The world is my canvas. Everything is an inspiration to my art. Art as a whole became my love, passion, and therapy. As a becoming artist things can be difficult. All the obstacles that come my way make me want to quite, however instead I use it to fuel my creativity. I decided instead of letting my fears, insecurity's, sorrow, pain, excitement, and all around life bleed into my creations.

I pick up the brush that's dipped in vivid color. Pressing it on the surface swooshing in on. I swivel the brush left and right dragging the paint along with it. Then slowly revealing an image of explosive art. I lay in the grass outside the sun warming me while I breathing in the fresh air as I blast music setting the mood for inspiration to strike. When it comes to my favorite hobby I have to say art. I have a passion to paint. I love to create new pieces of me. Allowing parts of me to grow into the things I dream up. Edgar Degas ounce said, " Art is not what you see but what you make others see. " To think my art can be the vessel to others inspiration is astonishing. My feelings. My dreams. My life. It being displayed through my art and people seeing it connecting with it. They will begin to feel, dream, and live.

" Life is complicated. It has many seasons. Do not get stuck in just one season. Life is meant to continue. So keep growing and glowing. " Life can bring everyone down and get us stuck in the one moment. Focusing on our sorrows, pains, and everything wrong with us and the world. It can be hard especially with times now. These few years have been hard on all of us. We do have to fight and care for those things to make sure our mental health and safety is first. I know for me I have been caught and stuck in stress being overwhelmed with everything around me. Depression is hard. You feel like everything is going fine then when things get stressful or scary it comes running back fogging everything good in path. It can be hard getting out of that. You have to remind yourself of all the things that make life okay. Remind yourself what it feels like to feel drops of water on your body and running feeling the wind against you. We have to allow are selves to be happy even if sorrow still comes. You can't get a rainbow without the rain. So feel yourself and live life.

Breeze blowing in my hair. Flowers blooming everywhere as I smell beauty in the air. Looking up to the sky. Crunching the leaves as I walk by. Birds chirping truly music to my ear. I breathe in the nature as I begin to relax and a smile stars to appear. I love nature. It truly keeps me grounded and it helps in my bad mental health days. Any time I feel the worlds weight is on my shoulders I go outside. I walk looking at the Earth around me. I take deep breathes and I am fine again. Another way I relax is by doing what I enjoy. I am an artist so at times I will paint and on good weather days I will even take my painting to outside. Then I will be able to combine the things I enjoy together. Art is my passion. It is my major. I hope to excel and be able to one day have painting be my career. I am also like everyone else where I palsy videogames and watch movies to wind down. I listen to music. I love to travel to new places when I get the opportunity.

Life is a journey everyone goes through life and learns something. Life has it's ups and downs. The ways life has toughened me. growing up very poor I have been more cautious with money and I save it for important times. Being a first generation I have tried to excel in school and count my blessings. Even though life can be hard at times I am grateful for everything that comes my way. Success to me is very broad. Success is not defined by money, work, or school achievements. I think success is determined by your state of happiness and comfort in where you are at in life. There is no one way end goal. People live life differently. If you are content then I call that a success. You can have many successes there is no end to it. Even though materials can be an achievement doesn't mean they have to be. Success for my sister. She found a job that she enjoys being at and is great at it. and did not go to college. My other sister has success in her family. My dad has success in finding a job that pays him well and doesn't overwork him. I have success in doing school getting my associates and going to get my bachelors. However I also feel success in other things. Even small things. Like cleaning my room or having fun outside. Trying something new. Finishing an art piece I started. In 20 years, To be honest I have no idea where I am going to be. It is hard for me to envision what I will be doing at the age 41. I hope I will be doing the things I want to do. Twenty years feels long but also so close. I do not really want the normal things like a house or kids. Part of me wants that. However I want more than that. I want to experience life and the world around me doing what I love. I want to paint and travel. I want to be living the dream. I want to live doing what I want my passion to create pieces of art. My paintings being the reason for my existence. All I want is to be happy in what I do no matter the situation. " Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success," Virat Kohli. If I am content, I am success. I am succeeding and will continue to do so.

This was tough for me to answer. I have read many books that have changed my perspective and impacted me. If I had to pick one I defiantly think it would have to be "I am Alfonso Jones" by Tony Medina. It is a graphic novels and some people might fight and say graphic novels are not real books. Graphic novels hold deeper meaning than people think. People think they are cartoon books for kids but I think that is terribly incorrect. Graphic novels are my favorite. This graphic novel specifically covers police brutality to a young black boys life and the effects on the people around him and similar stories all together. This book made me cry and have so much care for these characters not only to them. However this was not exclusive to the character but also to those who experienced it or those who had lost their life due to injustices in the black community by police brutality. I held a better understanding and held a compassionate pain for those who were killed. This book made in 2017 reflected heavily on me in 2020. When the Black Lives Matter movement went across the states for the police brutality on the lives mostly known by George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. however it has been many lives and each year the police brutality continue to worsen. Since March the police have killed 249 people this year. None of the promises on lessoning the violence by the law enforcement has been met. We need to make a change and soon.

Friendship, equality, fighting for justice. People say I am a good natured spirit that I am nice and care for others. There are many situations where I stand with a person I care about for a cause I am passionate about. My mother says I am hard headed and stubborn but maybe I am. When it comes to doing something I go one hundred percent. I stand my ground and nothing can stop me. If my friend needs me I will go out of my way to be there. When there is a social topic I agree on I go and protest even when there are reporting's of harsh police activity. If someone is feeling down I make it my mission to try and cheer them up. "Doing something for yourself gives motivation but doing something for someone else gives meaning", Maxime Lagace. Sometimes when things are rough all you need is someone there who listens and cares. So I try to be that person for people.

