My name is Penelope Bertrand, and I am a watercolor illustrator based in Georgia. I am enrolled at Oglethorpe University to study art history and museum studies. When I am not studying I am outside where I observe the natural world or painting. I hike, bike, and camp with my boyfriend at different parks around the state, go roller skating with my sister, and walk with my family. With this, I spend a lot of my time outdoors. I find myself studying the movement of the bark on trees, how the flowers flow in the wind, and the composition of my neighbor's gardens. I keep my sketchbook in my purse with me on my walks to create small studies and different compositions for later creations. Much of my work is influenced by the nature and foliage around me. My college campus is a Certified Wildlife Habitat with a small creek moving through the land, and it is home to a few deer, rabbits, and small animals. In the spring we have many pollinators visiting us and a bee colony has moved into the observation hive at the library. Besides my campus, my hometown is in the deer capital of Georgia. I often see deer in my mother's garden or running through the forest near the roads. My artwork is a direct reflection of the habitats around me. I take in the animals, scenery, and gardens and combine them to create a new reality full of bright colors and funky proportions. I want to share my love for the outdoors to give inspiration and a sense of community to those who view my art. My artwork helps me to share my experiences and create illustrations I one day hope to have published in a children's book.

Volunteering has changed my thoughts, challenged my feelings, and changed my perspective into a positive and considerate mindset. With this, I consistently ask myself how I would feel on the other end of things or if I was in someone else's shoes. I have volunteered with Newton County School Systems at summer school and the regular school year, the Ronald Mcdonald House, and churches to deliver food to underprivileged children in the community. I initially volunteered with my cheer team in high school. Our coach had originally mandated a 10-hour minimum for our team each season. However, since my mother is a teacher in the school district, I encouraged my team to help teachers over the summer with the summer school program. We quickly exceeded the minimum requirement with pleasure. The whole team grew an appreciation and a sense of nostalgia with the younger students. After volunteering in high school, I realized that even a little help goes a long way in the community. A simple act for one is a massive help for another. I have carried this mindset into college, and I find myself helping my peers without thinking about it. Although to them, helping them carry their too-heavy bags up the stairs makes their day, it is just another part of my afternoon. Volunteering has affected my life in the way that I think if everyone helped each other a little, we would all feel and be better. Although I am not religious, I volunteered through local churches to pass out healthy lunches to children no longer receiving food consistently from school in the summer. It was brought to my attention that others are struggling too, and there is plenty for us to thrive together. As well as that it is okay and justified to ask for help when you are struggling. Shame in lower-income households and guilt is unnecessary, but I recall feeling it as a child when noticing my peer's differences. Reflecting on my childhood and young adulthood, I realize my family was not financially stable. My family has grown so much since I entered high school, and now my sophomore year of college. My parents recently bought their first house, and I could not be more proud of them. Although, I know there was a time when they thought they would never be able to. Coming home to my house and parents on the weekends from school, I want to make them proud. I am doing this at Oglethorpe University as I take advantage of every opportunity. This scholarship would help me continue my education at Oglethorpe University, where I plan to graduate with a bachelor's degree. I am the second person in my family to go to college after my mother, but I want to continue to build our family's education for generations to come.

My name is Penelope Bertrand, and I am a watercolor illustrator based in Georgia. In my artwork, I create with Natural Watercolors, Prismacolor Pencils, and Sennelier Oil Pastels to create vividly colored worlds that transform the viewers into a place of imagination. I am pursuing a Fine Arts/Museum Studies degree from Oglethorpe University. At my University, I am a student exhibit coordinator, meaning I am responsible for giving the artist on campus real-life experience in exhibits. Since I am also an artist, I understand how hard it is to receive recognition or get opportunities. It can be overwhelming and feel off-putting, especially for a young or emerging artist. Through my art and creative connections, I want to unite my classmates as artists and give them unique opportunities on campus. Outside of my duties through the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, I create vividly colored watercolor illustrations in pursuit of becoming a children's book illustrator. Although I have yet to break into that community, I have grown a following through my social media, created my website, and now teach a class through Etchr Studio. With my platform, I want to share my techniques and advice with other artists while also reaching potential artists to encourage them to paint or create. Art is a release for many artists, and anyone can create. I want to inspire others to create and follow their passions through my art. I want my artwork to reach younger artists in children's books and give the next generation a love for reading and painting. My love for art began with the children's books I read as an elementary student, and I would love to carry on this wonderful tradition the children's book community holds.

