“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see,” Edgar Degas. Forever art has been in my life, from the soul music and jazz of my culture, to the way I do my hair. This is a passion, inherited through life. A self-exploration for the love that came with it. Even if others would say it was too anime-looking, strange, or weird. Even when I was put down, I continued to dabble in different mediums and try new things. Over the years, this passion evolved into a talent that was discovered in art class in middle school and ceramics in high school. Throughout my life, I used to always draw; it was a daily thing. Being creative out of the box was my favorite thing to do and be. I used to draw landscapes and self portraits the was always in a cartoony style and I loved it so but, there is always a downside to my art and it always had to be my mom. The person who I looked up too the most always felt like she was putting be down cause she never truly liked me for who I was. Sure she loved me but that's what a mom does. She would always ask why the things or people I drew were so anime-looking or weird. She always compared me to others and never truly listened when I would explain that it was my style. So I ended up not drawing anymore for years after that, until in high school, I was invited to an art expo from one of the colleges for fine arts. That experience pushed me to start creating again, to show young black women that they are able to do anything they put their minds to. This showed me how I enjoyed sharing my art with others, be it teaching friends the basics or even collaborating with other artists. And of course, art will have its ups and downs, but my art will always be mine and not Ai’s. It tarnishes artist’s efforts, and never compares to, or will be, actual art. It takes away the actual art and talent, art takes dedication, time, and support. Not a click of a button with wires and lights, that’s not life, there’s no real thought, but my art will be. It’s important that the art made connects to people’s hearts and feelings. Art for me is an escape but I believe it’s better to have my art to be an escape for others.