When I was younger, I did not understand how my way of communication was wrong or offputting; I still have trouble remembering what behavior is socially acceptable and often default to old mannerisms. I will never be able to read a room well nor understand most indirect cues of spoken and body language until after the moment. The setting my artwork is viewed in is just as important as the piece itself. To an American young adult, the scene of a young man definitely younger than twenty-one standing outside of a pub with an unopened bottle of wine at noon is a strange sight. His facial expression is stern, but for what reason is unknown. It is hard to decipher what his thumb is pointing at. The closed sign is made of glass. If it is backwards does that mean the pub is open? The windows to the outside are a bright grey, the light reflecting against the dark wood of the interior. By making use of the surroundings unfamiliar to an American teenager, an English style pub, I create a simulation in which the viewer has little situational awareness other than the literal signs exhibited. This leaves the viewer in a situation that mimics how I have trouble grasping non-literal aspects of communication. Glass is steadfast to the elements like I am to change: I rarely waiver. It’s a difficult medium to handle and getting sliced is just a part of the process. As I learned the hard way, being transparent is not always the correct way to communicate. Stained glass is a common artform found in European pubs because they provide privacy from streets while also letting in natural light. Using glass in my artwork expresses how I guard myself from my peers, letting their light in, their influence, but it being difficult for them to see my true sense of self. The technique in which I use to paint is similar to how one cuts glass; I use a pattern to meld shapes of different colors and textures. I photobash my references digitally and transfer it onto my canvas like a paint by number. My way of expressing creativity is methodical, structured, and inherently bound to the structure of black and white thinking. Every shape has its place, every blob has a purpose to serve. My heavy use of texture and vivid colors are used to represent the energy felt within the composition. Large areas of black with lack of distinguishable detail adds to the feeling of uncertainty of one’s environment.

The arts have not impacted my life; the arts are my life. I spend most of my waking hours creating, consuming, and critiquing artwork of all mediums and genres for the love of it, and I see no reason to live in a world that is not beautiful. As a member of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School, I have had the privilege of surrounding myself with talented and hardworking teachers and peers who have pushed me to be the greatest artist I can be. The historical fiction and fantasy novels I read guide me into new ways of thinking. The artwork my peers and teachers synthesize broaden my worldview to cultures I would not have thought to explore before. The act of creating is what grounds me to this planet. Never have I been tied down to one artform: oil, gouache, colored pencil, stained glass, fiber, wood, and the Adobe suite are all mediums I am proficient in… and I have tried my hand at many more. Without a doubt I know I want my career to be in the arts. I plan to attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago and earn a bachelor’s degree in studio with a concentration in animation and video. I have been awarded a generous merit award, but every scholarship counts. I also plan to be active in extracurricular activities such as the school paper and radio. If I promote myself enough, I may even be able to design SAIC merchandise— graphic design has always been a strong suit of mine (I even designed the VPAA senior class t-shirts this year!). As job shadowing is a graduation requirement for the art academy, I sampled a plethora of local art instructors at the Virginia Beach Art Center to gain a feel for different personalities I might encounter as an undergraduate student. I thought it was fitting for me to apply to the Z Creativity Scholarship due to the ties the theater has with the VPAA, the Senior Show being hosted in the lobby each year. I am also an advocate and founding member of my school’s chapter of National Art Honor’s Society. Overall, I have contributed over one-hundred-sixty hours of volunteer work related to the arts as my time as a Salem student, the majority of those hours going back to my time as an art camp counselor. All in all, I believe I am the perfect fit for this scholarship.