stumbled upon his work, I didn't think much of film. Films were just something I put on to fill the silence around me. But when I first watched a Scorsese film I noticed how captivating his work was. His films grabbed my attention and I didn't even know how captivated I was until they were over. True film should be able to grab your undivided attention without the knowledge that it's even doing so. Music artists like Lauryn Hill, SZA, Avril Lavigne, Beyonce, etc. have been able to define who I am as a woman. These women showed me how difficult it is to be a woman but also the immense power that comes with being a woman. They have taught me strong lessons and have helped shape my confidence just through their music alone. I only hope that one day I can impact people as deeply as these people have shaped me in multiple ways.

The artwork of Jima Chester My drive as an artist comes from my passion for making my portrait art become the embodiment of subjective art or subjectivity . Through my time developing as an artist, painting became one of my main mediums. I adapted the style of faceless paintings, bright or earth tone color backgrounds, and creating swirls and bumps of texture with heavy body acrylic paint. By combining these different aspects of art, I can receive responses to the art that I hold dear to my heart. Hearing phrases of amazement is always something an artist wants to hear. Still, hearing people express how they can visualize themselves, family, or friends in one of the pieces keeps my discipline for art intact. What keeps me returning to my easel whenever I want to create art is remembering the unforgettable memories I have made as an artist. Hearing the young black girls' awe over which print of my paintings looked like them in their favorite hairstyle. I aim to make people and my community feel appreciated and represented through art. I love creating every day, but as a mentor and leader in the community, doing something you love is good–but doing something you love that has purpose is even better. Being a portrait artist is not something I see as limiting but empowering. I highlight essential things in a portrait beside the face, such as hair, clothes, and colors. While doing this, I love exploring a more abstract or bold route for portraying these parts of portraits. Instead, it's through using palette knives, my fingers, or a combination of various colors. These techniques and processes of creating are my way of expressing myself in the painting through these details and aspects, practicing and making the art my own and unique to me.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people including my mother has molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them and educating the Youth Artist on tasks. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless and they can be who you want to be no matter their circumstances background or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. Growing up, I remember one book that my mother used to read to me, a poetry book titled “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou. I remember the strong and fun wording of the poem but most of all the eye-catching illustrations. I later learned the illustrations were by the late famous artists Jean Michel Basquiat. The artwork is exciting, and scary but sparked my imagination beautifully. I feel the inspiration from the poetic words and hypnotic illustrations have inspired me not only as an artist but as a strong person who never fears the unknown. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, and techniques I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams to brighten my future.