The first thing I ever drew was a big yellow sun with a smiley face when I was eighteen months old; nature has been an inspiration in my life ever since. There are so many beautiful colors, patterns and textures in nature and in the everyday world. I am a painter, and when I go outside I’m always thinking about how I would paint things; what brushes I would use and the colors I would mix. Earlier this year I had been struggling to pick a background color for my painting “Don’t Talk to Me”. In my reference photo the background was plain white. One evening I was walking my dog while the sun was setting, and the clouds were fluffy and pink. I knew that pink was the color I needed for my background! Having the hallway be pink made the painting much more interesting, and it contrasted nicely with the green pants on the figure. I love adding some sort of texture in all of my paintings; one way I added texture to this piece was by painting in a circular motion using a makeup brush. The swirly, fluffy clouds inspired the circular texture. One of my favorite places to paint is in my yard. I find it very peaceful, and there are less distractions than inside my house. My painting “Kicks” was painted mostly outside on my driveway where I took the reference picture; this way I didn’t have to follow a photo the whole time. I could just look up from the canvas and there my background was. The colors I find outside continue to be a source of inspiration for me. I am looking forward to seeing what the world outside my door has to show me for future paintings.

The first thing I ever drew was a big yellow sun with a smiley face when I was eighteen months old. Even though I do not remember drawing this, since I was so little, art has been a part of my life ever since. I honestly don’t know where I’d be if I wasn’t able to create; it's how I express myself. I love using many types of mediums and trying new things. I’ve done oil paints, charcoal, needle felting, photography and so much more. The first oil painting I ever did was of a bright blue betta fish, and I was about ten years old. I loved mixing so many beautiful, bright colors and creating many different textures, and I have been painting ever since. Oil paint has been my favorite medium since that colorful fish, and I still have a very saturated, textural style today. I think art is extremely important because it makes the world a happier place, and it makes it far more interesting. I believe art is a way for people to express themselves. It's a way for people to project their ideas and beliefs out into the world. Art is more than just self expression, there is plenty of functional art too. Your furniture, lamps, posters, signs, and even the design on your tissue box. We don’t usually think about these things when we think of art, but imagine if all these things were just plain, basic and gray. I think that world would be depressing! I am excited to pursue further education in the Arts. I plan on attending a four year university and majoring in Visual Arts, specifically painting. I spend many hours a week working on paintings and other types of art and I would love to continue to do so in college. I love to paint and I want to keep improving my technique and knowledge. In many schools in low income areas art programs are being cut. I want to be able to use my art education to reach out to those communities, and be able to teach kids how important art is and to inspire them to find their passion. I want all children to have the opportunity to paint or draw, and I want them to feel the same joy I feel when I pick up my paint brush. A degree would help me accomplish that goal.

The first thing I ever drew was a big yellow sun with a smiley face when I was eighteen months old. Even though I do not remember drawing this, since I was so little, art has been a part of my life ever since. I honestly don’t know where I’d be if I wasn’t able to create; it's how I express myself. I love using many types of mediums and trying new things. I’ve done oil paints, charcoal, needle felting, photography and so much more. The first oil painting I ever did was of a bright blue betta fish, and I was about ten years old. I loved mixing so many beautiful, bright colors and creating many different textures, and I have been painting ever since. Oil paint has been my favorite medium since that colorful fish, and I still have a very saturated, textural style today. I think art is extremely important because it makes the world a happier place, and it makes it far more interesting. I believe art is a way for people to express themselves. It's a way for people to project their ideas and beliefs out into the world. Art is more than just self expression, there is plenty of functional art too. Your furniture, lamps, posters, signs, and even the design on your tissue box. We don’t usually think about these things when we think of art, but imagine if all these things were just plain, basic and gray. I think that world would be depressing! I am excited to pursue further education in the Arts. I plan on attending a four year university and majoring in Visual Arts, specifically painting. I spend many hours a week working on paintings and other types of art and I would love to continue to do so in college. I love to paint and I want to keep improving my technique and knowledge. In many schools in low income areas art programs are being cut. I want to be able to use my art education to reach out to those communities, and be able to teach kids how important art is and to inspire them to find their passion. I want all children to have the opportunity to paint or draw, and I want them to feel the same joy I feel when I pick up my paint brush. A degree would help me accomplish that goal.

