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elroyn gathright

445

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

Bio

Even if you made one misstep, it felt like you were miles apart from the group you were a part of. It made me feel like everything in my life had to be perfect, and if I wanted to succeed in life, I had to do it with no mistakes. I built myself up so much that I thought since I had good grades and had a home and a family, I was living a perfect life, and that fact alone just made me inherently better than everyone else. Then I slipped and fell during our performance. I felt that everyone was going to be upset with me, mad, or at least express some sort of emotion, but no one did. I thought my one slip ruined the whole show, and I ruined everyone's hard work. The next day I came to school, and no one even cared to remember or just didn’t care enough to. I realized that, despite all of your attempts to avoid or correct errors, mistakes occur on a daily basis. As humans, we make mistakes. We don’t learn and grow to become perfect; we do it to improve ourselves. This also made me change my opinion on art. And I started to ask myself what made my art prefect—was it even prefect at all? When I looked at my art, I was so rigid and concerted that I thought that every line had to be perfect when I first started painting. As I've developed as an artist, I've come to believe that flawed paintings with flawed materials and meaningless compositions are far more interesting than faultless paintings that are just too perfect to be worth caring about. Life is full of dumb mistakes and heat-of-the-moment decisions; all we can do is learn about them and grow.

Education

Mississippi School Of The Arts

High School
2022 - 2024

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Fine and Studio Arts
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Arts

    • Dream career goals:

      Lewis Hollins Memorial Art Scholarship
      My art is my voice; it’s my conversation. I've always wished to have but struggled to express my thoughts with words. It’s like my brain is stuck between what I need to say and what I want to say. I can never connect them together, and because of that, I am often left with regret after talking to someone. As someone who often finds it difficult to articulate my thoughts and emotions, I've discovered solace and clarity in painting. Through my art, I open the door to my innermost feelings, inviting others to see and understand a part of me that I've found elusive when speaking. Without having to force a one-sided conversation, neither of us want to take part in it. I want my art be be like a conversation between people and for people to have fun when they interact with it. Looking ahead, I envision my future relationship with my artwork as a continuous evolution. As I grow and change, so too will the strokes on my canvas evolve, capturing the nuances of my ever-shifting self. I aspire to own a gallery, not merely as a space to showcase my creations, but as a communal haven where individuals can engage in a shared conversation through art. The gallery, in my vision, will be a dynamic space—a living, breathing entity that fosters creativity, understanding, and joy. It will echo with the laughter of those who find delight in the visual symphony of colors and textures. It will resonate with the murmurs of contemplation as viewers connect with the unspoken narratives embedded in each piece. In this envisioned future, the gallery will extend beyond the physical walls, becoming a virtual haven for global audiences. Through digital platforms, I aim to amplify the conversation, reaching individuals who may have felt isolated in their struggles to articulate emotions. The power of art, I believe, lies not only in its creation but in its ability to unite diverse voices in a harmonious chorus. In conclusion, my artistic journey is a pilgrimage of self-discovery, an odyssey through the language of colors and forms. Through my art, I hope to achieve a profound connection with others, transcending the barriers of verbal expression. The envisioned gallery is not just a space for my creations; it is a testament to the transformative power of art—a conversation that unites, inspires, and speaks to the deepest recesses of the human experience.
      Good People, Cool Things Scholarship
      For me, my creative passion lies in the world of painting, where each stroke of the brush becomes a language of emotions and narratives for me and the viewer to connect with. The canvas is my preferred medium as a painter since it's a blank canvas just ready to be filled with color, texture, and significance. through the way brushstrokes are timed and the way pigments interact. My goal is to stir up feelings and provoke thought via the telling of stories. Paintings that tell a narrative visually have the rare capacity to cut over linguistic boundaries and provide a common ground for connection and conversation. The impact of visual storytelling on canvas goes beyond the aesthetic; it has the ability to evoke empathy, challenge perceptions, and inspire change. By addressing societal issues, celebrating diversity, and capturing the essence of human experiences, paintings can serve as catalysts for reflection and dialogue. I think art has a way of making people think about what is important and life and what they value. I want to use my art to turn the world into a better place. Given an additional 24 hours in a day, I would devote significant time to expanding my artistic horizons. Experimenting with new techniques, exploring diverse themes, and collaborating with fellow artists would become integral parts of this extended creative time. The additional hours would allow for a deeper exploration of my craft, fostering the creation of artworks that resonate on a profound level and contribute positively to the world. I find my most creative moments when surrounded by the beauty of nature, immersed in its colors, textures, and the ebb and flow of life. These moments of connection with the world around me serve as wellsprings of inspiration, influencing the stories I choose to tell on canvas. By embracing the natural world and allowing it to guide my creativity, I strive to infuse authenticity and depth into my artwork that is when I feel most creative. In conclusion, the canvas serves as my portal to a world of visual storytelling, where brushstrokes become a powerful language. As a painting artist, my creative passion aims to make the world a better place by fostering empathy, encouraging dialogue, and inspiring change. With an extra 24 hours in the day, I would invest in the cultivation of my artistic vision, contributing to a more vibrant and interconnected global community. Through the brushstrokes of change, we can paint a brighter and more harmonious future.