As I was growing up, STEM had been a constant in my life. From my grandmother supporting me in the field to my sister being a successful chemical engineer. Despite what my grandmother would have wanted, decidedly, I'd found my passion in the arts specifically: illustration, printmaking, and visual narrative. My grandmother, being a seamstress, has gone through all walks of life throughout her time. From being a seamstress in Peru to making altercations and working hard as an immigrant in the United States. A dedicated matriarch born in the 1930s, her beliefs were firm and dictated the organised and delegated way she went through the hardships of life. More than anything, I would wish to honor her by completing my senior year and getting my master's degree to teach art and share the stories of marginalized communities. I grew up in a sanctuary, synonymous to home for hundreds of thousands of immigrants that would come in from across the globe; more distinctly, from hispanic and latino roots. With such a wide variety of different cultures, I was able to grow up with the aptitude of different cultures. Exposure to so many different walks of life has guided me as I took my first study abroad in Florence, Italy, engaging in an unforgettable experience as I continue to hone my artistic practice. When it comes to Illustration and Animation, my chosen major, it imbues a unique aspect to my works; providing me with a special perspective in my projects. I strive to become an art teacher for high school - college age students, centering on multidisciplinary aspects such as photography, illustration, comics/cartooning/graphic paneling, visual storytelling, and unapologetically sharing the stories that deserve to be told. The ones that are few and far in between. Art and expressionism goes hand-in-hand with my aspiration to represent marginalized communities. The same ones that I call home. For my career, I hope to be able to share minority and queer experiences through the very media I consumed that helped me believe in my ability to be unapologetically me. And what it means to discover oneself and having the chance to do so, without shame. I strive to teach art and express the complexities of being LGBT+ through graphic novels. Writing and creating is a passion, while at some points, a means of escapism it allows for deep criticisms regarding the way we categorize ourselves in this world of inevitable multitudes. I want to show the future generation that change is being made and instead of the current political climate wanting to do everything in it’s power to make education less accessible for the LGBT community, we have and will continue to make progress towards acceptance, inclusion, and diversity. I want to extend a hand, not only to my childhood self, but to young hopefuls by showing them just how much their stories matter; in exactly the same way my teachers had inspired me. Show them that they aren’t the only free spirits who want to escape society’s box and be able to live and create freely. To tell them to never let others dissuade them from pursuing what makes them happiest. I firmly believe that being a student is a lifelong pursuit, especially as I’m a rising senior and finishing my bachelor’s degree. With so many years in the industry ahead of me, I can only hope to learn as much as I can, as soon as I can, to be a part of the production that helps our everyday lives be a part of the story.

Exposure. It would be remiss of me to leave it with the brevity of a singular word. However, it encompasses everything that involves capturing an experience and exposing it to others. I grew up in a sanctuary, synonymous to home for hundreds of thousands of immigrants that would come in from across the globe; more distinctly, from hispanic and latino roots. With such a wide variety of different cultures, I was able to grow up with the aptitude of different cultures. Translating that into my current career and ambitions, I take immense pride into being bilingual and the opportunities that enhanced my means of communication and understanding those around me; it’s a gift, to be able to help those around me who aren’t well versed in English or vice versa and help translate English into Spanish whenever necessary. Exposure to so many different walks of life has guided me as I took my first study abroad in Florence, Italy, engaging in an unforgettable experience as I continue to hone my artistic practice. When it comes to Illustration and Animation, my chosen major, it imbues a unique aspect to my works; providing me with a special perspective in my projects. I strive to become an art teacher for high school - college age students, centering on multidisciplinary aspects such as photography, illustration, comics/cartooning/graphic paneling, visual storytelling, and unapologetically sharing the stories that deserve to be told. The ones that are few and far in between. Art and expressionism goes hand-in-hand with my aspiration to represent marginalized communities. The same ones that I call home. For my career, I hope to be able to share minority and queer experiences through the very media I consumed that helped me believe in my ability to be unapologetically me. And what it means to discover oneself and having the chance to do so, without shame. I strive to teach art and express the complexities of being LGBT+ through graphic novels. Writing and creating is a passion, while at some points, a means of escapism it allows for deep criticisms regarding the way we categorize ourselves in this world of inevitable multitudes. I want to show the future generation that change is being made and instead of the current political climate wanting to do everything in it’s power to make education less accessible for the LGBT community, we have and will continue to make progress towards acceptance, inclusion, and diversity. I want to extend a hand, not only to my childhood self, but to young hopefuls by showing them just how much their stories matter; in exactly the same way my teachers had inspired me. Show them that they aren’t the only free spirits who want to escape society’s box and be able to live and create freely. To tell them to never let others dissuade them from pursuing what makes them happiest. I firmly believe that being a student is a lifelong pursuit, especially as I’m a rising senior and finishing my bachelor’s degree. With so many years in the industry ahead of me, I can only hope to learn as much as I can, as soon as I can, to be a part of the production that helps our everyday lives be a part of the story.

