During my time at the Maryland Institute College of Art, I've discovered the vast yet meticulous ways illustration impacts me. The arts have always been a loving companion to me, guiding my self-expression and helping me find my purpose in life. During my first year, I discovered that beyond drawing, I have a deep passion for stories and the way their worlds can stick to the very fiber of a person's being. In my sophomore year, I studied one of the crucial aspects of a story: its characters. Through character design, I saw that diversity and representation enable people to see themselves in a new light, making these stories resonate deeply with their audience. As a black woman, I understand the grave importance of representation and how it shouldn't be defined by one lens of a person or group's experiences. The beauty of illustration blooms from its limitless visuals and the potential of where its story can take you. I believe this same principle should be applied to how we view representation, allowing people to thrive in different roles. By my junior year, I had created my own children's book, bringing together all that I've learned so far. A bitter-sweet realization hit that I am no longer a curious child reading these books, splashing into the illustrations on the page, but that I can give that fascinating and unforgettable experience to others. Going into my senior year, I plan to continue my journey by offering people a chance to glimpse into the new story I'm creating and hopefully inspire them to tap into places they thought they never could. Illustration has evolved so much for me. At first, it presented itself as a way of drawing, but now I see it as a medium used to connect people. An illustration is a visual passage-- giving viewers a story with no words yet filled with a narrative rich in detail. With my art, I want to entertain people with the visual realities I create. I want to be a mirror, reflecting the endless possibilities of stories that can be told through illustrations. Laying down a path so that others can become inspired to start their art journey.

One of my favorite pieces I've created is my interpretation of Dracula for a character design class assignment. I envisioned Dracula as a 19th-century scientist with a dark side—an individual who delved into Satanism. Through a fateful experiment or ritual, he transformed into the iconic character. I love this piece because I wanted to go all out in showing his abilities and progression. I wanted the design to flow together and read like a story but still have the design of the different phases be unique. I wanted the viewers to see how deep into madness Dracula goes as he continues to fight. The third phase is my favorite because he becomes this unrecognizable monster, and I wanted to make that phase the most unsettling. This piece allowed me to explore more creepy and bizarre ideas while also giving me an idea of what storytelling through character design is like.

As a character designer, I visualize and create the people you watch or play as on your screens. The monster under the bed does not frighten me but intrigues me; what does it look like? How does it move? Where does it reside? My life revolves around the nature of 'what-ifs.' Fantastical and bizarre worlds are in my mind, and so are the characters that live there. Growing up, I was captivated by fantasy and science-fiction media. It showed me what the world could be, what other life forms could exist, and how infinite that rabbit hole is. Given the state of the world, we must keep falling down the rabbit hole and create something people can believe in. I often think about the power of representation, how just one character that resembles you or your ideals can affect someone. The hero fights for their beliefs, the hard worker achieves their dreams against all odds or the parent who gets through the day. We need these characters to make us feel seen because nothing is more reassuring than knowing you aren't alone. Even the characters that aren't similar to the viewer are influential to us. These stories allow us to experience the world through someone else's eyes, opening up new perspectives and opportunities for self-reflection. When I reflect on my goals for my career, what matters most to me is connecting with the viewer. I hope to inspire other artists to feel the same creative drive I experience when I watch or play my favorite media. I aspire to be a space for fellow BIPOC to feel comfortable exploring the out-of-the-ordinary. Reality can be harsh; sometimes, you should explore the worlds you wish to see. A forgotten land or a hostile alien planet, art gives us the unique advantage of exploring what isn't real, including its inhabitants. That is the beauty of art-it gives us unconventional ways to connect. With the characters I create, I aim to provide viewers with an outlet to explore other worlds and beings, letting them peek at the monster under the bed. Because without a character, who will tell our stories?

In 2021, I got the opportunity to exhibit my work for a Juneteenth event at BlackRock Center for the Arts. The experience of being in that exhibition gave me a greater perspective on the impact art can have. I made a piece reflecting on black women's hair and the societal issues that come with embracing it. Growing up and constantly hearing news stories about black girls having to conform to societal beauty standards is traumatizing. Being told that your hair isn't "up to code" and "appropriate" can destroy a person's relationship with themselves and others like them. Unfortunately, this shared experience breeds more discrimination inside of the black community, tearing us apart. I wanted my piece to reflect on that while also giving some power back to us. To be able to present that piece in a room filled with other black women gave me a feeling beyond belief. I understand the importance of seeing characters like me in media. Yet, seeing in real-time the significance representation can have was overwhelming. I not only felt heard but so did the people around me, which made me understand the power art has. I talked to some women afterward, and they exclaimed about how moved they were by my piece. I hope that with future art pieces I make, I can give viewers a way to see themselves.

