I love focusing on eyes, as they are so expressive. They communicate emotions like sadness, anger, happiness and surprise. Most of my work is marked by bold, layering colors and an abstract interpretation of the subjects. As a budding artist, I am eager to begin my formal creative education in graphic design. My goal in college is to build on my foundation of drawing and painting; translating those skills into graphic design, digital imaging and interactive design. I am excited to be surrounded by a diverse group of creatives who will help fuel my ambition and further stretch my imagination.

I find most of my inspiration when watching local street artists and admire their huge murals on the sides of buildings. I am fascinated by the way the artists can take simple objects, interpret them in unique and exciting ways, and translate their interpretation into a sprawling mural that transforms its environment. For years, it has been my dream to be commissioned to paint on one of those walls, so I can share my big bold vision. This is what inspired me to paint my own murals on my bedroom walls. I started out with simple things such as tropical trees and abstract shapes. The older I got, the more I challenged myself. I became so enamored by one painting of a girl’s face in which I used overlapping colors that I painted it on my wall facing my bed so I can go to sleep and wake up to her colorful beauty. To date, I have sold 10 paintings. This success, along with my score of 4 on the AP Art drawing exam, validates my talent. I realize that I am just beginning my journey as an artist, and that there is so much more that I am excited to learn. My goal in college is to build on my foundation of drawing and painting; translating those skills into graphic design, digital imaging and interactive design. Having the proper technological computer tools will be necessary to help achieve this goal, and any financial assistance would help realize my dream. As a budding artist, I am eager to begin my formal creative education in graphic design; taking risks and venturing outside my comfort zone. More than anything, I am excited to be surrounded by a diverse group of creatives who will help fuel my ambition and further stretch my imagination.

Throughout my childhood, I participated in several sports, searching for the one I felt a connection with and wanted to play. I found this connection in volleyball. Going into it, I was told by family and friends that it would be hard for me. They said “Volleyball is really for the tall” and I am just a bit over 5 feet. However, as a Freshman, I made the JV team and was often complimented for being a strong and passionate player. I was known on the team for my commitment to diving, jumping and playing my heart out in every practice and game. By the end of the year, I had set my goal of making the Varsity team. Over that summer, I practiced day in and day out by attending numerous volleyball camps and clinics. When Fall came around, I showed up, played my heart out yet again, and made the Varsity team! Since then, I have continued to show growth every year. As a senior, I was just given the honor of being appointed captain, with a dual position of defensive specialist and libero. Looking back, I realized that the people that said I couldn’t or shouldn’t were my motivations; making me push myself harder to prove them wrong. To them I say, “Never underestimate the will of a 5-footer. I can bring it!”

“Are you kidding me? I want to keep this for myself!” That was the reaction my first buyer had when she saw my painting. She had asked for Medusa while extolling the soft features of her face, and the wild, venomous snakes of hair. The buyer intended to give it to her friend as a congratulatory gift for the opening of her new salon. The painting now hangs in the front window of the salon, beckoning prospective customers. Most of my work is marked by bold, layering colors and an abstract interpretation of the subjects. People have remarked that they can feel the emotion flowing right through the painting. Looking at all my work to date, the Medusa painting is my favorite and one that I am most proud of, as it is my first commissioned piece. I enjoyed creating her. The colors used illustrates a soft tender heart with the snakes bringing out her true intention of power, evil and aggression. I feel it is a true depiction of the struggle of a woman and need to be tender in heart but powerful to succeed. To know she hangs in a storefront adds to my confirmed success. As a budding artist, I am eager to begin my formal creative education; taking risks and venturing outside my comfort zone. More than anything, I am excited to be surrounded by a diverse group of creatives who will help to fuel my ambition and further stretch my imagination. My passion is burning inside of me, and clamoring for expression and I cannot wait to refine and expand my skills to propel myself forward in my creative endeavors. I fully realize that I am just beginning my career and that there is so much more that I am excited to learn.

Creative expression is my passion. When I was in elementary school, I began drawing flowers as a way to calm myself. As the years progressed, I found myself more focused on drawing eyes, as they are so expressive. They communicate emotions like sadness, anger, happiness and surprise more than any other part of the body. Quickly, these eyes became faces and these faces became filled with color and emotion. I become so absorbed in the process that I often find myself “in the zone”, experimenting with ideas, colors, mediums and ultimately turning most of my work into large, abstract paintings. Most of my work is marked by bold, layering colors and an abstract interpretation of the subjects. People have remarked that they can feel the emotion flowing right through the painting. These are my favorite compliments to receive! As a budding artist, I am eager to begin my formal creative education; taking risks and venturing outside my comfort zone. More than anything, I am excited to be surrounded by a diverse group of creatives who will help to fuel my ambition and further stretch my imagination. My passion is burning inside of me, and clamoring for expression and I cannot wait to refine and expand my skills to propel myself forward in my creative endeavors. I fully realize that I am just beginning my career and that there is so much more that I am excited to learn.