My ambition and determination is a trait that stems from my grandmother, my mother, and my father; as the environment they grew up in led them to lead exemplary dedicated lives. Not only to their work and their projects but to their family. I grew up in a sanctuary, synonymous to home for hundreds of thousands of immigrants that would come in from across the globe; more distinctly, from hispanic and latino roots. With such a wide variety of different cultures, I was able to grow up with the aptitude of different cultures. Translating that into my current career and ambitions, I take immense pride into being bilingual and the opportunities that enhanced my means of communication and understanding those around me; it’s a gift, to be able to help those around me who aren’t well versed in English or vice versa and help translate English into Spanish whenever necessary. Exposure to so many different walks of life has guided me as I took my first study abroad in Florence, Italy, engaging in an unforgettable experience as I continue to hone my artistic practice. When it comes to Illustration and Animation, my chosen major, it imbues a unique aspect to my works; providing me with a special perspective in my projects. I strive to become an art teacher for high school - college age students, centering on multidisciplinary aspects such as photography, illustration, comics/cartooning/graphic paneling, visual storytelling, and unapologetically sharing the stories that deserve to be told. The ones that are few and far in between. Art and expressionism goes hand-in-hand with my aspiration to represent marginalized communities. The same ones that I call home. For my career, I hope to be able to share minority and queer experiences through the very media I consumed that helped me believe in my ability to be unapologetically me. And what it means to discover oneself and having the chance to do so, without shame. I strive to teach art and express the complexities of being LGBT+ through graphic novels. Writing and creating is a passion, while at some points, a means of escapism it allows for deep criticisms regarding the way we categorize ourselves in this world of inevitable multitudes. I want to show the future generation that change is being made and instead of the current political climate wanting to do everything in it’s power to make education less accessible for the LGBT community, we have and will continue to make progress towards acceptance, inclusion, and diversity. I want to extend a hand, not only to my childhood self, but to young hopefuls by showing them just how much their stories matter; in exactly the same way my teachers had inspired me. Show them that they aren’t the only free spirits who want to escape society’s box and be able to live and create freely. To tell them to never let others dissuade them from pursuing what makes them happiest. I firmly believe that being a student is a lifelong pursuit, especially as I’m a rising senior and finishing my bachelor’s degree. With so many years in the industry ahead of me, I can only hope to learn as much as I can, as soon as I can, to be a part of the production that helps our everyday lives be a part of the story.

