I have never been able to define my art by a single medium, subject, or outcome, and I don’t think I ever will. If anything has remained consistent in my work, it is that inconsistency, the constant exploration of materials, ideas, and methods. While that sometimes feels like a lack of direction, I have come to understand it can just as well be a strength. It reflects my curiosity, my willingness to learn, and ultimately, how I plan to sustain my future through art. As I prepare to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art and pursue a BFA in General Fine Arts with a minor in Curatorial Studies, my goal is not to confine myself to a single artistic identity, but to build a versatile and sustainable one. My approach to art has always been rooted in learning all I can, whether experimenting with watercolor, acrylics, inks, digital work, or participating in the technical aspects of theater. Each new medium or experience has expanded not only my skillset but my understanding of how art functions in different spaces, from galleries to community settings. Sustaining my future through art, to me, means creating engagement. Studio practice will remain my focus and passion, but I am equally interested in the spaces that surround art, how it is presented, interpreted, and made accessible. This is where my interest in curatorial studies becomes essential. Not only is it extra assurance for the future, but I also want to help shape environments where art can reach people who may not otherwise seek it out, particularly in communities where access to the arts is limited. Over time my research on the underfunding of arts programs have made it clear to me that sustainability in the arts is not just about personal success, but about creating and maintaining opportunities for others. At the same time, I understand that sustaining a future in art requires adaptability. My experiences in technical theater reinforced this idea. Working behind the scenes, building sets, managing productions, stepping into leadership roles when needed, taught me that creative work often depends on collaboration, flexibility, and the ability to take on different roles. I plan to carry that mindset forward, whether through freelance work, collaborative projects, exhibition work, or community-based initiatives. Beyond financial sustainability, art has already proven to be personally sustaining in my life. It has provided stability through constant change, especially as a military child moving between different states and environments. It has also given me a way to process experiences, build confidence, and reconnect with my sense of purpose during times when I felt uncertain academically or personally. Because of that, I see art not only as a career path, but as something that grounds and motivates me. Something I really could live doing. Ultimately, I plan to utilize my art to sustain my future by remaining open to new mediums, new opportunities, and new ways of connecting with people. I want to create work that is meaningful to me, while also contributing to a broader creative community. Through both making and curating art, I hope to build a career that is not only sustainable, but impactful, that supports both my own growth and the accessibility of art for others. Art may not always offer a single clear path, but it offers something equally important: the ability to adapt, to create, and to continue moving forward. That is the kind of sustainability I hope to build my future on.

As I reflect on my time as an artist I’ve found that if there was anything consistent about my artwork it would be how inconsistent it is. I don’t typically conform to a media or subject, my art is a visualization of my learning, curiosity, and ambition. Exploration of mediums and the development of my skills drive many of my creative decisions. I make art for myself, for expression, for others, and to learn, and there is no subject or singular material that encompasses that. Not that I mind having a concept to work off of, but inconsistency has allowed for me to learn more new styles, materials, and skills, as seen in my uses of water color, acrylics, inks, markers, and photographs. My art finds influences from my experiences, ideals, and overall want to experiment. The idea that there are so many more art forms to learn and so much more room to grow is exhilarating, a huge drive to my work and ambitions. Though of course there are times when a concept is required, from a class focusing on contemporary issues to developing and focusing on an inquiry of my choice for another class. Having a concept to work off of is grounding in a way, the base allows room for me to stretch my abilities to fulfill and exceed the minimum required, it allows a reset of the mind, and a chance to research and learn and that is something I will always appreciate. My processes are somewhat inconsistent from piece to piece, it all depends on the type of work, the ideas behind it, and my goals for a piece. These are also criteria that are considered when choosing materials, though there is also the fact that I would like to learn, or at least try all the materials I can. I'll never ignore a chance at trying a new medium, especially after seeing the ways different ones can be used in works in museums, as well as in the school art shows I've participated in. This exploration and drive to learn and grow has been essential in my life. It's one of the healthiest ways I deal with stress, and has helped gain confidence in myself and my works. It's also a constant, when living a life of moving, as many military kids do, having something that was reliable and engaging no matter where I was has been essential in my growth. So while it may be difficult to find a constant medium or idea in many of my works, the freedom, ideas, and growth is universally valuable to me, and something I hope to continue to experience.