The first thing I ever drew was a big yellow sun with a smiley face when I was eighteen months old. Even though I do not remember drawing this, since I was so little, art has been a part of my life ever since. I honestly don’t know where I’d be if I wasn’t able to create; it's how I express myself. I love using many types of mediums and trying new things. I’ve done oil paints, charcoal, needle felting, photography and so much more. The first oil painting I ever did was of a bright blue betta fish, and I was about ten years old. I loved mixing so many beautiful, bright colors and creating many different textures, and I have been painting ever since. Oil paint has been my favorite medium since that colorful fish, and I still have a very saturated, textural style today. I think art is extremely important because it makes the world a happier place, and it makes it far more interesting. I believe art is a way for people to express themselves. It's a way for people to project their ideas and beliefs out into the world. Art is more than just self expression, there is plenty of functional art too. Your furniture, lamps, posters, signs, and even the design on your tissue box. We don’t usually think about these things when we think of art, but imagine if all these things were just plain, basic and gray. I think that world would be depressing! I am excited to pursue further education in the Arts. I plan on attending a four year university and majoring in Visual Arts, specifically painting. I spend many hours a week working on paintings and other types of art and I would love to continue to do so in college. I love to paint and I want to keep improving my technique and knowledge. In many schools in low income areas art programs are being cut. I want to be able to use my art education to reach out to those communities, and be able to teach kids how important art is and to inspire them to find their passion. I want all children to have the opportunity to paint or draw, and I want them to feel the same joy I feel when I pick up my paint brush. A degree would help me accomplish that goal.

Art has always been a huge part of my life, even back when I was only eighteen months old and drawing my first ever smiley-faced sun. I can’t imagine my life without the ability to create new things, it is my way of expressing myself. I think art is extremely important because it makes the world a happier place, and it makes it far more interesting. I believe art is a way for people to express themselves. It's a way for people to project their ideas and beliefs out into the world. But art is more than just self expression; there is plenty of functional art too. Your furniture, lamps, posters, signs, and even the design on your tissue box constitute art. We don’t usually think about these things when we think of art, but imagine if all these things were just plain, basic and gray. I think that world would be depressing, and if I can make the world a little less dull, then I’m going to do it. One of my biggest motivations to continue to pursue an art education is always wanting to grow and improve my skills. Whenever I am frustrated and stuck on an art piece I try to remind myself that I have to keep going, keep trying, and that this is how I get better. No matter how good you are at something you can always be better, there is always room for improvement. I love drawing and painting, they are things that I’m good at and I think the best way for me to improve my technique and style would be to continue to study them after I graduate from high school. I plan on attending a four year university and majoring in Visual/Fine Art and minoring in Business. College is a big commitment of time and money, and this scholarship would help me achieve my dreams. After college I would love to open a teaching studio or a gallery to showcase both my own and other's work. I would also reach out to poorer communities where many school art programs are being cut. I want to be able to teach kids how important art is and to inspire them to find their passion. I want children to be given the opportunity to paint or draw, and I want them to feel the same joy I feel when I pick up my paint brush.

