This is my personal story on how I shine my light with my art by giving back to support the community. A local wildlife rescue organization, Hoo Haven, was looking for an artist to volunteer their time to paint a new sign for the road. I realized that it was the start of my senior year and 3rd year in AP Art, and while I don't have the experience of an established artist, I love a challenge and giving back to my community. A couple weeks go by of going back-and-forth emailing different types of sketches to see what I can do and then, they chose me! After being selected to make the sign, I met Karen in person to discuss the details. She shared her vision of bright colors with unique markings of a warm and inviting Great Horned Owl. At that time, she let me know that because the wood signs they have used in the past haven't held up due to weather, that a friend was donating a 4' X 4' piece of sheet metal for the sign. At the time, I didn't think twice about the change in the surface, I just went to work on my rough draft and color scheme. Once the sketch was approved, I started researching how to paint on a metal surface for outdoors and realized what a challenge I took on. I had to go back to Karen and tell her the project was on hold until I could find a solution. The problem is metal isn't porous, so the paint can't adhere to the surface. I reached out to local companies to try and find a solution. Shorrly after, one responded to my email and explained how I could paint the sign on 11" x 11" canvas paper, and then they would scan and enlarge the painting to print on a 4'x4' piece of vinyl that can then be applied to the metal. It will last 5-7 years. I presented the idea to Karen and she loved it! My takeaway from this project was that I hope my painting reminds everyone that there is a solution to every problem -- sometimes we have to take a step back and pause to find it. After I graduate from Western in 2028, I plan on pursuing an MA in Art History and possibly Photography. While pursuing my MA, my immediate goal is to travel and build my resume in both the art and business world. This will allow me to gain experience in the financial and marketing aspects of business before starting my own art based business. Having a brick and mortar based store is the ultimate end goal. I plan on starting small with a traveling vendor type business at various markets in order to gain customers as I build my brand. I believe that in order to be a successful businesswoman, I need to build a solid foundation that is only gained from knowledge and experience while building a network of like-minded business women as a resource. Giving back to the community will be at the heart of my business plan. I plan to offer different types of art classes that incorporate various mediums as well as a community odds and ends section in my store. The purpose of this is to reduce waste by sharing valuable art supplies that are no longer of use to others but still have a purpose. I believe that a business that focuses on helping others will always find success.

As you know, creating art is not easy. It's very challenging and a constant struggle with finding the perfect balance. It takes time and patience to master a skill. The symmetry of light and dark, with factoring in composition and line technique, and so on. Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Fast forward to the present, and I am at Western Illinois University pursuing my BFA with a minor in business marketing in the Honors College program. I fell in love with their art department and all of the endless possibilities it has to offer. In high school, I won a lot of awards for my art. One of my favorite pieces, "Matrix of Stress," received the highest award last year. I set out to challenge myself, like always, and wanted to make a piece that allowed the viewer to feel chaotic energy by allowing them to view the constant stress and pressure we internalize and inflict upon ourselves. The scene I created is buildings stacked on each other in an unorganized fashion. They are bending in ways that make you think they are unstable and under extreme pressure, like when you stack too much on your plate at once. I chose colors to match the feelings I wanted to portray through my work, not the traditional method. I made all the cool colors, the highlights, and the warm colors, the shadows, which visually represent the chaotic imagery I was going for because warm colors are normally the highlights. To add to the feeling of stress, I used bright orange for the sky. It is like the color of the big signs you see at construction zones, where they warn you that there is a work zone ahead. In the foreground, I drew a spiky, ridged bottom. It symbolizes walking on needles. This is only one of my many pieces, and most of them are this complex in technique and symbolism. This piece received the Scholastic Gold Key at the regional level and the Silver Medal at the national level. I worked hard and went way outside my comfort zone while making this piece. My awards are the result of believing that no dream is too big. After I graduate from Western in 2028, I plan on pursuing an MA in Art History and possibly Photography. While pursuing my MA, my immediate goal is to travel and build my resume in both the art and business world. This will allow me to gain experience in the financial and marketing aspects of business before starting my own art based business. Having a brick and mortar based store is the ultimate end goal. I plan on starting small with a traveling vendor type business at various markets in order to gain customers as I build my brand. I believe that in order to be a successful businesswoman, I need to build a solid foundation that is only gained from knowledge and experience while building a network of like-minded business women as a resource. Giving back to the community will be at the heart of my business plan. I plan to offer different types of classes that incorporate various mediums as well as a community odds and ends section in my store. The purpose of this is to reduce waste by sharing valuable art supplies that are no longer of use to others but still have a purpose. I believe that a business that focuses on helping others will always find success.