My name is Penelope Bertrand, and I am an illustrator based out of Atlanta, Georgia. I am pursuing a Fine Arts/Museum Studies degree at Oglethorpe University, where I will be a sophomore this coming school year. I work with Natural Watercolors, Prismacolor Pencils, and Sennelier Oil Pastels to create vividly colored worlds that transform the viewers into a place of imagination. Color exploration and childlike wonder are captured through my work and push my abilities as both an artist and illustrator. I find inspiration in museums, books, other artists, and nature. When not painting, I work at my school's Museum, Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. In the Museum, I am a museum assistant, meaning I help at the front desk and do general duties at the Museum. However, I am also a condition inspector for our collection and the only student exhibit coordinator. My favorite piece that I have created is my watercolor illustration of a well-dressed bunny in a forest wonderland. This illustration is tiny, coming in at 5" by 7", but it has extreme detail. The style I have developed over the past few years has become very colorful and medium-saturated. Although I identify as a watercolor artist, I work with a layering process of mediums. After laying the initial watercolor outline and details, I use Prismacolor pencils to create texture and highlight or hide areas in the piece. Once these first two layers are complete, I move on to a creamy touch-up using oil pastels. I add the oil pastels second to last since they are rich and take a while to dry. Oil Pastels do not mix with watercolor after being applied, so I cannot add watercolor paint after this step. Although, this for me was discovered through exploring in my sketchbook as I do every day. Finally, I lay white highlights from a gel pen with the oil pastel carefully and thoughtfully placed on my piece. I do so carefully so the piece is only highlighted. Once complete, I spray the piece with a varnish to ensure the illustrations' long and smudge-free life. My process is meaningful since it took much exploration, frustration, and practice to create art the way I do now. The process is just as important as the result, and I want the enjoyment I get from creating to shine through in my paintings and studies. With this piece, I had been exploring Aquabords for months before, and watercolor is not a forgiving medium to play with in its usual setting, but aquabord is a unique surface for watercolors that reacts to it completely differently than paper. Since I was experimenting with this surface and adding new mediums to my explorative watercolor process, I had a few illustrations that felt like they fell flat, but I liked the challenge. After all of my hard work, I had finally created this illustration, and I was (and still am) beyond proud of it. It felt like I had finally crossed a bridge that, as an Illustrator, I was stuck at for ages. Through this piece, I finally overcame the fear of overusing my art supplies, making irreversible mistakes, and my audience not being able to tell what I painted. This piece helped me meet the goals I wanted to achieve and work for every day. As an artist, I love almost all of my art, but this piece will always hold a special place in my heart as a turning point as an illustrator.

Sitting in the studio room of my house, which has tall walls full of my artwork, with my significant other keeping me company as it drizzles outside. We are both smiling and laughing together like we always do. As well as care about each other deeply, and always have each other's support. With the support of them and myself, I will illustrate books, paint murals, and become a teacher that gives young children a love for art just like mine gave me. To grow old in my home which will be my safe space to me, loved ones, and children that I may have. I will explore the world and meet all sorts of people, and become friends with them all. I dream of having a happy, spontaneous, and having an overly romanticized fairy tale life where I live my dreams as an artist and being with those who I love and love me.

I was not always extremely into art and the art world, but as a high school senior it is now all I think about as it consumes all of my free time. This is because of my art teacher Mrs. Welborn who is now not only a teacher to me but my friend. Mrs. Welborn inspired and gave me a love for art that will last me a lifetime. Even now I make art every single day and sell my artwork in my Etsy shop, which I would have never done if it was not for her. Mrs. Welborn has changed my life and given me the confidence to pursue art as a career, inspiring me to become an art teacher myself and a part-time artist. Without her, I do not think I would go into any field of art, but I am so thankful I am. She has always pushed me further than I could have myself and taught me there is no limit to what I can achieve, which has helped me grow as an artist and person. If freshman year Penelope could see my artwork now she would be so proud of her future self, and I have Mrs. Welborn to thank for that. Going into high school I was sad and anxious for what felt like all the time, except for when I was in her class. Thankfully I grew out of that stage of mental despair in my life, but I definitely could not have done it without my art teacher. Her class was always a safe place for me and I came to her with everything, not just art-related problems. I told her when my home was being sold out from under us and that I was scared, and I even cried as she hugged me because I had a bad day. Mrs. Welborn felt like a second mom to me. She always found a way to make me feel better, whether it was wise words of encouragement or a well-needed hug. Things were always better in Mrs. Welborn's class, I even met my best friend there! Even she has grown to love art and is apply for art schools in New York, Mrs. Welborn and I could not be more proud of her. Mrs. Welborn was the best teacher I have ever had and I hope I can be just like her when I grow up.

My name is Penelope Bertrand and I am a watercolor artist. I recently was accepted to Oglethorpe University and I plan to attend in the fall of 2022 where I will pursue my dream of being an art teacher. Along with being an art teacher that strives to inspire young minds, I want to be a working artist. I have attached one of my recent works, Painting 2, a self-portrait inspired by self-love and the growth that comes with it. Two months ago I refused to even attempt painting a portrait and now it is my current favorite thing to paint. I have also attached two other examples of my work, which is only going to get better. I'm hoping and planning to improve my art for the rest of my life. I have been lucky enough to find my passion young and will never give up the idea of being an artist.

Penelope Bertrand I want to paint and create every day of my life. If a day goes by where I do not at least doodle the messiest quickest sketch, the day was wasted. Currently, I have tiny goals that I know I can achieve with time. Such as growing a big enough audience that I can get an artist-grade printer and sell art prints on my Etsy as well as original pieces. A larger goal of mine that I dream to achieve include having a booth in an art festival, where I could meet other artist and more people could see my artwork. Although I try not to plan too far ahead to where I am so focused on the future I forget about the present with my goals, I often find myself looking forward to making my plans for my career as an artist. This scholarship will help me become what I have always wanted to, being able to go to school to become an art teacher. It's a smaller goal for an artist, as it is not to have my art in a gallery, but to help others create art. With that, I do not ever plan to stop creating art when I start teaching, but merely to inspire and give art value to the next generation. Since art has become my whole world, I want to give that love to young minds and that's what I am going to do.