I grew up in what could be considered a sanctuary; synonymous to a home for hundreds of thousands of immigrants that would come in from across the globe. More distinctly, from hispanic and latino roots. With such a wide variety of different cultures, I was able to grow up with the aptitude of different cultures. Translating that into my current career and ambitions, I take immense pride into being bilingual and the opportunities that enhanced my means of communication and understanding those around me; it’s a gift, to be able to help those around me who aren’t well versed in English or vice versa and help translate English into Spanish whenever necessary. Exposure to so many different walks of life has guided me as I took my first study abroad in Florence, Italy, engaging in an unforgettable experience as I continue to hone my artistic practice. This cultural involvement and open mindedness has followed me into university As I’m currently entering my senior year. After being exposed to a plethora of different art forms, this diverse repertoire of mediums has led me to earn the UConn IDEA Grant. A program designed to help fund student led projects, mine being a Peruvian multimedia cookbook with elements of graphic design, photography, illustration, embroidery, podcasting, and poetry- all under the metaphor of the natural progression of life through appetizers, the main dish, and dessert; essentially exploring my Peruvian heritage and connecting cuisine to birth, life, and death. It’s this very project that has proven to be my most difficult challenge as of late. Starting the project was relatively streamline, as I found myself settling into a rhythmic workflow. However, as I worked on it during the semester of Fall 2024, I eventually fell stagnant in my process due to life’s ill-timed emotional road blocks. For the rest of the semester, I’d been stuck spending all of the energy I had left towards finishing my courses and assignments to the best of my abilities. While I took a well deserved winter break to rest, I eventually regained the strength to work on different aspects of the project for a fresh comeback. Approaching the project at a different angle felt like an accomplishment in of itself, alongside acquiring different tools to start podcasting- after spending the semester cooking, photographing, and illustrating my list of twelve Peruvian dishes. As I’m in the process of working on internships this summer, I’ll soon make a running start to be able to complete this project and give it some due time in the spotlight. I strive to become an art teacher for high school - college age students, centering on multidisciplinary aspects such as photography, illustration, comics/cartooning/graphic paneling, visual storytelling, and unapologetically sharing the stories that deserve to be told. The ones that are few and far in between. I wholeheartedly believe that united, we have the capability to tell stories that others may be more averse to. I hope to provide visual details that protect a kid’s sense of joy and call to an adult’s inner child all the same; a narrative where visuals are just as involved with the crescendo of a story’s emotional tone. I want to extend a hand, not only to my childhood self, but to young hopefuls by showing them just how much their stories matter; in exactly the same way my teachers had inspired me. To show them that they aren’t the only free spirits who want to escape society’s box and be able to live and create freely. To tell them to never let others dissuade them from pursuing what makes them happiest. A great story develops from great concepts and great concepts stem from collaboration, communication, and consistency. I see myself being inspired by others and being able to build on each other’s knowledge in order to improve. While I may lean towards character design and concept art, it would be imperative to learn from my surroundings and take advantage of being part of a multifaceted program, when/if the opportunity arises. I firmly believe that being a student is a lifelong pursuit, especially as I’m a rising senior and finishing my bachelor’s degree. With so many years in the industry ahead of me, I can only hope to learn as much as I can, as soon as I can, to be a part of the production that helps our everyday lives be a part of the story. Portfolio: https://sites.google.com/view/lee-artportfolio/about-me?authuser=1

Comparison is a word I try my best every day not to apply to myself. But, by seeing those around me and their accolades, I find myself determined to use my tact grit instead of determination to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that surround me. My dad immigrated to the US in the 80s and my mom followed suit not far after in the 90s. Both eventually making their way to getting to know each other and bringing me into existence. Since then, there’s been a lot of support and helping me achieve everything I seek out to accomplish. All of our efforts are in hope that I’m able to land a stable career one that I love and live my life to the fullest like they’ve always dreamed. Watching my sister succeed in her career as a chemical engineer has lit the fire of rivalry inside of me when it comes to my own artistic endeavors. As an Honors student at the University of Connecticut, I’m working on a portfolio of works to stand out and inspire my younger self with every project and award I receive. As I’m currently entering my senior year of college, I’ve been exposed to so many different art forms. my inclinations being illustration, animation, photography, and creative writing. So far, this has lead me to earn the University of Connecticut’s IDEA Grant to produce a multimedia Peruvian cookbook with elements of photography, poetry, illustration, graphic design, podcasting and embroidery. As well as the University of Connecticut Long River Review Magazine’s Gloriana Gill Award in Black and White Photography. In my ambition to become an educator, I hope to not only create works that represent those around me, but be able to teach and share the ability to imbue one’s own experience onto others through visual arts, and to the future generation of artists. Being a first generation undergraduate means understanding the effort it takes to get to where our parents (and us) hope for us to be, happy, successful, and thriving in our community and society.

