I want to take a moment to honor the memory of Eden Alain, who was taken too soon but will always be loved and remembered by her family. I’m 23 years old, sitting on a bus with the early morning light coming through the window, and the heat caressing my face though the air around me remains cold. The weight of my backpack, filled with art supplies, rests heavily on my shoulder. I’m on my way to college, but my mind lingers on a single question: What would she think of me now? My older sister, whose time on earth was cut short, lives on in my heart. Her name was Isis, after the Egyptian goddess. Black hair, a giant smile, and a body flecked with moles. We were raised in a fishing village in Mexico, where electricity was limited to six hours a day. In those quiet hours, nature and drawing became our companions. For as long as I can remember, I admired her. She was kind and effortlessly brilliant. From an early age, Isis grasped new concepts with ease, earning outstanding grades. She loved poetry and books, filling her notebooks with words as I filled mine with sketches. She saw my passion for drawing and always encouraged me to keep creating, just as I watched her pour her heart into writing. I remember how sensitive she was. She once cried at the sight of a peculiar flower, moved by its beauty. She cried when someone’s words were mean, overwhelmed by hurt. She cried while learning to drive, fearful of the unfamiliar. At the time I thought that crying for everything was embarrassing and pointless. How can someone expose their feelings that way? One day, when I was 17, she was writing at her desk with her frilly pen, while I read on the floor. Words weren’t always necessary between us, but she broke the silence with something that has stayed with me ever since. “You’re already an amazing person, Britney, and I know you’ll only continue to grow into someone even more extraordinary.” At the young age of 23, on June 26th, 2018, Isis was about to graduate from law school when she suffered a heart attack. There is nothing more surreal for me than growing older than my older sister will ever get to be. I knew her at this age, but she will never know who I have become. From her encouragement, I discovered the bravery within me. Many years later, after studying aquacultural bioengineering, I finally decided to pursue my other passion and come to the United States to study art. My sister’s death taught me the healing aspects of art and how that is essential to growth. Sketchbook journaling was something we did together and, when she died, I returned to that place to process my grief. When art is our companion during times of loss, we can transform vulnerability into strength. One of my passions is to provide that opportunity to others, especially those with limited access to art, such as in rural communities like where we grew up. I believe that everyone can tap into their creativity and break through self-limiting beliefs, by understanding the world both around us and within us. The bus comes to a stop, and I step off onto the Laguna College of Art and Design campus. The morning chill has faded, replaced by the warmth of the sun. I sling my bag over my shoulder, my art supplies shifting inside, As I head to class, a thought lingers, “She might think I'm extraordinary.”

Art is more about how I approach life, rather than as an escape from it. Growing up in a fishing village of 500 inhabitants, in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where electricity is only provided for 6 hours a day; nature and drawing were my primary companions. The wilderness of my surroundings was both my playground and my learning lab. As there were no art classes in my community, I started to draw with pens I found around the house, and, through these haphazard resources, I found a unique freedom in expressing ideas on a blank sheet of paper full of possibilities. My curiosity to learn more about Mother Nature and to convey this through my art grew within me. As art became a more significant part of my life throughout my adolescence, it became an integral part of my purpose. As I experimented with different tools, I learned they helped me expand my creative vision. Ink pens allowed me to create smooth, flowing lines, while watercolors let pigments carve their own path, absorbing into the soft paper. With oil paints, forms emerged and blended together, bringing richness to my work. Through my time spent on the desert coastline and in marine laboratories, I find myself incorporating many of these elements, while also illustrating surreal emotions, forgotten dreams, and feelings both raw and calm. I decided to come to the United States to study art further to explore materials and techniques, including digital media, and to gain more life experiences to inform my art because to explore art is to explore myself. For many of us artists, we don't create just to make good art, we create to connect with others. For me, it’s like holding hands across the distance, building a sense of community and belonging in the world we share. I have become more observant because I do not simply copy what I see, but translate what I feel. I have become a problem-solver because I do not only create to possess the final result but to gain valuable knowledge during the process. I have become more empathetic because I don’t just capture the shape of my subject, but I allow myself to explore through its essence, its story, even when there is no apparent “life” in it. Have you ever wondered how art can inspire you, even from those you’ve never met or who are no longer here? My sister’s death taught me the healing aspects of art and how that is essential to growth. Sketchbook journaling was something I did with my sister growing up and, when she died, I returned to that place to process my grief. When art is our companion during times of loss, we can transform vulnerability into strength. One of my passions is to provide that opportunity to others, especially those with limited access to art, such as in rural communities like where I grew up. I believe that everyone can tap into their creativity and break through self-limiting beliefs, by understanding the world around us and within us. The world craves human connection, everyone needs to be heard and to be seen. It is our human nature to want to share our experiences and the spectrum of emotions. Art can also capture the fleeting moments of the every day, preserving them before they fade into a distant memory. In doing so, it becomes more than just “expression”, it becomes a way to heal, to bridge gaps, and to bring people together. For me, art offers a gentle, compassionate way to heal society.