Giving comes in many forms. Ways I give to those I care about are not just physical objects but my time. Quality time is my love language so to me when someone gives me their time it means the world. I try to do the same. I give them the time of day and pay attention to them. I can spend my time talking to someone or making something for someone. It is the sentimental meaning that I give to them. When someone goes out of their way to take time for me it is very special and holds gratitude to my heart. It means they care. "Only by giving you are able to receive more than you already have", Jim Rohn. I believe that in life you get what you give. So if you put anger out you get anger. I try to always stay positive and give kindness not just because I have to but because I want to. I want a positive happy life so live that and give that.

For as long as I can remember I have always been the creative type of person. It's in my nature to be curious make something new and be able to put myself into something. From learning to draw when I was young to even learning new mediums now. I learned in the summer of 2021 how to paint with oil paint. It stuck and that is now my favorite medium. I have practiced art since young doing many mediums from digital, watercolor, clay, drawing with graphite charcoal, oil pastel, to color pencils. I am passionate about art. "Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you", Oprah Winfrey. My parents always said do a job you love so you never feel like you are working. My passion is in the art I create. When I start to paint I am birthing a new life. I would be ever so honored if I had the privilege to do what I care about and inspired to do it as a living career.

My favorite simple pleasure is something I am sure everyone takes advantage of including me. I enjoy nature. I feel at times a connection with the Earth. I have had so many practically spiritual moments in my life when it comes to nature that I have to stop what I am doing and go outside even for a few moments. Everything fades away and I feel at peace During long days of work and school I go to the center out to the trees and flowers I lay on a bench or the grass and soak in the warm sun. Breathe in the air. Close my eyes. Listen to the birds chirp with the breeze moving my hair. A spiritual moment I had is where everything in my life was going wrong and there was a weight on my shoulders. My uncle had passed. I had a huge fight with my mom. I thought I was going to be homeless Plus the person I thought I loved I broke up with later to realize he was very toxic. I had an opportunity to go on a two-week vacation. I went to Corpus for a week and San Antonio for a week. The week in Corpus I went to the beach to swim in the ocean. I go in staring at the clouds and it feels as if the water is hugging me. I am floating and all my emotions begin to realize as I weep. Then in San Antonio, I was walking on a sunny day suddenly it poured rain. Then and there I knew all my sorrow and pain were being washed away. So now I have to stop what I am doing and appreciate the stars, smell the flowers, and dance in the rain.

Life is not guaranteed. The way I live a healthy life is to live a happy life. My emotions and mental health have big factors for me. The way I keep my mental health in check is through my art and by taking breaks during stressful times in my life. My art is a huge part of me. I use it to keep myself in check. I use it to filter my emotions and help cope with anything going on in or around my environment at the time. Jack Pollock states as " Art is coming face to face with yourself." How I take breaks can range from simply spending a day to myself and doing something I enjoy. I sometimes go walk outside in the park or walk-in downtown Dallas to spend my time. I have spent a lot of days in nature or looking at paintings in the Dallas art museum. If I have the opportunity I also take breaks as in vacations where I spend a week or more somewhere just taking a breather enjoying life and having new experiences or journeys. A quote that I resonate with and that I love and live by is by Arthur Ashe, " Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." My healthy life is a life where I can push the stress away and be able to be me and create. Something I continue to try to be true to.

Family brings you together but it can be the very same thing to drive you away and insane. July 31st 2021. The day I was running away. I decided I had fought enough fights with my mom. I had a big clash with her and at the time was with my ex boyfriend. She and him said some things and he left. I was confused, angry, sad. I was at the verge of a panic attack. I left but not to him. I just walked and walked. I had no destination and no desire to see her, him, or anyone again. I was leaving and gonna figure out with nothing in my hands. I walked crying felt the worst pain in my life not being able to breathe. It was me realizing the relationship was a lie. He didn't care for me. he used me for my money, my body, my time, my love. He cheated multiple times. He used someone younger then him because it would be easy to manipulate. I headed back home. I then went on a two week trip for myself to figure everything out. That week I experienced a almost spiritual experience. Swimming the ocean I felt as if the water was hugging me I looked to the sky above listened to the winds say everything is going to be okay. I wept then realizing to put myself first no matter what. I turned my life around and now I have things I didn't. I have a drivers license. I am graduating with an associates and am getting in the university I desire. Things are okay with my mom now. There is now only up for me.

My goals and dreams range in size. One of my goals is close to becoming an achievement. I am going to graduate and get my associate's degree. I also had a goal for the longest to get my driving license and I was able to pass and get it in December of 2021. I got my goal of getting into the university of my desire UNT. Some of my goals for the future are to get a car and find a new job to take the place of my current one. My larger goals are to go to Italy to pursue and study art. Then to be able to make a living with my art financially. I also have a goal, not for me. The goal wish, hope desire. Is for my best friend to be able to go to university and stay in the United States. I hope all the best for him and wish I could be there to see him achieve his goal. I have a lot of plans for my life a lot of things I have planned of what I want to do. However, life is spontaneous. Just recently had a miracle vacation with my best friend we said we were going to do it and then did. We went to New York City on spring break. I hope to travel and experience life like this. Letting lose forgetting the stressful times having fun and going through a new journey with a friend by my side.

Its's May twenty ninth 2020 four days after George Floyds death and sixteen days after Breonna Taylors death. Dallas protest had stated around 6pm. We gathered to march for the many black lives killed by the police. Demanding "No Justice, No Peace!" at 6:30 we all took a knee and were in silence for those who died. We continued roaming the streets screaming " I Can't Breathe!" In response to George begging the police to stop. Many people were there of all colors and age. It was a peaceful protest even in anger and pain. Some of us yelling at the police there asking "When will It Stop!" After 8pm several of us continued to march until interstate 35 E blocking traffic and gathering attention. The later the more cops came then bombarding us with tear gas and many other things stopping the protest. During this protest I was holding a sign saying black lives matter. It listed also many names of black people killed by the police. This sign used to be a back the blue sign but I painted over it showing the true colors of the police activity towards the black community. All lives won't matter until black lives do. This was my protest and was hard to go to other because of covid but this will not be my last. Soon I will be going to pride this year for the first time and will be sure that pride is not same without other communities. We must not forget what has been done and continue to strive for better. Demand justice for all until then there will be no peace.