Growing up in a house of five, I was the child who would draw on everything. The walls, the blinds, if it was not paper I was experiencing pure joy. Even though I did vandalize my home, I am lucky enough to have grown up in a household where my talents were recognized and supported. When I eventually-yet reluctantly moved my skills to paper, I would try to take the beautiful and vibrant world and capture it. We start with a vivid, blue sky with a six-humped cloud and glistening green grass. A lively landscape and the always four-petalled flower were a staple of mine. Of course, the bright, gleaming, yellow sun that sat oh-so-perfectly in the corner of my paper was a must. Then, the finishing touch-a girl with a ponytail and a spirited smile. It was my interpretation of the world and what a world it was! It was when I was drawing that I felt the most free. There was no question of what I could and could not do because it was my creation. All around me were things that inspired me: paintings and small sculptures along a brass frame; cartoon and animated movies that I've watched in awe and could recite like it was a holy scripture. Video games showed me how interactive and complex art can be. These elements of my life helped shape who I am and what I want to be: an artist. From the moment I grabbed my crayon, I knew that. The older I became, the better my skills were. My scribbles became refined sketches, and my motif moved from landscape pieces to portraits. My crayons turned into graphite pencils, and then those became an apple pencil. The better I became, the more I could see myself as a professional artist- the person I have always wanted to be. Art has taught me to be bold and has inspired me to continue to create the things I wish to see. The weird and wacky, the sci-fi and supernatural- art gives me the space to create a world for these things. It also allows me to depict the already beautiful world we live in. Art inspires me to learn other ways I can express myself and what other mediums I can use. As an Illustration major, all of these points are reasons I love art and creating it. When I graduate from college, I want to be a part of a production that will let me show how limitless art is and just how many stories you can tell with a drawing.

My art journey for most of my life has been pretty stagnant. I drew a lot and got some attention from my family and friends, but that was usually it. However, in these last couple of years, a new door seems to be opening, one with great opportunities. As a kid, I only drew in graphite; I was very stubborn in my ways. When my mom asked me why I never colored my drawings, I would say that I would mess it up. How much did I not learn from being scared to try something new? Years later, I'm a freshman in high school, still with the same mindset, but this time with an impatient mother willing to push me. So she signed me up for an art studio class. First feelings walking through the door? Terrified, I feared that everyone would be as harsh as I am on myself and judge me till I would never pick up a pencil. But much to no one's surprise, I was wrong. The studio was lively with people of all ages, young and old, drawing and learning with piano covers of popular songs in the background. In each class, we had to do gradient scales, one in graphite and one in colored pencil. As you can already guess, one of these wasn't my strong suit. It was almost as frustrating as writing with your non-dominate hand, but with each class, I would see improvements. By the next month, I had progressed to doing still life, it wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, but it was still an improvement. Then something unexpected happened, a new sub-class would open, introducing a new medium; Digital. Of course, at first, I didn't want to do it, but I was hand-selected, chosen to be a part of it. So reluctantly, I took a step toward the unknown, and thank God I did. I entered the class with a beating heart. The feeling of being a rookie was not one I wanted to be comfortable with. As the lesson went on, I felt a change in my thinking. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was having fun! I left that day with the feeling of curiosity flowing through my mind. What else can I do with this? That same day, I took my Ipad mini 4, downloaded Procreate Pocket, and started drawing. I went on Pinterest, looking at artworks made by other digital artists and their processes, and set a goal for where I wanted this new medium to take me. The goal was a very unrealistic one-I wanted to get to where I am now in a year. But I'm thankful for it because it kept me motivated and got me to develop my skills. By the time I was a senior in high school, all I knew was digital art. I was able to participate in multiple art competitions, going from honorable mention to silver locally to silver nationally. I was even able to present one of my pieces, "Wounded Queen" at a Juneteenth event, where I received a standing ovation and praises. I am now a rising sophomore at Maryland Institute College of Arts and working to be an illustration major. I've tried some new mediums: paint markers, gouache, and acrylic paint. I've also made some sculptures! My art journey now seems more promising as I'm excited to see where new experiences and mediums take me in this world!