Creativity is weaving together ideas that awaken from your imagination and bringing them to life. It’s solving problems in a fun way in your day-to-day. It is an inherent quality of our minds and souls. Creativity is juggling colors, knitting sounds, playing with words, and crafting how life manifests before us. With our senses, we perceive the world, therefore, we unify it to connect with others, but more importantly, to connect with ourselves. Creativity is not abandoning your inner child. Creativity is a child hidden within your bones holding into every cell of your heart. It is a unique way of embracing your childlike wonder. Creativity means bonding with your artistic self, where authenticity is conceived and born. Creativity is a butterfly, impatient to spread its wings and inspire others, a wave of light that fills your body with serenity. It’s a form of learning. It’s an act of love. It’s immortalizing the mundane moments of our fleeting life. It’s filling your heart with what you love. Creativity is a breath of relief from the pressures of society and its rules. For me, creativity has been a source of support in ways I never imagined. Through my art and creations, I’ve connected with lovely souls, forming long-lasting friendships. It has helped me channel my energy during moments of grief and hardship. Creativity has allowed me to express complex human emotions and experiences through poetry, drawings, illustrations, journaling, and more. It has also helped me understand myself better and, ultimately, become my own best friend. The key to unlocking your creative potential lies in trusting and enjoying the process. I've learned this gently and roughly. With time I realized that I didn’t want to be discouraged by not being “great” yet, instead, I wanted to have the courage to strive for greatness, by shifting my perspective and rebuilding my vision. I chose to take the leap and pursue a degree in Drawing and Painting with an emphasis on Illustration. Studying in art school has strengthened my passion and reinforced the belief: love what you create, and create what you love. So make bad art, craft a collage out of that old magazine, hug your plushies, be silly and kind, compose a poem, find ways to bring more joy and fun into your daily life, enjoy and trust the process, be messy, and most importantly, embrace your uniqueness and be creative. “To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong” - Joseph Chilton Pearce

Art is not just a form of expression; for many, including myself, it is a way of life. But who is Britney Tolby? Is she just another Mexican American? An artist? A strange woman with dual citizenship who is still learning about the American part of her heritage? She’s known as an enthusiastic and curious person, always eager to learn new things, and a nature lover. She is, or rather, I am, all of those things and more. My first degree was in Bioengineering in Aquaculture at UABCS in Mexico. I plan to complete my bachelor’s in my second degree in Drawing and Painting with an Illustration emphasis at Laguna College of Art and Design in California. Now, in my mid-20s, I’m slowly finding ways to merge all these things, both in my professional and personal life. Spending my childhood in a fishing village of 500 inhabitants, where electricity is only provided for 6 hours a day, in Baja California Sur, Mexico, nature and drawing were my primary companions. The wilderness of my surroundings was both my playground and my learning lab. I always felt a unique freedom in drawing and expressing ideas on a blank sheet of paper, a canvas full of possibilities, without thinking about the outcome and enjoying the harmonious process of creating. There were no art classes in the community where I lived. I would draw with pens I found around the house and discover art through my own intuition and resources. Those early moments were the cornerstone of what my drawing and art style is today, primarily developing cross-hatching techniques with ink. Through the devastating impact of my older sister’s death, I also learned the healing aspects of art. Sketchbook journaling was something I did with my sister growing up and, when she died, I returned to that place to process my grief. When art is our companion during times of loss, we can transform vulnerability into strength. Consequently, I have a passion to provide that opportunity to others. After graduating with my first degree, I still had the desire to study art, to learn and interact with expert instructors in this field, to share experiences and feedback with peers, and to receive a proper education