I grew up in a sanctuary, synonymous to home for hundreds of thousands of immigrants that would come in from across the globe; more distinctly, from hispanic and latino roots. With such a wide variety of different cultures, I was able to grow up with the aptitude for diversity. Translating that into my current career, I take immense pride into being bilingual and the opportunities that enhanced my means of communication and understanding those around me. Exposure to so many different walks of life has guided me as I took my first study abroad in Florence, Italy, engaging in an unforgettable experience as I continue to hone my artistic practice. When it comes to Illustration and Animation, my chosen major, it imbues a unique aspect to my works; providing me with a special perspective in my projects. On my mother side, we are Peruvian and on my father side we’re Guatemalan and while I may not be as in touch to my Guatemalan roots, I’m extremely close to my Peruvian heritage. So much so, that I have been awarded the University of Connecticut’s IDEA grant which offers, funding for extensive projects that take place during a school semester or during a summer term. And for this project, I very ambitiously took it upon myself to compile a multimedia cookbook on Peruvian cuisine. To which, I’m not only very excited to share the cuisine that helped raise me with others. I have an internal drive to make sure I’m able to accomplish and take advantage of all the opportunities that surround me and these opportunities would be nothing without the support from my parents.

For a majority of my life, I lived under the rules and stipulations of the society that we live in. In high school, after meeting one of my closest friends, I realized that what I understood about myself under the ramifications of such a society was no longer what I wanted for myself. The mere thought of seeing myself live under societal expectations felt like my head was trapped under a guillotine. It took that very best friend, someone non-binary that asked me questions- hard truths and pills to swallow about my own experiences living under a religious household, to help me realize my own departure from society’s barriers when it comes to that binary; imposed gender roles, guilt whenever I experience self perceived failure to meet these imposed standards, and the ever compounding pressure of “how things should be”. I always wondered why being around girls tended to feel so isolating and why my interests were tomboyish. Those were my thoughts throughout elementary and middle school. But in these interests, I found myself subconsciously feeling more myself when I remove the compulsion to feel feminine. Gender dysphoria is a new experience I’ve been trying to navigate for the past eight months, despite realizing my nonbinary identity for the past six years. While femininity used to be a dear friend, it’s within the perception of others where my sense of self fails to understand how, more often than not, people see and assume that a person’s body is the sole determinant factor as to who they are. Attached to realizing my compulsory heterosexuality and trying to be kinder to myself. Redefining the kind of person I was and the person I want to become. Someone who, despite these limited frames of thinking, is able to be themself and inspire others to explore their own experiences without fear of judgement of others. It took that very best friend, so passionate about art and critical thinking, to encourage myself into joining the art club, and pursuing my joy of art to then be recognized by our teachers into giving me more opportunities than just a hobby. After delving into the art world, both in real life and online, I’ve found the means and opportunities of which I can express myself more holistically: both within a community already surrounded by expression and the complexities of the human existence. Growing up, I used to feel so excited watching someone Hispanic on screen rather than the typical white complexioned depiction. My favorite movie was watching the Princess and The Frog when it released in theaters, even if we got there late. And while there are no clear, racial codings when it comes to Wall-E, I saw something Hispanic and inherently queer within that determination to live in a post apocalyptic world for a robot as scraggly as I was. Now, I feel that same joy when it comes to queer representation. My favorite movies shifting to Nimona and Mitchells vs. the Machines. There’s a relatability in being someone society, so desperately wants to confine in a box of their own design, as that very box wasn’t constructed in the first place, as if it were a universal truth rather than a decided one. A standard that everyone is held to, with millions of different walks of life, is bound to exclude 99% of that million. Art and expressionism goes hand-in-hand with my aspiration to represent marginalized communities. The same ones that I call home. For my career, I hope to be able to share minority and queer experiences through the very media I consumed that helped me believe in my ability to be unapologetically me. And what it means to discover oneself and having the chance to do so, without shame. I strive to teach art and express the complexities of being LGBT+ through graphic novels. Writing and creating is a passion, while at some points, a means of escapism it allows for deep criticisms regarding the way we categorize ourselves in this world of inevitable multitudes. I want to show the future generation that change is being made and instead of the current political climate wanting to do everything in it’s power to make education less accessible for the LGBT community, we have and will continue to make progress towards acceptance, inclusion, and diversity. I'm currently entering my senior year of my undergraduate degree, looking to apply to master degree programs for visual storytelling, cartoon studies, and visual novels alike. I hope to be able to teach at a high school level and above, these years having been when I began to question and consider my lived experience, values, and gender/sexuality identities. I'm currently building a portfolio of art as diverse as the queer community through multitudes of different mediums. While my own inclinations are towards graphic novels and digital art, I have a fondness for photography, life drawing, and intaglio. This way, I'm more readily prepared to share my knowledge of any given medium to adhere to whichever niche a student may find. During these subsequent years of hardship for the queer community, I want to cultivate a safe environment for students, like me, to feel comfortable expressing themselves and experimenting in what it means to be themselves.