My mental health defiantly jump started my painting and the want to being in an art career. I have always done art since a young age but after 2019 in peak pandemic. I used it as a therapy and outlet for my emotions. Helping me express myself and try to control my mental health. I would paint what I felt at the moment. My best friend also incredibly changed my atmosphere and attitude. Making me so much more calm and happy. Before meeting I was going through a terrible and rough time in my life. We have gone through so much now and hope to continue the friendship journey. Mental health has effecting my work environment before. I have been burned out, overworked, and overwhelmed in a past employment. Were everyday felt like a loop that I was stuck in a very tiring loop. I am slowly getting to that point now. I am always tired and work the most. I only don't mind because I work with my friend so it is not all that bad yet. I have also been terrible in a relationship before. Where my anxiety and mental health got in the way and disrupted the partnership. Mostly was due because the previous relation was toxic making it very hard on me to trust. When I was young I had terrible problems with anger issues and would cause many problems not only for me but to others I would end up hurting people . I caused emotional and physical pain. I worked hard as a kid to be better. Health influenced my religion and beliefs a lot. I grew up and was raced on the Christian belief. Then growing up finding out I am queer took a tool on my mental health. I was very hard unlearning all I knew. I am not a sin and it took me until last year to come out to my family. They are not supportive of my queerness saying it is a faze and test and temptation from the devil. They are nice when it comes to every other part of me but that they are not there for me emotionally. I do not go to the for that. I do not talk to them on those subjects. Mental health is incredibly important to me. I do a lot of self care as much as possible and keep things optimistic and as positive as possible. Keeping my love for art and friends close. Not allowing to lose myself in my head space.

Growth is a key part of life without it we are simple beings. We learn to connect and change on our everyday experiences in life. "Change is inevitable; Growth is optional," John Maxwell. Life is a living leson we must learn from to exceed in life. Your body continues to grow. Every seven years your cells replace themselves. So physical you can not be the same organization in some aspects. You are literally a new you. Growing doesn't just start and stop at the bosy but everything else. You begin to figure yourself. You grow into the person you want to be. In all aspects of identity. From religion to sexuality and etc. Growing comes in all forms. Mentally, physically, spiritually. Growth is important to me because without it I would be awful. When I was young I had terrible anger problems and didn't know how to control it. Then in practice I would hurt people. If I didn't grow I would hurt those around me even the ones I care about. Growth is necessary.

"A friend is one of the best things you can have and one of the best things you can be," Winnie the Pooh. When I young I tended to like my alone time and still do. However I would not be the same person if it was not for my friends along the way. Some may go and some may stay. No matter what though I will remember what they meant to me and the effect they had on my life. I know I am there for my friends and they are there for me. I do think my best friend changed my life for the better. Before we meet I was having a tough time and to say they brightened up my dullest moments. I love my friends with my whole heart. They are basically family at this point. My best friend and I spent spring break together going to New York. An unforgettable experience and time like no other. Friendship is being there for each other through it all the fun times like in New York or the sad going through a break up times.

Self care is the top priority I have. I care about myself so much because if I do not who will. I am my number supporter no matter what. It is very important that I stay true to myself. I remember a time I lost myself. For a year I was in a very toxic relationship where I kept giving all of myself to this person that I loved. From money, to time, compaction, and even my body. I was not receiving a lot back so I keep feeding into this person leaving nothing left of me. Then when things ended it was the hardest thing ever this person that I trusted I realized used me. I could not fathom. I could barely breathe I was in an intense amount of pain. I had the opportunity to go on vacation so I went. I spent a week in Corpus then another week in San Antonio. In these weeks I had two almost spiritual ground breaking moments with myself and nature. Both of these areas I would just walk the streets experiencing the area. Very beautiful areas in Corpus I went to the beach laying on the sand getting some sunshine. I went to the water started to swim then floated there in the water staring at the sky. I started to the cry tearing feeling the ocean hold and hug me. Then in San Antonio I was walking to the theatres to watch a move an it started pouring raining showering me and removing all of my sorrow and I smiled. I learned then to never allow anyone to take myself away from me.

Mental Health is hard. I have struggled and dealt with many times where I am failing at being able to care for myself. I coped a lot with my emotions and issues through my art. It helps me filter through all that I feel from every situation. Life can be very hard and stressful at times so for art it helps me realize al the pain and stress into something healthy. It is fun and rewarding time for me when I get to create art pieces. My goal is to hopefully be able to make a living with my art whether it is owning a studio or dare I say be known and recognized enough to life off of it. It is a pretty big goal and dream. I am right now getting my bachelor in studio art in painting at the school I desire University of North Texas. I have always struggled since young with emotional problems most kids do not. I had terrible anger issues and tried to make it better with many concealing hours. I learned how to control my anger. However it did cause another. When I was told if I have nothing nice to say and feel like hurting someone walk away and don't say anything. i took it a bit too literally and was mute and shy for a long time. I got more open in my expressions however I am still struggling to talk about how I feel and my emotions. I also think a lot of times I just have a hard time understanding things most due and makes me think that something is wrong. I will not know for sure because haven't been tested for anything. It would give me a piece of mind to know though. It would of also have been great at a hard time for everyone I had the expenses for therapy as well. There were many times where I was having a really hard time and nothing was helping and just wanted to talk to someone but didn't have the money for it. I feel especially in a time of a pandemic not only is physical but mental health is a number one priority. Thankfully life is good right now and I am thankful for everything that my future is leading up to. I am excited not only for my career but my health in all aspects to come to success in the upcoming future.