Since I was little, I have always loved to draw, making my illustrations and seeing the reactions of those who caught a glimpse. Usually, it was just my family who saw and always praised me for my drawings " You'll work at Disney one day!" was the most famous line. Creating something from my mind without anyone telling me it was right or wrong was a freeing experience that I never wanted to go away. As soon as I realized it, I knew that was what I wanted to do. As I grew up and drew more, I learned how art could touch someone. When asked how I plan to make a positive impact on the world, I took a step back and thought about what I had already done. One instance comes to mind, back in 2021, I was allowed to showcase one of the art pieces I had done at a Juneteenth celebration event. The piece I created was a portrait showing the harassment black women have to deal with for their hair. I called it Wounded Queen because even as they tear us down, we are still royalty nonetheless. This art piece shows the damage that has been done physically and mentally to black women; and the disregard for that pain. Now, let's pause and if you would please imagine a canvas: now make the background a mixture of different hues of orange. Now, insert a black woman; change up her hair and make it into a gorgeous afro. Let's tilt her head not too much but just slightly, now make her cry; one long singular tear should do. Then on each side of the canvas, have four hands around that gorgeous afro on her head. On the top left, make that hand pull at her hair, and at the bottom left, make that one point at her judgingly. Then on the bottom right, make that hand put a lit candle stick to her hair. In the top right, make a hand with scissors cutting her hair. Once you've set it up in your mind, take a step back; this is my piece. My biggest accomplishment with this piece was that I connected to the hearts of those around me, who looked like me, who were me: a black woman. The more I describe the story of the piece, the more the audience proclaims it. When I finished, the audience applauded for having their feelings heard— like their story was no longer untold. Throughout the day, I had multiple conversations with those in the audience, proclaiming how much my piece meant to them. I realized that my art has the power to share even more untold stories that society locks away. Art is in everyday life, and because it is, we can use art as a platform. Creating representation and amplifying the message of POCs and minorities who get overlooked is very important. This is what I want to do with my art.

When asked how I plan to make a positive impact through my career, I took a step back and thought about what I had already done. One instance comes to mind, back in 2021, I was allowed to showcase one of the art pieces I had done at a Juneteenth celebration event. The piece I created was a portrait showing the harassment black women have to deal with for their hair. I called it Wounded Queen because even as they tear us down, we are still royalty nonetheless. This art piece shows the damage that has been done physically and mentally to black women; and the disregard for that pain. My biggest accomplishment with this piece was that I connected to the hearts of those around me, who looked like me, who were me: a black woman. The more I describe the story of the piece, the more the audience proclaims it. When I finished, the audience applauded for having their feelings heard— like their story was no longer untold. Throughout the day, I had multiple conversations with those in the audience, proclaiming how much my piece meant to them. I realized that my art has the power to share even more untold stories that society locks away. Art is in everyday life, and because it is, we can use art as a platform. Creating representation and amplifying the message of POCs and minorities who get overlooked is very important. This is what I want to do with my art.

When asked how I plan to make a positive impact through my art, I took a step back and thought about what I had already done. One instance comes to mind, back in 2021, I was allowed to showcase one of the art pieces I had done at a Juneteenth celebration event. The piece I created was a portrait showing the harassment black women have to deal with for their hair. I called it Wounded Queen because even as they tear us down, we are still royalty nonetheless. This art piece shows the damage that has been done physically and mentally to black women; and the disregard for that pain. My biggest accomplishment with this piece was that I connected to the hearts of those around me, who looked like me, who were me: a black woman. The more I describe the story of the piece, the more the audience proclaims it. When I finished, the audience applauded for having their feelings heard— like their story was no longer untold. Throughout the day, I had multiple conversations with those in the audience, proclaiming how much my piece meant to them. I realized that my art has the power to share even more untold stories that society locks away. Art is in everyday life, and because it is, we can use art as a platform. Creating representation and amplifying the message of POCs and minorities who get overlooked is very important. This is what I want to do with my art.