Exposure. It would be remiss of me to leave it with the brevity of a singular word. However, it encompasses everything that involves capturing an experience and exposing it to others. To capture the stillness of an image through a drawing or graphic novel or a moment in time behind the lens of a camera is a delicate process that surrounds the lived human experience depicted by the perspective of the artist behind the art. When I sit to create an image, I immediately consider the perspectives of any potential viewer who, through the machinations and unpredictability of the universe, come across my art. I want to be able to represent marginalized communities, the communities that tend to live underneath that rock in your backyard garden, seemingly flat but underneath provider richness of a micro environment of which of is seldom known. Understanding and reproducing a life lived is such an intimate process that I tackle utilizing various forms of multimedia. It’s truly a conversation between what I’m trying to depict, choosing how I depict it, and always alongside my subject matter. When it comes to representation, I hope my art is accessible to all facets of life within any divet or crevice or walk of life. I grew up in a sanctuary, synonymous to home for hundreds of thousands of immigrants that would come in from across the globe; more distinctly, from hispanic and latino roots. With such a wide variety of different cultures, I was able to grow up with the aptitude of different cultures. Translating that into my current career and ambitions, I take immense pride into being bilingual and the opportunities that enhanced my means of communication; it’s a gift, to be able to help those around me who aren’t well versed in English or vice versa and help translate English into Spanish. Exposure to so many different walks of life has guided me as I took my first study abroad in Florence, Italy, engaging in an unforgettable experience as I'm honing my artistic practice. Because as a hispanic member of the LGBT community, things that go relatively unnoticed tend to make ripples in any body of water; impacting everything around it like a domino effect, ad infinitum. To me, the very aspect my art is an assemblance of emotionality. And I hope those who engage with it can reflect, project, or relate to it in one way or another. I want to extend a hand, not only to my childhood self, but to young hopefuls by showing them just how much their stories matter; in exactly the same way my teachers had inspired me. To show them that they aren’t the only free spirits who want to escape society’s box and be able to live and create freely. To tell them to never let others dissuade them from pursuing what makes them happiest. As I’m currently entering my senior year of college, I’ve been exposed to so many different art forms. my inclinations being illustration, animation, photography, and creative writing. So far, this has lead me to earn the University of Connecticut’s IDEA Grant to produce a multimedia Peruvian cookbook with elements of photography, poetry, illustration, graphic design, podcasting and embroidery. As well as the University of Connecticut Long River Review Magazine’s Gloriana Gill Award in Black and White Photography. In my ambition to become an educator, I hope to not only create works that represent those around me, but be able to teach and share the ability to imbue one’s own experience onto others through visual arts, and to the future generation of artists.