In the story of the raft of Medusa they were lost to sea and resorted to crazy conclusions. One including cannibalism then to only be rescued in a mere thirteen days. In studies it shows a healthy person can last one to two months without eating. So if they just waited and been patient they would not of had to eaten their crewmates. Patience is a crucial skill. It is used in everything. From waiting in line at the grocery store to something I do like painting and waiting for it to dry. Patience is important to me because it taught me time is precious and there is no need to rush it no matter how much you might want it to. As the youngest kid with low income my parents worked a lot to pay the bills. So it meant being the last kid picked up and school and lots of waiting. Or times where on the weekend they had no one to look after me so they would take me to their work and long nights hanging there. Then the time my abuelita got sick and spent holidays and any time off of school there at the hospital spending days, nights, and many hours there. Patience can be hard at times but it is all worth it when you get to spend it with the people you love.

I want to inspire and create. The dream is to own my own studio and be able to create art pieces left and right. Having a life where art is the center piece I revolve around. I have always had a passion for art. However if I had the ability to inspire just one with my art I would be content. I am going to university in the fall. Hoping I get the opportunity to let my art flourish. Art is an experience you get to share with others I love to create and see others creations. A conversation between the artist an viewer that I desperately want to fulfill. I do know I have to be realistic and have a back up play but I see me doing art forever. Whether it is my career or not. Hopefully will be. I want to impact art history and be seen. I want the art I have impact how you view art and create it. It sounds very much like too much of a big dream. However I believe it will happen. I believe I will create a splash of color like no other. "The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before", Neil Gaiman. Explaining the feeling of creating as an artist is unfathomable. When I create it is an extension of myself. It is a concentration applied to the image or feeling you are expressing and conveying to others. It is a new born piece of you you leave out in vulnerability and rawness just for the world. "Painting is just another way of keeping a diary", Pablo Picasso. This is true for me because my art reflects a lot on how I feel it is my escape at times. It is like talking to a therapist and the paint just listens. Painting is also just a fun experience for me as well. At times when stressed or overwhelmed I take a break relax and paint. Art is a forever thing I do not think it is something I will be able to stop doing. Until death do us apart I am attached and invested in my work. I love what I do and I learn new ways to get connected in my work of creating. Art is not just what I apply to the canvas but It is how I live and breathe life.

Is there a such think as too much confidence. I am humble however if I don't think highly of myself who else will. I have a mantra I like to saw to myself. 'I am rich, I am successful, I am amazing, and I am happy.' You say it enough then you will believe it, You believe it enough then it will happen. I choose to think with positivity so I can only achieve positivity. You give what you get. You put in work and you will get the reward you deserve to earn. I hype myself up and give myself things I think I earned. Confidence is empowering yourself and seeing yourself as the someone who harnesses the power to truly do anything if you allow yourself to. Confidence is saying I am that bitch and I don't give a fuck. I am going to stand out and be proud that I am me. I need to be more confident in my work or things I do. I am confident in me but not in what I need to produce. I need to realize every bit of me is glorious and magical even the ugly parts. I am a beacon of light that will shine no matter what.

It is kind of pressuring to think if I am an impact big enough to leave a mark on the world. I am sure everyone thinks they are special. I would love to think one day I am be a renowned artist but to think that I won't is sort of scary. Who am I if not special. I am just another person on a floating rock in space. These type of questions make you think an honestly make me want to just say f it and do what I want because does anything I do have meaning I don't know. If I am going to live why work hard why not just have fun but that isn't realistic. I need money to live n this time. Even though it is unlikely I will ever own a house due to the economy. I try to stay positive and optimistic because if not I am already dead. I will simply make an impact i my life and that will be good enough. As long as I am happy it doesn't matter where I am or what I am doing.

It can be hard to define or really pin point the reasons on what motivates me specifically. I can think of a lot of general ideas of how or why I might be motivate me. I know the facts. I know that because I am a first generation student how comes from a lower-class I can be a bit of a workaholic and wants all good grades. That is just the top view of the iceberg though I don't really know what lies beneath it all. I work pretty much full time and do school on top of that. I have no idea what keeps me going. I guess it's stupid to say the hope I will get to the goal I want that it will all be worth the hard work. However that is not a guarantee. Maybe it is the people around me those I care and enjoy being around that keeps me at bay. Motivation isn't easy now because of al that's happened in the world these few recent years. I honestly think my insanity is keeping me going. Yes you heard me correct my craziness is keeping me alive. If I was sane I don't think things would last as long and I would be as strong as I am.

I have always cared for my family and friends and I am there whenever they need me. I try to help as much as possible. I am there in the good and the bad. For my best friend I like to think I have been there for him in many situations and been the person to help him through it. Same for him to me. A recent factor was when a tragedy happened in his life someone close to him had passed so I tried taking him out and taking to make him feel better. It sucks seeing my homie so down. Later on we both went through a breakup around the same time which is a crazy coincidence. Either way it was a tough time for us both and we made it out. He has made such a great friend and incredible impact in my life. Right now we are both applying to universities worried on cost and tuition. I have more privilege's though. He is not from the united states so he has a lot more hardship. I wish I could help him and be there for everything. I worry for him. I hope he gets everything in life because honestly I feel he deserves it. I hope to spend more life journeys with him because I am not ready to let go of him. It is a little selfish but he is my best friend and before we met I was having a really tough time in life. I like to think we both impacted each other. Hellen Keller said, " The best and most beautiful things in the world can not be seen or even touched- they must be felt with the heart." I think this is so true and applies so nicely to friendship. It being more of a feeling that you experience with someone a bond only you can feel. I love my best friend. I am very grateful for him and the influence he has made in my life. A person I will truly never forget and never stop caring for. "The best gift anyone can give, I believe, is the gift of sharing themselves", Oprah Winfrey. I relate to this so much especially now in this generation we tend to be isolated due to the pandemic and as me someone who has a love language of quality time. It is very special to have someone willig to op[en up to you and care for you.