My heart beats faster every second that ticks by, every word I hear leave the presenter's mouth, every step I take forward as those who presented leave the stage. I was an honorable mention in my category; I didn't even place. The slow-burning fear that my art wouldn't be well-received hurt because it happened once, and I didn't want it to happen again. As the line got shorter to present–the inevitable presented itself; it was my turn. The crowd was quiet, but I could tell that they were eager to know who I was. As I place my piece on the stand, a collective gasp escapes from the crowd. I unveiled my artwork called Wounded Queen: a portrait showing the harassment black women go through with their hair. Now, let's pause and if you would please imagine a canvas: now make the background a mixture of different hues of orange. Now, insert a black woman; change up her hair and make it into a gorgeous afro. Let's tilt her head not too much but just slightly, now make her cry; one long singular tear should do. Then on each side of the canvas, have four hands around that gorgeous afro on her head. On the top left, make that hand pull at her hair, and at the bottom left, make that one point at her judgingly. Then on the bottom right, make that hand put a lit candle stick to her hair. In the top right, make a hand with scissors cutting her hair. Once you've set it up in your mind, take a step back; this is my piece. An illustration showing the battle black women have been fighting on their own. As I explain to the crowd around me, I can hear collective confirmation and agreement with what I am saying. When I finish, the crowd erupts in screams and cheers as I walk away with a smile. Who knew a sound so loud could be so pleasing to hear! That day was filled with affirmation that what I had created needed to be made. That a story needed to be heard had been told. Months later, family and friends still tell me about their peers' recent reactions to my artwork, almost too stunned to speak. That was about a year ago; today, I'm writing this about a week after winning a national silver medal in the NAACP ACT-SO Competition in a group project where I was the art director. I'm also preparing for college as I head to Maryland Institute College of Arts, embarking on my next journey in my art career. Life is short—my life has just barely begun, but for my art to have already made such an impact on my life is nothing short of a promise. A promise that my passion will forever change my life.

I want to be able to leave a mark that says "Express Yourself" My favorite thing to do is just that through art. Drawing is my biggest passion; I want to spread my creativity to others to help inspire them to get out there and be creative. Many other artists have done that via me looking at what they have created. The idea of moving someone and inspiring them to express themselves is always something I strive to do. I've done it once before at showcasing event where I presented a piece I had done about black women's hair and the harassment we face. The illustration shows a black woman crying as four hands depict the different types of harassment we go through. Touching, mocking, cutting, and burning our hair conforms to society's view of "perfect" hair; straight hair. People who saw my work loved it and told me how great they resonated with it. My piece had gotten so much love that day it showed me how much I could impact people with my art. To touch someone through doing something you do every day for fun is inspiring, and I want to be able to continue to do that.

My name is Deja Pemberton. I am a high school senior going into art college! Art means a lot to me and has become my safe space. I always surround myself with art and become inspired to create more art. Growing up, I was a traditional artist and wanted to stay as such, but through the twist and turns of life, I was able to join an art studio where they teach lessons and was able to try digital art. I was nervous and scared, given that I always get in my head when trying new things when everyone else around me already has experience in the field. Most times, that was enough to diminish my interest in the activity, but thankfully this time didn't. I was horrible at it, but at the same time, I was having fun learning about it. On the day of that first digital art class, I downloaded Procreate Pocket on my old iPad mini 4. I wanted to see more about this fascinating new style of art. Two years passed, and it's 2021. I've gotten the hang of this digital art thing. In class, the teacher talks about an upcoming art competition. I compete with my new piece, 'Wounded Queen' It's an illustration of the trials and tribulations black women have had to go through because of their hair. The pulling of our hair because it's "So exotic and crazy!!" The cutting of our hair because it's "too distracting." The burning of our hair to make it straight, conforming to society's standard of beautiful hair, and the pointing of our hair to ostracize and harass us for our nappy hair. I didn't win the competition though I did get an honorable mention. The real reward for me was the reactions to my piece. Family and friends acclaimed I expected that, but random people I've never met also praised me. I was able to present my illustration at a Juneteenth event that year. I could see and hear fellow audience members resonate with it, understand it, and feel for it. At the end of my presentation, I was met with a standing ovation and screaming so loud I thought the people outside would hear it. Even after my presentation, an old white couple came up to me and told me that my piece opened their eyes to the discrimination and apologized. There were other instances the week before when I was printing my artwork out in Staples when two employees were gawking at my piece and saying how much they loved it. I love this piece not only for how much time I put into it but how much it resonated with others. My drawing impacted random strangers. To me, that is something insanely special. There is something so great about touching someone's heart through something you do every day.