One of my favorite pieces that I made was "Matrix of Stress," my junior year of high school. I set out to challenge myself, like always, and wanted to make a piece that really stood out. I wanted the viewer to feel chaotic energy by embodying the constant stress and pressure we internalize and inflict on ourselves. It represented everything I was feeling as I dealt with the pressure of my senior year approaching. The tests, keeping up my GPA, art deadlines, planning college visits, deciding which college I should attend, and so on. Every decision I was faced with had the power to change the trajectory of my future. Should I attend a NAIA college to play woman's flag football, an art based college, or a general studies college to pursue my BFA? My life felt like complete chaos. I was constantly under pressure and felt like I was going to break. The "Matrix of Stress" is the culmination of everything I was feeling. The piece I created is buildings stacked on top of each other in an unorganized fashion. They bend in ways that make you think they are unstable and under extreme pressure, like when you stack too much on your plate at once. I chose colors to match the feelings I wanted to portray through my work, not the traditional method. I made all the cool colors, the highlights, and the warm colors, the shadows, which visually represents the chaos I was going for because warm colors are normally the highlights. To add to the feeling of stress, I used bright orange for the sky. It is like the color of the big signs you see at construction zones, where they warn you that there is a work zone ahead. In the foreground, I drew a spiky, ridged bottom. It symbolizes walking on needles. This is only one of my many pieces, and most of them are this complex in technique and symbolism. This piece won the Scholastic Gold Key at the regional level and went on to win the Silver Medal at the national level my senior year in high school. I worked hard and went way outside my comfort zone while making this piece. Quite frankly, growing is painful and that piece felt like it was going to break me at times. Every time I look at that piece, I am reminded that pushing through all the times I wanted to quit was worth it.

One of my favorite pieces that I made was "Matrix of Stress," my junior year in high school. I set out to challenge myself, like always, and wanted to make a piece where the viewer felt chaotic energy by allowing them to view the constant stress and pressure we internalize and inflict on ourselves. The piece I created is buildings stacked on top of each other in an unorganized fashion. They bend in ways that make you think they are unstable and under extreme pressure, like when you stack too much on your plate at once. I chose colors to match the feelings I wanted to portray through my work, not the traditional method. I made all the cool colors, the highlights, and the warm colors, the shadows, which visually represents the chaos I was going for because warm colors are normally the highlights. To add to the feeling of stress, I used bright orange for the sky. It is like the color of the big signs you see at construction zones, where they warn you that there is a work zone ahead. In the foreground, I drew a spiky, ridged bottom. It symbolizes walking on needles. This is only one of my many pieces, and most of them are this complex in technique and symbolism. This piece won the Scholastic Gold Key at the regional level and went on to win the Silver Medal at the national level my senior year in high school. I worked hard and went outside my comfort zone while making that piece. Quite frankly, growing is painful and that piece felt like it was going to break me at times. Every time I look at that piece, I am reminded that even the darkest most challenging times can inspire beauty through art.

I am currently a freshman at Western Illinois University pursuing my BFA with a minor in business marketing in the Honors College program. I plan on graduating within the traditional four years by taking classes during the summer months to accomplish my goal. I know a minor is not required with a BFA, but I like a challenge and believe it is important for me to be successful after college. After I graduate from Western in 2028, I plan on pursuing an MA in Art History and possibly Photography. While pursuing my MA, my immediate goal is to travel and build my resume in both the art and business world. This will allow me to gain experience in the financial and marketing aspects of business before starting my own art based business. I also plan on entering my artwork in various art shows because art brings me joy. As of the fall semester here at WIU, I have maintained a 4.0. GPA and made the Dean's List. Combined with my first semester, AP, and pre college art credits, I have 20 hours completed. By the end of my freshman year, I will have completed 36 hours. I am the oldest of five children, so I'm naturally a very active person because our family is always on the go. In high school, I was one of the first female student-athletes to represent her school here in IL by playing girls' flag football my junior and senior year. I also played varsity soccer along with indoor and outdoor track - 4x4 and 3200 meter race. I belonged to various clubs and volunteered over 100 hours in our community through the National Honors Society. In addition to playing sports, I received numerous art awards like the Scholastic Gold Key at the regional level and the Silver Medal at the national level. So, when I came to Western, it was only natural for me to get involved. I'm currently a part of Clay Club, Marketing Club, Women in Business Club, Severe Weather Club (Secretary), and Badminton Club. I am also involved in volunteer organizations like Wave and Student Honor Association, where we make holiday cards for local nursing homes and dog toys at a local shelter. Scholarships allow me to attend college so I can make my dreams a reality. The financial burden of college is overwhelming, so any scholarships I receive make a huge difference for my family. They not only lessen my financial burden during the school year but also for my future self. Knowing that I will be that much less in debt after attending college has taken stress off of my shoulders and allows me to focus better on my classes. It also allows me to participate and enjoy all the amazing experiences Western has to offer because I'm not overwhelmed with possibly working multiple jobs to cover the expenses. I am able to focus on my classes, spend more time working on my art, go to different sporting events, join different clubs and organizations, volunteer, and most importantly have fun while meeting new people. It's an honor to be chosen to receive a scholarship and one that I don't take lightly. A benefactor can choose to designate their money anyway they want. So, the fact that they chose to help support the future of a person they have never met by blindly believing in them and what they are capable of is life changing. Your generosity means the world to me. Thank you for investing in my future and for making my life at Western possible.

Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. A few hours after I was born the pediatrician told my parents that I would be very artistic because of the way I moved my hands. She even said my art would not be limited to how I see the world, but rather how I experience life by touching and feeling my surroundings. My parents didn’t share this with me until I was in high school because how could she have possibly known what a newborn would become by the way they moved their hands? Well, 18 years later and I am going to Western Illinois University to pursue my BFA. As a child, I would pick up a crayon and draw whatever popped into my mind. Nothing could stop me, not even the edge of the paper. Then I started elementary school and learned the importance of detail and staying inside the lines. I have to say that I was blessed to have amazing art teachers growing up. I am grateful for Ms. Holm and Mrs. Wood. They taught me that it is OK to explore new techniques and push myself beyond my comfort zone because that is what allows us to grow as an artist. Because of their guidance I was able to study various artists throughout history and as cliche as it might sound, Van Gogh is the artist that truly changed how I viewed art. I realize it isn’t original for an artist to choose Van Gogh, but his work allowed me to feel safe in trying new techniques and expressing myself outside of the “traditional” lines. Each piece he created challenged movement through his technique and colors of choice. He allowed me to feel comfortable creating art in my own style. I had an art teacher that wanted students to always have perfect technique and perfect lines. It always made me feel like my art was fake. Then I was reminded in high school that art is not limited to one perspective. That is when Van Gogh rescued me as an artist. He paved the way that allowed me to feel safe in creating art in my own way. Studying his pieces helped remind me that it is ok if my perspective is off, as long as it made a piece look interesting or had a purpose. Van Gogh created some of his art to look semi-realistic by the way he moved the material, colors, or the perspective lines off center. He pushed the boundaries of the art world with every piece. My high school teacher, Mrs. Wood, really drilled the importance of looking closely at each artist's piece because that is how you get to know them on an intimate level. Each piece shares a glimpse of who they are by how they use the material. I try to express emotions through my art by using certain materials and how I apply it to the surface through shape, composition, moventment, color, and line. Pursuing art at a higher level requires self discipline and determination. Van Gogh himself created more than 2,000 pieces of art in his lifetime. I am honestly very driven and enjoy creating so much that time stands still when I work. Van Gogh painted a path for young artists like me to be able to create without the fear of having to conform to perfection. Art is the freedom to express how we see the world and I am forever grateful that I get to share my perspective.

Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. A few hours after I was born the pediatrician told my parents that I would be very artistic because of the way I moved my hands. She even said my art would not be limited to how I see the world, but rather how I experience life by touching and feeling my surroundings. My parents didn’t share this with me until I was in high school because how could she have possibly known what a newborn would become by the way they moved their hands? Well, 18 years later and I am going to Western Illinois University to pursue my BFA in Fine Arts. As a child, I would pick up a crayon and draw whatever popped into my mind. Nothing could stop me, not even the edge of the paper. Then I started elementary school and learned the importance of detail and staying inside the lines. I have to say that I was blessed to have amazing art teachers growing up. I am grateful for Ms. Holm and Mrs. Wood. They taught me that it is OK to explore new techniques and push myself beyond my comfort zone because that is what allows us to grow as an artist. Because of their guidance I was able to study various artists throughout history and as cliche as it might sound, Van Gogh is the artist that truly changed how I viewed art. I realize it isn’t original for an artist to choose Van Gogh, but his work allowed me to feel safe in trying new techniques and expressing myself outside of the “traditional” lines. Each piece he created challenged movement through his technique and colors of choice. He allowed me to feel comfortable creating art in my own style. I had an art teacher that wanted students to always have perfect technique and perfect lines. It always made me feel like my art was fake. Then I was reminded in high school that art is not limited to one perspective. That is when Van Gogh rescued me as an artist. He paved the way that allowed me to feel safe in creating art in my own way. Studying his pieces helped remind me that it is ok if my perspective is off, as long as it made a piece look interesting or had a purpose. Van Gogh created some of his art to look semi-realistic by the way he moved the material, colors, or the perspective lines off center. He pushed the boundaries of the art world with every piece. My high school teacher, Mrs. Wood, really drilled the importance of looking closely at each artist's piece because that is how you get to know them on an intimate level. Each piece shares a glimpse of who they are by how they use the material. I try to express emotions through my art by using certain materials and how I apply it to the surface through shape, composition, moventment, color, and line. Pursuing art at a higher level requires self discipline and determination. Van Gogh himself created more than 2,000 pieces of art in his lifetime. I am honestly very driven and enjoy creating so much that time stands still when I work. Van Gogh painted a path for young artists like me to be able to create without the fear of having to conform to perfection. Art is the freedom to express how we see the world and I am forever grateful that I get to share my perspective.