I love and care for the elder. Even my parents them self are getting closer to that age. I recently went to a family friends birthday party turning seventy. She is so lovely and I adore her. She speaks mostly Spanish and I struggle with my Spanish but I got her everything in Spanish. I wrote and spoke in her language to the best of my ability because she is more comfortable with it so I wanted her to be in comforted on her birthday. However the one I want to talk about is mi abuela. She is no longer with us she died almost 6 years ago. She lived in Houston ,TX every time we could summer, spring break etc. We went over to Houston. If we couldn't we would call her on every holiday speaking to her in Spanish. She had Alzheimer's so in the last few years of her life things were very rough. It was hard on my family to her spirit slowly slip just leaving an empty vesicle. It is weirs to say that we glad when she she did pass but it is because she was in a lot of pain and wasn't even who she was anymore. I loved mi abuela she was smart and funny always had a smile on her face. i do very much miss her. I think I have a stronger connection with the elderly now because of her.

Being independent is the ability and freedom to make your own choices. I have always had the ability and boldness to do as I wanted but not really all the freedom. Having parents who were more strict limits my ability to be free a home. Not allowing all my true colors to shine there. I have to be want they want me to be. Having a strong independence but not being able to pursue it all can be frustrating. Independence has a big impact on me it is the thing that makes me strive to do be incredible and do the impossible. Stephen Covey says, "Every human has four endowments - self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... The power to choose, to respond, to change." I feel it is a human need to be independent and free. It is something we don't just desire but need. We fight and have fought for it since the beginning of time. Independence is a human right.

Communication is a very powerful tool. Currently there are seven thousand and one hundred languages spoken in the world today. Listening is just as if not more important than talking. Dean Jackson says " Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self." Understanding one another and toning into their words. Being able to receive the information not just to reply but to actively listen and connect with that person. In any relationship of any kind communication is the number one thing needed. People rely on this it is a necessity. Listening to me is paying attention to the persons needs and details that detain about them. Actively trying to understand and help someone. I listen to many people in my life ion a day to day bases. Especially from my coworkers talking and listening making sure all that we have needed for the work day. I also listen to my teachers during school about what work is needed to be done for class.

1.) Why Batman/Bruce Wayne is the worst. One, he is a spoiled rich person. All of the super villains are created because of batman he doesn't help crime he make it worse. He fights violence with more violence not capturing any of the so-called criminals. A lot of their reasons are pretty valid Riddler in the newest movie bringing to light the lies of the government and system of how corrupt they are. I root more for the villains than Batman. 2.) This spring break I went to New York with my best friend. It was a pretty cool experience. From eating some amazing foods. To seeing some amazing sites. I went to a queer art museum which was so cool there aren’t any of those here in Texas. China town was fun the directions there were very confusing and got lost a bit. 3.) I recently bought s new game for my Nintendo switch called “The first tree” It was a story plot game and it was so sad. It only took me about two days to finish and I got attached to the characters so fast so the ending was brutal. The visuals were beautiful and an overall very smooth game.

I admire a lot of people but I enjoy art history. I would have to say out of all the amazing artist the one who inspires me the most is probably Frida Kahlo the worlds renowned Mexican women painter. She redefines art as a whole bring a new way to see and do art revolutionizing the art industry. She originally was not an artist due to her surgeries and being bed ridden for a large percent of her life she picked it up. She was going to be a medical student but was in a terrible accident and returned to her childhood interest in art. I am glad she did because without her the art world would be completely different. Her portraits doing a lot to do with her and her not only physical problems but emotional. Not only that but she changed beauty standards. She also was helping with the rivals in the wars going on being an activist for her country. My favorite piece is "Two Frida's" In this she paints her self as in her Mexican tradition style and other in American or European style being torn between the two worlds. She also has a lot of painting to do with her lack of ability to have children. She has many painting with her exotic pets one mostly her monkey Fulang Chang gifted by her husband Diego Rivera. Frida has done so much not only in art history but history in general. She had many interest in the political parties leading her to join the Mexican communist party. She was a feminist and grew out her unibrow and does not go by the standard of what a women should look like. She was a powerful person and painter.

As an artist I thrive on creativity. It is the very essence of who I am. Ever since I was a kid my creativity was the number one thing about me. I have always had a very active imagination. Coming up with new crazy and fun art ideas. Being creative is not only wonderful when it comes to art being very helpful with everyday task and situations, Using it to help come up with a solution to a problem at school or work. Sometimes I tend to overthink becoming stressed out and overwhelmed. So I try to remember this quote. " Have no fear of perfection, you'll never reach it." by Salvor Dall. Reminding me to keep lose and have fun perfection is a myth so to be creative with my ideas there is truly no wrong answer. I try to think outside the box look for new ideas and expand my mind, Dan Steven says " The comfort zone is the greatest enemy to creativity." and it is so true being stuck to one way of things gives little to no imagination. Creativity allows a person to expand and grow. I try to stay creative as possible so I can be able to create amazing things like Albert Einstein says, "Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought."

I have had a lot of problems when coming to the reality of my queerness. When I realized it I was terrified I thought I was a disgusting sin. I saw myself as a freak. Later after unlearning a lot of trauma I decided to embrace my freak. My experience as a queer person with my family was and at some times still very is hard. My relationship with my mother was never really great. It is getting kind of better now. All I ever wanted was a loving person who supported my queerness. I don't really get that at home. I stopped trying and stopped expecting that. They love me but only support me when it is something they approve. It can be hard dealing with that at a young age while focusing on your studies. My goals are to paint for a living. I understand my parents what the best but when it feels like you can reach their expectations of best it can get very discouraging. I can't be this Christian girl for them. I am very certain they prefer someone with a guaranteed good paying job like a lawyer. In school I had to get high grades. Life can get overwhelming as a queer Hispanic first generation. I am not gonna let that stop me only push me forward into my aspiration to become a professional artist and painter hopefully have my art in a museum. That truly is the dream.