in this discipline. Therefore, I decided to take the plunge into a second degree and explore the other half of my heritage by going to the United States. I have faced severe challenges along the way, both cultural and economic, but I remain steadfast in my goal, ensuring that these thorns and stones along my path do not become obstacles that interrupt my creative dream. Even though technology will continue to evolve in the coming decades, and many of these resources are designed to assist us, nothing can replace the human spirit and the strength that lies within the things we create. While various tools may help us refine our skills and simplify processes that once seemed difficult to complete, every piece of art still carries the essence of the soul of its creator. Reflecting on my own experience with art and grief, I blend these two elements to heal and share my journey through my artwork, reaching out to those who may be going through similar situations. One of the greatest qualities of being a human artist is the ability to share, this can be either in a tangible form, through knowledge, or on a spiritual level. There is nothing more valuable than giving a piece of your existence to someone else, allowing them to use it for their own growth and benefit. I want to cultivate respect for nature, tell funny and wholesome stories through comics that feel like a warm hug to the heart, and create empathy through my illustrations. As always, the possibilities are limitless with art, and that’s what I love most about it. Among the many projects swirling in the sea of my thoughts, all revolve around storytelling in various forms. I want to create books with my own writing and artwork, such as comics about simple yet comforting life moments and sharing my experiences of how art helped me to face challenging moments in my life and unleashed my creative potential. I would also like to be a book designer/illustrator / infographic creator, particularly to be able to teach the science of marine organisms in a way that would create change in an engaging way. I want to enhance knowledge of our environment through art and facilitate stronger connections to the world around us, thus building a better future through art and understanding.

Growing up without formal exposure to art and discovering its healing power inspires me to create more opportunities, particularly for those in rural communities and others lacking access. Seeing the joy, the self-confidence, and the healing power of art when I taught nature illustration workshops in a marine national park in small communities, has further strengthened my resolve to help others find the outlet that I’ve found in art. My hometown is a fishing village of 500 inhabitants, in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where electricity is only provided for 6 hours a day; nature and drawing were my primary companions. The wilderness of my surroundings was both my playground and my learning lab. As there were no art classes in my community, I started to draw with pens I found around the house, and, through these haphazard resources, I found a unique freedom in expressing ideas on a blank sheet of paper full of possibilities. My curiosity to learn more about Mother Nature and to convey this through my art grew within me, and it is why I chose my first bachelor's degree in Aquacultural Bioengineering. As I gained insight about how natural resources have been exploited, I started recognizing how art could help people learn complex scientific processes, appreciate, and recognize the importance of preserving their ecosystems. Additionally, my sister’s death taught me the healing aspects of art and how that is essential to growth. Sketchbook journaling was something I did with my sister growing up and, when she died, I returned to that place to process my grief. When art is our companion during times of loss, we can transform vulnerability into strength. My passion is to provide that opportunity to others. My desire to study art became even stronger during this time, as I wanted to learn to improve my artistic technique in order to fulfill this vision. So, I gathered the courage to trust my intuition and am now pursuing a bachelor's degree in “Drawing and Painting with an Illustration emphasis” at Laguna College of Art and Design. The positive impact I want to create in the world is to inspire and create opportunities for those with limited access to art, especially in rural communities. I believe that everyone can tap into their creativity and refute self-limiting beliefs, by understanding the world around us and within us.