Exposure. It would be remiss of me to leave it with the brevity of a singular word. However, it encompasses everything that involves capturing an experience and exposing it to others. To capture the stillness of an image through a drawing or graphic novel or a moment in time behind the lens of a camera is a delicate process that surrounds the lived human experience depicted by the perspective of the artist behind the art. When I sit to create an image, I immediately consider the perspectives of any potential viewer who, through the machinations and unpredictability of the universe, come across my art. I want to be able to represent marginalized communities, the communities that tend to live underneath that rock in your backyard garden, seemingly flat but underneath provider richness of a micro environment of which of is seldom known. Understanding and reproducing a life lived is such an intimate process that I tackle utilizing various forms of multimedia. It’s truly a conversation between what I’m trying to depict, choosing how I depict it, and always alongside my subject matter. When it comes to representation, I hope my art is accessible to all facets of life within any divet or crevice or walk of life. Because as a hispanic member of the LGBT community, things that go relatively unnoticed tend to make ripples in any body of water; impacting everything around it like a domino effect, ad infinitum. To me, the very aspect my art is an assemblance of emotionality. And I hope those who engage with it can reflect, project, or relate to it in one way or another. As I’m currently entering my senior year of college, I’ve been exposed to so many different art forms. my inclinations being illustration, animation, photography, and creative writing. So far, this has lead me to earn the University of Connecticut’s IDEA Grant to produce a multimedia Peruvian cookbook with elements of photography, poetry, illustration, graphic design, podcasting and embroidery. As well as the University of Connecticut Long River Review Magazine’s Gloriana Gill Award in Black and White Photography. In my ambition to become an educator, I hope to not only create works that represent those around me, but be able to teach and share the ability to imbue one’s own experience onto others through visual arts, and to the future generation of artists.

I grew up in a sanctuary, synonymous to home for hundreds of thousands of immigrants that would come in from across the globe; more distinctly, from hispanic and latino roots. With such a wide variety of different cultures, I was able to grow up with the aptitude of different cultures. Translating that into my current career and ambitions, I take immense pride into being bilingual and the opportunities that enhanced my means of communication and understanding those around me; it’s a gift, to be able to help those around me who aren’t well versed in English or vice versa and help translate English into Spanish whenever necessary. Exposure to so many different walks of life has guided me as I took my first study abroad in Florence, Italy, engaging in an unforgettable experience as I continue to hone my artistic practice. When it comes to Illustration and Animation, my chosen major, it imbues a unique aspect to my works; providing me with a special perspective in my projects. On my mother side, we are Peruvian and on my father side we’re Guatemalan and while I may not be as in touch to my Guatemalan roots, I’m extremely close to my Peruvian heritage. So much so, that I have been awarded the University of Connecticut’s IDEA grant which offers, funding for extensive projects that take place during a school semester or during a summer term. And for this project, I very ambitiously took it upon myself to compile a multimedia cookbook on Peruvian cuisine with elements of photography, illustration, poetry and embroidery. All of these came together in a very fascinating way. To which, I’m not only very excited to share the cuisine that helped raise me with others but add to my portfolio. As for my minor, Literacy and Writing, as I’m learning more about literature and writing processes, I’m able to develop characters with the personality of waking up a la amadrugada or comiendo pan de bono con caffelatte antes de ir a escuela; in depth and rich culture that helps elevate a story from flat and predictable to feeling like home. My ambition and determination is a trait that stems from my grandmother, my mother, and my father; as the environment they grew up in led them to lead exemplary dedicated lives. Not only to their work and their projects but to their family. For one of my photography assignments, my father encouraged me to take a trip to New York City together. And from what I expected to be a laborious journey for the sake of a class project, a few months later would help me win the Gloriana Gill award for Black and White Photography, earning me a monetary prize I would never have expected to come from our adventure. My hispanic background has pushed me in ways I would never have anticipated growing up. I believe that my taste in Peruvian food is a kin to my distinctive, artistic flavor, different tones, and hues as delicate as shifts in the spice that dances across taste buds. I have an internal drive to make sure I’m able to accomplish and take advantage of all the opportunities that surround me and these opportunities would be nothing without the support from my parents.