For my album I chose the name “ Growing ”. It has seven songs showing the ongoing growth and feelings I had and have towards the school year. The vibe of this year was a lot of new coming and it gave it a spring mood showing the new beginning I will have. After this semester I will be going to UnT to start my new experience. This year, like the few years, was a little bumpy but had a good amount of nice moments. The first song being one dating back to the year I was born in 2001 by Hoku, ‘Perfect Day’. This song gives me those 2000s teen bop movies where you go into a makeover montage and dance. I think this song represents something like the song “Nothing standing in my way.” Number two being a recent song made in 2021 by Emmy Meli, ‘I am Women’. I personally don’t identify as women however this song is the empowerment of femininity and strength in humans in general. I love this song. I define the power that comes with being your authentic self. It is very much a song I listen to when I want to feel good about myself. In the song it says, “ I’m unbeatable, I am creative..” One of the many awesome lines it gives is hyping yourself. Song three oldie but such a goodie. By the lovely Dolly Parton, ‘9 to 5’. As a student who balances work and school life. I can say this song relates and motivates. I love me some Dolly her song got just the right about od=f serotonin to get you on the move. The lyrics say “ It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it.” It definitely will trust me that the stress can be crazy. Song number four made in 2020 by Taylor Parks, ‘Dance Alone’. This one is a fun but longing song. A song saying want to dance but not alone and well everyone feels like that. A longing for a partner. Saying, “Cause I don't want nobody unless that somebody is you. If I had anybody, I would want somebody like you.” Everyone wants that special person. Song number five made in 2021 by Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Brutal’. This song being those moments everything seems going wrong and I feel at a loss. Saying all the insecurities and hate about life and yourself. Song says, “ All I did was try my best This the kind of thanks I get? Unrelentlessly upset, They say these are the golden years, but I wish I could disappear.” This accurately represents what a lot of young people like I feel lately now due to the pressures of life. Song number six made in 2020 by Cami, ‘Aqui Estoy’ This song has such power and dominance in english saying I am here I am not leaving. Basically like I'm in your face you can't stop me. It’s like a laugh to the face of those who try to put you down. Awesome song very empowering. Last song number seven made in 2021 by Tai Verdes, ‘A-O-K’. This song gives life the bliss and love of life, everything going with the flow and like the song saying , “ I've had terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad days but I'm a G, can't you see that I will always be, A-O-K “. This is so true for me because no matter what life throws at me I Know I will be strong enough and ok to get right back up.

Studio Ghibli as a whole has changed me but specifically Ponyo. The first anime experience I had. Truly the greatest film filled with love and sorrow. I would watch it with my sister as kids all the time while eating ham because Ponyo loves ham. This movie shaped me in so many ways. I have a love for graphic novels, anime, and comics. Few movies I remember the impact. This one and watching Star Wars for the first time on vhs on an old TV in the living room. My eyes wide with pure joy and excitement with a whole new world of love filled in with curiosity. Movies have a big on my life the shaped me. For a while I thought I wanted to act because of it. I wanted to shape lives like they did on the screens. Now I just sit back and enjoy the show.

I started college classes in junior year of high school starting my learning journey early. I then soon later got a job in the coffee industry while going to college. This being my first job and the year I worked there the experience was wild. I started there in May of 2020 the year covid really hit the nation. It took a toll on a lot of us. In my family I was the only one for a while who still had their job. I was considered an essential worker. Working to help my family pay bills and all the while still go to school. During this time of 2020 to 20201 time was really hard for me mentally everything being sent online stuck at home to help flatten the curve. However if anything one life changing experience in summer 2021 I took my oil painting class this was an amazing experience it blossomed a chain reaction of love I had for this art medium. In late August I started my newest job there meeting my now best friend. I honestly can not complain that life is good. I am graduating from community college. Going to celebrate the spring break with my best friend in New York. I will get my Associates degree in May. Then transfer to my number choice University of North Texas. I am excited for my life and future right now all I am getting ready for is paying my college fee. My plan for the following semester is big. I plan on going to Italy and personally studying the art there to make my dream a living reality. The final goal is to do what I love for a living and paint. I don’t want to worry about getting another job to help support my dream and I am hoping for my college degree and everything I learn on the way helps me to fulfill that dream. As a first generation queer Hispanic student I have a lot at hand. A lot of worries and fears but I am taking it head on. Nothing will hold me back from achieving my dream. Life ca come with a lot of difficulties and pain but one thing other than of course family and friends that has been there for me is my art and the passion, love, joy, and pure dedication I have for it. I want to deep dive in learning and improving my art. From since I can remember I have had a thing for creating and that is what I want to do I want to make an impact in this world through my art.

Leonardo Da Vinci once said, “ The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of. “ When it comes to picking a favorite anything it is hard, let alone my favorite piece of art. My favorite type of art medium is oil and my favorite style is abstract and surrealism. An interesting underrated artist is Jeff Sonhouse his artwork is lucid portraits in oil paint. Another artist who we tend to look past is Dorothea Tanning, a fluid surrealist artist. Then Eileen Agar, her cubist abstract work being so bold. We can’t forget the amazing realist painter Kehinde Wiley, his work being so breathtakingly amazing. Or abstract artist Jean-Michel basquiat. It is simply impossible to pick on a great artist or work of art. If I really had to pick a favorite artist of mine for a while would be Yoshitomo Nara. The art work I picked form him is his piece No Nukes (in the floating world), 1999. It shows a land not requesting but demanding there to be peace. A lot of his work shows his passion to stop war. His is an active activist and artist who puts out his view on the wars going on. The 2011 East Japan earthquake had a big impact on him. He was temporarily unable to work. He says, “The whole area between us and Fukushima was devastated; the whole scenery I was familiar with has been destroyed. For some people with no relation to the area they may be affected as an artist, but in my case I was a lot more affected on a personal level because I know people who were lost.” He is impacted largely by these situation and it shows in his work. Inspiring me to show life and my emotions in my art.

My best skill is my skill to create. I have a passion to paint an express myself through picking up my brush dipping in in that paint and pressing against the canvas to show the idea in my head feeling in my heart a image to see. Edgar Degas said, "Art is not what is yo see, but what you make others see." I continue to improving by practicing and trying new ways to do it. There is no way to do art so I try all types of mediums. I lie this quote the most by Bryant H. McGill saying, "You are the artist and the art." I resonate with because I feel I create me versions of myself go into my pieces. Some artworks really giving you the ability to feel my feeling of what I felt when painting it. Being an artist mean using your work to heal your own wounds and at the same time exposing all your flaws.

