I attempted plein air painting for the first time on a cliffside town in Tuscany. My senior year of undergrad I studied abroad in Italy. In so many ways the experience was life changing, but I will never forget painting the view overlooking the country side. It was unlike anything I’d ever witnessed (we used to joke it looked like a screen saver, it was so perfect.) As I painted, tourists would travel up the mountain, stopping to ask me about my work. I remember a German couple pulling out their phone to translate “beautiful” to me in English. The experience completely shifted the way I viewed painting. As I experienced outdoor painting for the first time I was struck with how it changed the way I interpreted the world around me and my approach to painting. It allowed me to capture the beauty in ephemeral and fleeting moments of life—-fresh snow on a sunny day, a little girl jumping into the ocean, or dogs chasing one another. To paint from life shows you the essence of an experience in a way that painting from a photo cannot. representing the beauty of the emotions, thoughts, and unpredictability in a moment in nature. I am interested in landscapes that inspire awe, moments of kind human interaction, and the beauty of every day life. I am pursuing a masters degree in painting because I believe that it is one of the most important gifts that we as artists can give the world. I believe that art is essential to our society. I am so grateful for your time and am honored to be considered for this award.