Currently, I’m on my path to becoming an art teacher, in hopes of inspiring students the same way my teachers did with me. My favorite teachers were the ones who supported me despite the jeers thrown behind my back about the limited career options the arts held in store for me. I felt seen and if I could share any percentage of that with a child learning to grow into their own and if I could give some guidance, it would be as if I’m extending a hand to a younger version of myself who needed to know; to know that there was someone who understood that society’s box was too small for the free spirits who want nothing more than to let loose and live freely. Being the only art major, in an engineer dominant family, has led me towards places and opportunities I never envisioned myself having. Growing up, I was surrounded by STEM programs, academic priority, and expected to follow the path laid out for me- the wider road. Ever since 2019, I’ve been taking commissions of my artwork. A clear rapport of clarity and constant communication with customers to make sure their end product was as desired. I even had the opportunity to assist in the makings of a zine raising donations for the Yemen crisis the same year. With two art shows under my belt (The South Windsor High School Senior Art Show in 2022 and South Windsor High School Graduate Art Show in 2023), I grew an appreciation for the effort and organization it takes to make large scale exhibitions a reality. For those who held disbelief in my future in the arts, I’m proud that in my current university, the University of Connecticut, I had the opportunity to spent my Fall 2024 semester in Florence, Italy under the ISI Florence Studio Arts program- all thanks to my dedicated teacher, Professor Ray DiCapua. If I’m to become a teacher, a career plan in the making, I can’t only have my technical skills to sustain me. Learning is a constant part of the process, as well as acknowledging that it never truly stops. But taking what I have learned and throwing these pebbles into the water, letting the ripples influence the course of others- of students is something I want to pay back. Helping students like my art teachers helped me realize that an art career was even possible- much less probable. In order to reach that summit, I have to learn the “larger scale”, all things I have yet to learn at UCONN. After studying abroad, I’ve gained an irreversible respect and realization that the arts is everything one could imagine it could be. UCONN has an amazing program called the IDEA Grant that would pay to help realize any creation I could ever hope to create. With plans on the horizon for the completion of this year-long project, I need the support to attend UCONN next year. As with any project, the first step is motivation, a general plan, and follow through. I’ve worked alongside amazing artists at my school and absorbed as much as I can, volunteered as much as I can, in order to cultivate my potential and curiosity. Because then, reaching the precipice of the mountain wouldn’t simply be a mentality, it would be leaving the bed in the mornings and heading towards mud painted boots, cascading winds seeking harmony through the trees, and taking this chance at reaching a higher elevation.

My grandma has been a staple in my life since the moment I was born. With every ounce of that Peruvian stubborn tenacity, she was my greatest supporter and provider of the realest and toughest form of love. She was my third parent and provided for me necessities when my parents couldn’t. Every action I take leads with her voice in my head guiding me towards the best path; mi angel guardante. My grandma’s essence is framed by this unorthodox shoebox. It’s a reminder of where we came from and where we are today. She paved the path for my family to come to America and for that I’m eternally grateful. Privilege became a word in our family because of her efforts which are now memorialized through this portrait. Even the grapes held so gently in the midst of her experienced hands, worn only through age and time; something she’s both been blessed with and blessed us in turn. Mi abuelita is every bit of tenacious and determined one would expect from the elderly. With every passing hospital visit we expect the worst, but as her star sign, Gemini (the Lovers card within the shoebox) dictates, her double sided nature twists the plot and we have the opportunity to bring her back home again; also represented through the 9 of spades with her seemingly 9 lives every time we can take her out of the hospital. The composition and set design is inspired by memorials, in the way the framing is near symmetrical if not for the alluded perspective slightly shifted to emphasize the dimensionality and give the piece life. It's my intention to express both celebration and remembrance for her, in hopes that others can return that sentiment with vigor for the very same people in their own lives. From the rough edges of the podium to the textured wall behind the cardboard box, I wanted to show the attention to the beauty of the roughness. Despite being in the background, it’s still there; presence never forgotten. Needless to say, my inspiration draws from the most influential aspect of my life. From morals to mannerisms, composure to actualizing my dreams, and staying humble to being true to my roots. It was easy, then, when this project was assigned for my drawing class that I would end up choosing my Grandmother to keep me company in spirit as I drew her visage. We may not have as much as those around us but we’re not alone and we will never be forgotten.