One of my biggest motivations to continue to pursue an art education is always wanting to grow and improve my skills. Whenever I am frustrated and stuck on an art piece I try to remind myself that I have to keep going and that this is how I get better. No matter how good you are at something you can always be better, there is always room for improvement. I love drawing and painting, they are things that I’m good at and I think the best way for me to improve my technique and style would be to continue to study them in college. Art has always been a huge part of my life, even back when I was only eighteen months old and drawing my first ever smiley-faced sun. I can’t imagine my life without the ability to create new things, it is my way of expressing myself. I think art is extremely important because it makes the world a happier place, and it makes it far more interesting. I believe art is a way for people to express themselves. It's a way for people to project their ideas and beliefs out into the world. Art is more than just self expression; there is plenty of functional art too. Your furniture, lamps, posters, signs, and even the design on your tissue box constitute art. We don’t usually think about these things when we think of art, but imagine if all these things were just plain, basic and gray. I think that world would be depressing, and if I can make the world a little less gray, then I’m going to do it. I would continue to add the spirit of creation and storytelling by teaching kids the joys of art and creating. I plan on attending a four year college and majoring in Visual Art and minoring in Business. After college I would love to open a studio or a gallery. I would also reach out to poorer communities where many school art programs are being cut. I want to be able to teach kids how important art is and to inspire them to find their passion. I want children to be given the opportunity to paint or draw, and I want them to feel the same joy I feel when I pick up my paint brush.

One of my biggest motivations to continue to pursue an art education is always wanting to grow and improve my skills. Whenever I am frustrated and stuck on an art piece I try to remind myself that I have to keep going and that this is how I get better. No matter how good you are at something you can always be better, there is always room for improvement. I love drawing and painting, they are things that I’m good at and I think the best way for me to improve my technique and style would be to continue to study them in college. Art has always been a huge part of my life, even back when I was only eighteen months old and drawing my first ever smiley-faced sun. I can’t imagine my life without the ability to create new things, it is my way of expressing myself. I think art is extremely important because it makes the world a happier place, and it makes it far more interesting. I believe art is a way for people to express themselves. It's a way for people to project their ideas and beliefs out into the world. Art is more than just self expression; there is plenty of functional art too. Your furniture, lamps, posters, signs, and even the design on your tissue box constitute art. We don’t usually think about these things when we think of art, but imagine if all these things were just plain, basic and gray. I think that world would be depressing, and if I can make the world a little less gray, then I’m going to do it. I would continue to add the spirit of creation and storytelling by teaching kids the joys of art and creating. I plan on attending a four year college and majoring in Visual Art and minoring in Business. After college I would love to open a studio or a gallery. I would also reach out to poorer communities where many school art programs are being cut. I want to be able to teach kids how important art is and to inspire them to find their passion. I want children to be given the opportunity to paint or draw, and I want them to feel the same joy I feel when I pick up my paint brush.

The first thing I ever drew was a big yellow sun with a smiley face when I was eighteen months old. Even though I do not remember drawing this, since I was so little, art has been a part of my life ever since. I honestly don’t know where I’d be if I wasn’t able to create; it's how I express myself. I love using many types of mediums and trying new things. I’ve done oil paints, charcoal, needle felting, photography and so much more. The first oil painting I ever did was of a bright blue betta fish, and I was about ten years old. I loved mixing so many beautiful, bright colors and creating many different textures, and I have been painting ever since. Oil paint has been my favorite medium since that colorful fish, and I still have a very saturated, textural style today. I think art is extremely important because it makes the world a happier place, and it makes it far more interesting. I believe art is a way for people to express themselves. It's a way for people to project their ideas and beliefs out into the world. Art is more than just self expression, there is plenty of functional art too. Your furniture, lamps, posters, signs, and even the design on your tissue box. We don’t usually think about these things when we think of art, but imagine if all these things were just plain, basic and gray. I think that world would be depressing! I am excited to pursue further education in the Arts. I plan on attending a four year university and majoring in Visual Arts, specifically painting. I spend many hours a week working on paintings and other types of art and I would love to continue to do so in college. I love to paint and I want to keep improving my technique and knowledge. In many schools in low income areas art programs are being cut. I want to be able to use my art education to reach out to those communities, and be able to teach kids how important art is and to inspire them to find their passion. I want all children to have the opportunity to paint or draw, and I want them to feel the same joy I feel when I pick up my paint brush. A degree would help me accomplish that goal.