Since I was little, I have always loved to draw, making my illustrations and seeing the reactions of those who caught a glimpse. Usually, it was just my family who saw and always praised me for my drawings " You'll work at Disney one day!" was the most famous line. Creating something from my mind without anyone telling me it was right or wrong was a freeing experience that I never wanted to go away. As soon as I realized it, I knew that was what I wanted to do. As I grew up and drew more, I learned how art could touch someone. I had already known for myself from my own experiences with other artists, but I always wondered what it would feel like if I was able to move someone through my art. Luckily for me, I was able to find out. Last year I was in art class when our teacher announced that there would be an art competition coming up soon. It was the NAACP ACT-SO art competition. I had never been in an art competition before, fearing that I would be overly critiqued and lose. Yet the same time, I wanted to push myself and come out of my comfort zone and create something that would challenge me. I decided to compete by creating a piece that would show me the true beauty of art. It challenged me and took 27 hours and 46 minutes to finish, but I felt like a new person after I finished it. The piece Wounded Queen showcases the struggles and harassment black women have tolerated with their hair. It shows a black woman crying as four hands on each side of the drawing display one form of harassment that a black woman has possibly gone through getting their hair cut due to it being " distracting." The burning/ damaging of our hair to conform to society's standard of beautiful hair. The point and gawking of our hair and the petting/ touching of our hair. This piece shows the damage that has been done physically and mentally to black women and how that pain has been disregarded. I present my drawing to the judges, listening to their every word and critique. As they speak, I begin to feel more confident in my artwork. Maybe I could win this? Then after waiting excruciatingly long before the results come in, I get my answer. I didn't win. I was heartbroken but proud that I even tried. Usually, that's where things would end though it didn't. I was allowed to present my piece at the BlackRock Center Of The Arts Juneteenth celebration, were six other students would. At first, I was excited I was going to showcase an art piece in front of an audience for the first time! Then excitement became worried, and worried became terrified. The joy of seeing people's reactions to my drawing became fear as I realized that I had to present in front of people. The moments leading up to it were like a slow-ticking time bomb until the mental bomb in my mind exploded. Fear and doubt had jumped from the back of my mind to the front, screaming that I would embarrass myself and fail. The relentless attack went on until I realized that fear isn't fact and that just because it could happen doesn't mean that it will. I collect myself and prepare myself for the task ahead of me. As each person finishes, I hear the crowd erupt in applause, cheering them on. My fear starts to dwindle, all my doubts finally are put to rest, and then it's finally my turn to present. I showcase my piece. The response was something I wouldn't imagine. I finish then the audience erupts in applause, screams so loud I can still hear them in my head. Audience members came up to me, expressing how much they were moved by my artwork. Even an old white couple came up to me and apologized for how they had overlooked the harassment black woman had gone through and realized how wrong it was to deal with it. I am a good candidate for this scholarship because I was able to move people through my art to the point where people who aren't directly affected by it were. I want to be able to touch the lives of others with my art and learn even more about art and improve my skills. This scholarship will help me do that by taking some money off my tuition and weight off of my parent's shoulders.

Education was always something very important to my mom. When I was younger, She would always be on my and my sisters, constantly making sure we were pulling out the grades that we need in order to pass. To be fair a lot of parents are like that but for us it was something different. My mom at the time had never finished college and it became very noticeable that she was trying to push us towards a better path than she had gone down. I never really asked my mom before why she didn’t finish college, I just thought it was intrusive to ask. “Obviously she had a good reason” I thought , and I never really gave into my curiosity after that. Then out of the blue my mom decides that she is going to go back to college and get her bachelors. It was a surprise and at the time I didn’t know if it was a good one. How would my mom be able to balance not only her job, but raising her three kids and study for college? It seemed impossible in my eyes, there was no way any person could even possibly juggle all that and for four straight years as well. Well I am happy to say that it wasn’t, my mom not only finished college(this year by the way!), but is now getting more promotions at her job! There were times were it was rough, I remember those days. Coming downstairs to get ready for school only to see my mom still up taking those test and writing those essays. Plus not being able to do that many things with her because she had so much work to do also was a pain but in the end not only did she succeed in getting her bachelors, but she also has inspired me and my sisters to power through the tough times and work hard. On May 15,2021 my mm graduated with a bright smile on her face. (Not as bright as mine though).