Masking isn’t something typically considered to be someone’s constant since the day they were born and yet it has been part of my life since before I realized I was queer- nevermind being nonbinary. Donned this role of “daughter”, “overachiever”, “honors student”, I’ve been putting on a straight face and doing what I can to convince the world that I'm everything that they expect me to be, to convince them that I’m every aspect of shining star that my parents need me to be, convince them that I’m not who I actually am. I promise that I fit your societal norms, understand your social cues, and adhere to your social clock. Of course, I look at the opposite sex and find my sole attraction in such a limiting aspect of the human persona. Of course, I watched the latest season of Love is Blind. It’s within each begrudging moment, as my will struggles to power through the very act of laying down on a bed that suddenly has too-pokey springs and a comforter that weighs on the other side of too much pressure. When the distance between potential and staying at rest feels more than just an eternity. Between the hours that escape through every blink- when did I fall asleep, when did I wake up? The nausea creeping forward, the utter grief is one released from every aching joint; a relief when my bones pop in measured movements as I move away from that sunken bed. Being part of a community that understands me so intrinsically, is revivifying. No expectations for how I have to act, no mannerisms to follow, no gendered anything that can hinder who I am. Juggling between the two separate worlds becomes easy as they blend and become one. I’m not dead named every day, I’m not “hijita”, I’m the me that broke from the first generation line of engineers in my family and figured that art was more my speed. I’m reminded, besides friends who affirm and validate my existence holistically, rather than partly, that I can be who I am without any strings attached. The same way art has a realm of freedom that engineering doesn’t. Limited only by the parameters I set for myself, engineering is obstructed by the very math that makes it. I’m allowed to say no to being compartmentalized in a box. Who I am isn’t determined by first judgements and outdated expectations. I’m on my path to becoming an art teacher, in hopes of inspiring students the same way my teachers did with me. They’re part of my discovery into my new state of being just as much as the community. My favorite teachers were the ones who asked for preferred names and pronouns, despite the jeers some students threw their way. I felt seen and if I could share any percentage of that with a child learning to grow into their own and if I could give some guidance, it would be as if I’m extending a hand to a younger version of myself who needed to know; to know that there was someone who understood that society’s box was too small for the free spirits who want nothing more than to let loose and live freely.

“Failure” could have been another title for this piece yet it’s named after its predecessor: the dreaded pen. When I came into my classroom, dejected, with a pen in my hand and fully intent on drawing its small mechanical bits piece by piece, my teacher took one look at me- believed in my potential- and threw me out of the classroom to find a new subject (granted, he threw everyone else out of the class as well). I was never struck by such a visceral and all-encompassing feeling of stagnancy. For all Drawing 2 was, I felt as if nothing could save me from the dreaded apathy of an empty project. However, as I dragged my feet out of the studio and into the streets, I found my muse broken and battered on the side of the curb. Its wheels were crushed and run over, metal on the verge of rusting, and handlebars whose bandages were worn out of use. Needless to say, I felt liberated by that broken bicycle; my savior from a basic pen. I think everyone should feel defeated- for the feeling of being completely and unapologetically ripped out of such a slump feel that much sweeter. I saw this bike and it promptly owned my soul. I felt my very essence as an artist being reborn while I began to experiment with three different techniques. The first was a technique from the Renaissance in which the general visage of the composition would be drawn with a touch lighter than a feather and a fair distance away from the canvas; my weapon of choice was a 2H pencil. The second was inspired by a night drawing class in which we were instructed to draw only light or shadow. Considering my tendency to outline, this helped me focus on getting both the figure and the rendering done at an equal pace. While the third was letting the piece live the illusion. And by that, I retract my statement on rendering to emphasize the quality of the line weight, overlaying, and usage of vinyl charcoal. By which, I want to emphasize the blending of the shadows, the hatching for the bandages of the handlebars, and- what finally makes me so effortlessly proud of this piece- the same broken tire with its unruly wires that hypnotized me as a siren does a wandering sailor in an unforgiving sea. Except I was desperate, the world unmotivating, and the bike a light in my shadow. I tackled it, expecting to simply approach it as the rest of the piece with a certain distinct attention towards its anatomy in relation to the other wires (which was the case initially) until I remembered my Drawing 1 teacher’s words of wisdom, “What if you tried seeing what could happen if you let loose?” And so I did. Instead of rendering the wires as I did for the metal in the rest of the piece, I let light and dark imply the depth of the wires for me, considering how composed the rest of the piece already was. Thus, I drew two lines and erased them in areas of dark to imply the continuation of the wire and fulfill the illusion. Then, I picked up my chamois, rendered the background, sprayed my piece with fixative, … and let out a simple satisfied sigh.