My talent is in art. I have a natural need to create. I recently learned how to paint in oil in Summer of 2021 being about seven months ago. I was taking an automatic ease and love for it. Now all I can do Is paint oil paintings. I have always had a joy for art since a kid prating by looking at an image and trying to draw what I see. Not only what I drew what I saw but what I felt it coming to a lot of abstract and surrealist images. I am in my sketch but doodling up ideas and trying new mediums all the time. expanding my art journey as I go along. Art is a field where anything is possible no one can tell you you are doing it wrong. Pablo Picasso said, "Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist." That sticks with me the boundary of art is limitless you can do anything and say that is my art. It leaves creativity giving you the opportunity to create whatever you can think of. I also see living life as a practice of art my surrounding emotions inspire my art. Sometimes life can blend and feel overwhelming though but art brings the best out of me. "Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one", said Stella Adler. I will continue to work in unison of my art, my love, and my life.

I love art not only as an artist but as the viewer of the artwork. I am often going to museums and galleries to see other artists' work. Not only do I see art in buildings but everywhere around me. Leonardo Da Vinci once said, “ The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of. “ When it comes to picking a favorite anything it is hard, let alone my favorite piece of art. My favorite type of art medium is oil and my favorite style is abstract and surrealism. If I had to pick a favorite artist of mine. It would be for a while, Yoshitomo Nara. His work is just so interesting to me. Him putting his perspective out to the world. He paints children with big eyes, some saying things like no war. He says, “Basically my approach is that it doesn’t matter if there is an audience out there. Even if I knew there would be no one out there to look at my work, I would still do the same thing.” I feel similar. It is a need to create how you feel no matter the situation. For picking the painting it is a little harder because he has so many pieces to choose from. His work gives the appeal of cute, though often menacing, characters mask underlying tones of helplessness, rage, and isolation. This example of possibly my favorite work is his painting. Yoshitomo Nara, No Nukes (in the floating world), 1999. It shows a land not requesting but demanding there to be peace. A lot of his work shows his passion to stop the war.

Dreams to most are just that they stay a dream. Something you wish but can not access. Belva Davis said: " Don't be afraid of space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." I have a lot of dreams big one's small ones. One of my dreams recently came true I have applied to a college I wanted to go to and got accepted which was amazing. Another dream is to travel I have had the opportunity to travel in the state. The place I dream to visit is Italy possibly Florence to study art there. I am an artist my truest dream is to make a living doing what I love. I paint and that is the dream to be paid in my passion. To me, art is an expression of emotions displayed to the viewer. Mathiole said, " Art speaks where words are unable to explain." As a first-generation, my career choice to my family is dangerous art is not a guaranteed job where you can earn enough money to live. They would rather me study stem and stem is awesome but it is not my dream. I am going to follow my dream no matter how big, small, or dangerous. John C. Maxwell says, "Every morning you have two choices: Continue to sleep with your dreams. Or wake up and chase them." I chose to chase mine.

Starting college is the first step, but actively pursuing it and the plan plus desire to finish it is another. Both of my parents started school however never pursued all the way to get their bachelor's degree. My oldest sibling still pursuing school and trying to get her degree but is harder for her to have kids. My other sister tried college and it didn't work out for her and she dropped it, but she is currently trying to go back. I am the generation to finish what I started. I have been taking college classes since high school and soon took get my associate's. Now being accepted in UNT and transferring. I have nothing to worry about except the money. We have never been the richest family. Currently being the most comfortable with the current financial status we have even been for. Younger both my parents worked non-stop barely making bills and deciding between food or lights at times. My school clothing and uniform were given by the school, lunches were free, fee waivers were given. Money is always the worry. Growing up that was often the first thing on my mind and even now it carries. My mom has been disabled for a few years being legally blind. Not being able to work and only recently getting disability. During the pandemic, she did not my dad lost his job during covid and only I was working at the time. My eldest sibling does not live with us only the middle child and me. Currently, at that time, I was the only one helping with bills even though I had minimum wage. Then the scariest thing happened we all got covid and were quarantined left with no way of money for a while. It hit my mom the hardest her symptoms being the worst. I worried for my parents them being a little older and my mom with her diabetes and other health problems. Luckily she recovered and since then everyone has had their vaccines. Currently, we are okay. I am working minimum wage still though. Even though I do have a pell grant. I still worry about it. being the first-generation rising to the occasion is hard. There was a lot of pressure for a while to be perfect. It is stressful working around everything. However, being the first generation is not just hard work. It can be cool to be the person to change the ideals and standers of the family even though it isn't =n always a popular opinion with my mom. I told my family that my next plan is to study abroad. They are pretty scared about that but hey I am gonna make my family proud and be not only the first at it but fearless.

Relationships are hard. I probably had the worst of the worst experiences with one. When you are in love sometimes you are blind and ignore the red flags. In 2020-2021 I had a partner. This person I thought was so great and nice. When this person took advantage of me and hurt me deeply. I am now better than ever. That moment even though it was painful and wish it to not even my worst enemies. However that moment changed me for the better. It took me a long time to heal and learn from it but it was good. I wouldn't be where I am now and who I am now if it wasn't for the situations I have gone through. Sadly you can't have a rainbow without rain so I try to see the silver lining. I continue to grow and blossom from the pain I endure. I see it as this basically when life gives you something bitter like onions all you need to do is deep fry it then boom delicious onion rings. Or to put in better terms Charles R. Swindoll said, " Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you react to it."