“Are you kidding me? I want to keep this for myself!” That was the reaction my first buyer had when she saw my painting. She had asked for Medusa while extolling the soft features of her face, and the wild, venomous snakes of hair. The buyer intended to give it to her friend as a congratulatory gift for the opening of her new salon. The painting now hangs in the front window of the salon, beckoning prospective customers. I was told the recipients of the painting referred to it as, “dope and incredible!” When I was in elementary school, I began drawing flowers as a way to calm myself. As the years progressed, I found myself more focused on drawing eyes, as they are so expressive. They communicate emotions like sadness, anger, happiness and surprise more than any other part of the body. I become so absorbed in the process that I often find myself “in the zone”, experimenting with ideas, colors, mediums and ultimately turning most of my work into large, abstract paintings. Most of my work is marked by bold, layering colors and an abstract interpretation of the subjects. People have remarked that they can feel the emotion flowing right through the painting. As a budding artist, I am eager to begin my formal creative education; taking risks and venturing outside my comfort zone. More than anything, I am excited to be surrounded by a diverse group of creatives who will help to fuel my ambition and further stretch my imagination. My passion is burning inside of me, and clamoring for expression and I cannot wait to refine and expand my skills to propel myself forward in my creative endeavors. I fully realize that I am just beginning my career that I am excited to learn and grow.

“Are you kidding me? I want to keep this for myself!” That was the reaction my first buyer had when she saw my painting. She had asked for Medusa while extolling the soft features of her face, and the wild, venomous snakes of hair. The buyer intended to give it to her friend as a congratulatory gift for the opening of her new salon. The painting now hangs in the front window of the salon, beckoning prospective customers. I was told the recipients of the painting referred to it as, “dope and incredible!” When I was in elementary school, I began drawing flowers as a way to calm myself. As the years progressed, I found myself more focused on drawing eyes, as they are so expressive. They communicate emotions like sadness, anger, happiness and surprise more than any other part of the body. Quickly, these eyes became faces and these faces became filled with color and emotion. I become so absorbed in the process that I often find myself “in the zone”, experimenting with ideas, colors, mediums and ultimately turning most of my work into large, abstract paintings. People have remarked that they can feel the emotion flowing right through the painting. These are my favorite compliments to receive! As a budding artist, I am eager to begin my formal creative education; taking risks and venturing outside my comfort zone. I am excited to be surrounded by a diverse group of creatives who will help to fuel my ambition and further stretch my imagination. My passion is burning inside of me, and clamoring for expression and I cannot wait to refine and expand my skills to propel myself forward in my creative endeavors. I fully realize that I am just beginning and that there is so much more to learn.

“Are you kidding me? I want to keep this for myself!” That was the reaction my first buyer had when she saw my painting. She had asked for Medusa while extolling the soft features of her face, and the wild, venomous snakes of hair. The buyer intended to give it to her friend as a congratulatory gift for the opening of her new salon. The painting now hangs in the front window of the salon, beckoning prospective customers. I was told the recipients of the painting referred to it as, “dope and incredible!” The colors used illustrates a soft tender heart with the snakes bringing out her true intention of power, evil and aggression. I feel it is a true depiction of the struggle of a woman and need to be tender in heart but powerful to succeed. As a budding artist, I am eager to begin my formal creative education; taking risks and venturing outside my comfort zone. More than anything, I am excited to be surrounded by a diverse group of creatives who will help to fuel my ambition and further stretch my imagination. My passion is burning inside of me, and clamoring for expression and I cannot wait to refine and expand my skills to propel myself forward in my creative endeavors. I fully realize that I am just beginning my career and that there is so much more that I am excited to learn and contribute to the world.

“Are you kidding me? I want to keep this for myself!” That was the reaction my first buyer had when she saw my painting. She had asked for Medusa while extolling the soft features of her face, and the wild, venomous snakes of hair. The buyer intended to give it to her friend as a congratulatory gift for the opening of her new salon. The painting now hangs in the front window of the salon, beckoning prospective customers. I was told the recipients of the painting referred to it as, “dope and incredible!” When I was in elementary school, I began drawing flowers as a way to calm myself. As the years progressed, I found myself more focused on drawing eyes, as they are so expressive. They communicate emotions like sadness, anger, happiness and surprise more than any other part of the body. Quickly, these eyes became faces and these faces became filled with color and emotion. I become so absorbed in the process that I often find myself “in the zone”, experimenting with ideas, colors, mediums and ultimately turning most of my work into large, abstract paintings. Most of my work is marked by bold, layering colors and an abstract interpretation of the subjects. People have remarked that they can feel the emotion flowing right through the painting. These are my favorite compliments to receive! Looking at all my work to date, the Medusa painting is my favorite and one that I am most proud of, as it is my first commissioned piece. I enjoyed creating her. The colors used illustrates a soft tender heart with the snakes bringing out her true intention of power, evil and aggression. I feel it is a true depiction of the struggle of a woman and need to be tender in heart but powerful to succeed. To know she hangs in a storefront adds to my confirmed success. As a budding artist, I am eager to begin my formal creative education; taking risks and venturing outside my comfort zone. More than anything, I am excited to be surrounded by a diverse group of creatives who will help to fuel my ambition and further stretch my imagination. My passion is burning inside of me, and clamoring for expression and I cannot wait to refine and expand my skills to propel myself forward in my creative endeavors. I fully realize that I am just beginning my career and that there is so much more that I am excited to learn.