This piece speaks a lot about myself, about the disorganized thoughts and emotions swimming around in my head. The inspiration comes from within my soul. I've had a very traumatic life, forced to deal with loss at a really young age. I was drug through a hectic life because my parents made poor decisions. My father died in 2012 in a shoot out with the police and I have no clue what ever happened to my mother. Both parents have left me to struggle through my late teens and adult life alone and lost. I found my brother dead but first I found his father murdered at the age of three. That set me into a horrible place inside my head. I've dealt with sever mental illnesses throughout my life due to the tragic life I've lived. I'm inspired to draw by the pain inside that I feel and deal with in utter silence. I use it as a form of journaling my personal coping mechanisms to help me with all the pain I live with. This specific piece was drawn during a deep depression and was a extreme emotional release for me. I like to call it a free draw. Where I just let my hand move and whatever appears is what you get. It is totally your perspective if you see something that is what it is. Nothing in my art is purposefully drawn. I just make lines and the lines create a masterpiece of your imagination. I am seeking a higher education and would like to take something I love to do and turn it into a career. I heard somewhere if you live what you do you will never work q day in your life. I've worked really hard just to be where I am. I truly want to succeed in the art industry and I think school is the place to do it. I'm homeless and still manage to make my class and turn in all my assignments on time. I have a 89% overall grade qnd plan to continue to work qs hard as I can. I would use this money for new art supplies, classes, housing, and cost of living. I hope to survive this and come out on top. School has been a tough hurdle for me and being enrolled is my biggest obstacle yet and I made it now I just need to financially fix my situation to be able to focus more on my education to become a better person for my community. Thank you for taking your time to read my essay. Please have a wonderful day. Sincerely, Christopher Berentson