I try to be joyous in everything I do. I find joy in a lot of the little things I do in life. I find joy in laying n the sun being outside feeling the breeze hearing the birds and smelling someone to cook a nice barbeque in the backyard. My main joy in life is art. I find the utmost love and passion when I am painting. I feel like the whole worn stops turning and watches me paint like there is no tomorrow. Seeing my ideas explode on a painting and the fluidity of color and ideas flowing from my paintbrush to the canvas. It is the best feeling of reward to see a finished painting. Over the few years of doing oil painting my love and enjoyment of it has grown. Joy comes in many forms. Joy can even include sorrow. Saying goodbye to someone but knowing they are leaving and are going to do amazing in life. It is a very sad but proud joy. Joy can be scary. Going to a new environment is great and has much exciting joy but can be very nerve-wracking. Joy to me is just going through life taking everything that comes. You can't get a rainbow without rain. To see the joy in all moments.

Art can change a person. Art has helped me and motivated me to live fearlessly. Art is everywhere. I do not know if my art directly has changed someone else other than me. My art is for me and the people to see. My art and I are like two kindred spirits working as one. Art is a full experience. Mental, emotional, physical, spiritual. I am an artist with great passion for what I do. I am mostly an abstract or surrealist oil painter but my art has a large range. I make it as long as I love to and sometimes I make it because I feel a need to. My most recent and favorite art piece I made for black history month. It is Henry Ossawa Tanner. the first African American man to be recognized as an extinguished oil painter. I decided this year 2022 to make a painting for black history uplifting and learning about a black artists. I was inspired to represent and honestly honored to put Henry on display and inform myself on this history of African American artwork. Henry's art focuses on realism and the people and things he sees. He decided he wanted to be a painter at the age of 13. Even though he started to become a famous artist in Paris he was still burdened by racism. It affected his life and caused him great pain. I did this art piece in my usual style. A more abstract oil painting. I love this painting not only because of the meaning or reason behind it but just the fluidity of color it have. Every time I see it, it truly gets me a little excited and happy. I love to paint because it feels like I was meant to do it I enjoy it, it is my purpose. I hope everyone find joy in art. I love all my pieces and really enjoy my progression of art and my growth in my work. I paint with emotion and passion. This painting has so much expression. I hope you see the passion in my artwork and love it just as much as I do. I hope one day I get to impact the community and people more with my art work as much as it impacts me. I hope there will be a large connection between my art and the people of my community so they can see the beauty in this world when times like now are bleak.

Art is like being in a trance or dream-like state. The Fluidity of colors flowing off the brush stroke a message to be seen a feeling to experience. The image an artist conveys is to connect into the other person's own dimension and universe. Be able to relate to a complete stranger really sharing a moment between the artist and the viewer. My art and I are like two kindred spirits working as one. Art is a full experience. Mental, emotional, physical, spiritual. I am an artist with great passion for what I do. I am mostly an abstract or surrealist oil painter but my art has a large range. I am Stitch I am 21 hispanic queer. I am receiving my associates this spring semester year 2022 in Dallas County Community College. I am striving for my bachelors in University of North Texas. My major and field will be in Studio Art for painting. To dive deeper in my art and paint journey. My art is a lot of times surrounded by my emotions so they can be very personal expressing my deepest and strongest of feelings at times. My partner is my therapist. I release all of it , really feeling at times it is the one way I can breathe. It is my way of life. I have done art since a very young age. For me only recently have I seen it as a career and life choice or passion. At first I did it more for fun and still do. However before around late 2019 and early 2020 I never saw it as a career path for me. I am now seeing the strength I have in my art and really think I could do it forever if I have the opportunity. The pieces of artwork I have added are all recent works. I will be providing a variety of mediums. The five pieces are as follows. One graphite piece being a frog in realism. Two being multimedia in my sketchbook. Three being an oil painting being an abstract painting of Henry Osswa Tanner the first black American oil painter to be recognized. Four paintings I did for my friend's Christmas gift is a surrealist piece. Finally five being a piece I did in class a still life oil painting. I love all my pieces and really enjoy my progression of art and my growth in my work. I hope you are able to see me in my work and enjoy them as I do.

The piece I submitted is my favorite, possibly biased because it is also my most recent. It is an abstract oil painting of the first recognized African American oil painter. I did Henry Ossawa Tanner. I decided this year 2022 to make a painting for black history uplifting and learning about a black artists. I was inspired to represent and honestly honored to put Henry on display and inform myself on this history of African American artwork. Henry's art focuses on realism and the people and things he sees. He decided he wanted to be a painee at the age of 13. Even though he started to become a famous artist in Paris he was still burdened by racism. It affected his life and caused him great pain. His most famous painting being the Banjo lesson. He created a tender moment of a black young boy and old black man connecting with each other. This reflection on his new home in Paris and past life in his hometown. I originally was trying to decide between painting him or his art. Really reflecting on him and his work. Then trying to settle if I should strive to do it in his style or mine. I chose to paint him, which was an easier choice. Then was the hard decision of picking which style to do. I know I could be realistic and the practice in that aspect of my painting would be helpful for me. I do a lot of abstract and surrealism paintings. I should do more realism. I try but I love doing abstract and surrealism. However, the abstract was calling my name and my heart couldn't help but do it. It was such a fun painting experience for me. My painting can range in time or length of how long it takes me to finish. If I'm really invested it gets done fast. I finished it in probably two days. I started with a watercolor to see the base and outline of the painting. Then I got my oil paint and started. I honestly enjoy this piece so much the colors are very vibrant. I am a bold and bright painter. I love color. This is my new pride and joy. I will hope to continue this new tradition of mine and paint black artists on black history month. It will be a fun and educational journey. I'm think for my next one to find the first queer black artists. I want to show representation. I think a lot of my art is inspired by clowns. I have a very strong fascination with the color and I don't know why but I feel connected to them. I often times see myself as a clown or a freak. Being queer I am seen as this weird object so I like to embrace the crazy. I paint with emotion and passion. This painting has so much expression. I can't take my eye off of it. I get hypnotized and put in a trance by it. I hope you connect with it and see not only Henry but also see a part of me in this painting. I hope you enjoy and love my painting just as much as I do.