As a cross-country runner, I start everyday outdoors. Whether I'm running through a neighborhood or a wooded trail, the environment around me serves as prime inspiration for my art. Instead of stressing about milage or pace, I find myself captivated by architecture I pass, the color of light passing through leaves, or even the shadows cast on the ground ahead of me. As my teammates run beside me, chatting about classes and social events, my artistic mind is cataloging the details around me to use for future works of art. Watercolor in particular has become my favorite way to capture the outdoors. The spreading of the pigment with quick pen marks layered on top express the ephemerality of the natural world perfectly. These notes of inspiration I pick up on my runs not only help me generally with color and composition, but they also serve as direct reference. Multiple times this summer I have traveled back to locations passed on my morning runs, setting up camp on the sidewalk to watercolor a beautiful home or old magnolia tree.

I fell in love with art at a very young age, and as I've grown into myself as an artist, I've realized that it isn't just the finished product that brings me joy but also the creative process itself. When I'm working on a project, I feel most authentically myself and completely at peace. Through my creative practice, I'm able to tell stories visually while expressing myself in a way that words often cannot. Last summer, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent multiple surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. Watching everything unfold took a significant toll on me mentally, so I coped in the only way I knew how... created. Before shaving my mom's head for treatment, I drew a portrait of her with her long, blonde hair still intact. As her appearance changed over the following months, the same beautiful, resilient woman remained beneath it all, and that portrait became a reminder of her strength. Creating that piece was just as meaningful as the finished artwork itself. It gave me the space to process my emotions, quiet my anxieties, and find moments of peace during one of the most difficult seasons of my life. This scholarship would not only ease the financial burden of my education but also encourage me to continue creating meaningful work. I truly cannot imagine my life without the passion, purpose, and creative outlet that art has given me. As I begin the final year of my undergraduate studies, pursuing a degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Animation, I am excited to continue growing as an artist and storyteller. I am eager to enter the professional world, ready to share my creativity, my perspective, and my passion with others.

I love watercolor painting because of its ability to capture a moment in time while still expressing motion. As an animation major I love to tell stories in my art and watercolor allows me to do just that. I am currently pursuing a BFA in studio arts with a concentration in animation and a minor in art history. With this degree I hope to work in the film industry, creating concept work and animations for well-known studios. In my art history courses, we study the work of Disney artists such as Mary Blair and Retta Scott who used the media of watercolor to visually develop the films, I grew up watching. When I create my watercolor paintings, I lean into this sense of life by using gestural pen strokes over top of color washes. The first piece I chose to upload is a painting of a couple walking in the rain on my college campus. As an artist I stop and notice the little things, while heading home from class I snapped a photo of two students walking with their umbrellas and was compelled to turn this snapshot into a piece of art, frozen in time. The second piece I chose to upload is a painting I did for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Alumni Magazine. The university commissioned me to create a piece depicting a town in western North Carolina that was negatively affected by hurricane Helene. Along the river, which is nestled between blue ridge mountains, you can see the buildings and homes that were washed away in the floods. This piece is a beautiful reminder of the strength and community that this region of my home state possesses.

Feminine rage. A phrase used by many to poke fun but in reality... is all too real. Titled "Feminine Rage", my favorite piece I've ever created is a mixed media artwork that represents the feminine power that I possess. Fed up by society treating woman as "nothing more than a pretty face" I depicted exactly what lays behind a womans the pretty facade. I chose to personify the power woman possess with a tiger because this animal is commonly associated with strength. I chose to add vibrant colors in the hair to represent the colorful personalities woman have and attached adhesive pearls to play on stereotypical feminine symbols. I am beyond proud of this piece. The creative process challenged me both conceptually and technically which led to new skills learned. After completing this piece I felt liberated because I was able to express my emotions and concerns about society through a creative medium that brings me joy. This piece is now part of a triptych, with two matching artworks, titled "Lions, Tigers and Bears: Feminine Rage" which celebrates the powerful female figure.

In my opinion the most fascinating, beautiful and inspiring thing in this world is people. Whenever I see a new face, whether from across a crowded store or an intimate classroom setting, my mind immediately turns them into art. My creative brain dissects the subtleties of their facial architecture, unique mannerisms, mood and aura. What colors would I use to capture this individuals personality? I love how the light is contouring their jaw! I wonder what story this person has to tell? When it comes to the art I create, I specialize in portraits because I love telling the stories people have to share. Whether by color, style, medium or hidden symbolism, my portraits add meaning to the phrase "more than just a pretty face". Feminism, depression, hope, and strength are all messages that can be found in my pieces because they all represent the human experience. As a runner I admire breathtaking natural scenery on the daily... but flowers and trees don't inspire me. Instead, the simple man is what keeps me creating.

I’ve always been a perfectionist; but whatever color painting has helped me to embrace and see the beauty in imperfection. When I moved away from home to live on my college campus, I started teaching myself watercolor as a carefree way to clear my mind and release stress. I soon fell in love with the fluidity of the medium and how certain methods of application can create character and movement unlike artwork I had made before. Throughout my first year at college, I carried with me a small pouch containing portable watercolors and a small pad of paper that I used as a diary to record scenes from my day-to-day life. The first piece I’ve attached is called “Umbrellas”. This piece was done on a rainy-day walking through my college campus and shows two people walking with their colorful umbrellas shielding them from the rain. The simplicity of this composition allows the viewer to imagine their own story for the couple I observed when creating this piece. Are they in a romantic relationship or strangers crossing paths? Are they on the way to a lecture or heading to meet friends in the dining hall? The fate of these two muses is up to you! The second piece I've attached is titled “Cottage”. This is a portrait of my grandparents' small home on Cape Cod where I’ve spent every summer since I was born. I chose to recreate this image using watercolor because artwork created in this medium gives me a feeling of warmth and comfort which is how I was able to capture my childhood nostalgia. From the two blue Adirondack chairs reserved for “grandma” and “papa”, to the even brighter blue hydrangeas that I will forever remember as the scent of my childhood, the environment I created in this piece makes me feel at home.

I took my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was seven. Ever since then, Disney has intrigued my artistic imagination. The earliest memories I have of art consist of hours spent drawing my favorite Disney characters for family and friends. The personal pride I had after finishing a drawing that accurately resembled a character was unmatched. This sense of accomplishment along with the pure joy I would receive from gifting these drawings to others is what encouraged me to continue drawing. High school is when I began to get serious about my art. I was pushed by my teachers to branch out from cartoons and became an award winning artist who specialized in realism. Even though I had matured as an artist and created my own style, I was still in love with cartoons and continued to doodle my favorite characters in my free time. As I was further immersed in the world of art, I gained a fascination for animation and how my favorite Disney and Pixar characters were brought to life. When watching the latest Disney or Pixar movies I find it hard to focus on the plot when I am busy admiring the breathtaking visuals and overall attention to detail that has been carefully crafted by a large team of talented storytellers and artists. The feeling of joy and awe I get from watching these movies is what I wish to give others by becoming part of that creative team behind the magic of animation. Whether it was teachers who saw my art hanging in the halls, competition judges, or my mom’s facebook friends, everyone was constantly beckoning me to pursue a career in the arts and I knew animation was the path for me. Animation is a growing technology-based art used anywhere from the creation of advertisements to the modeling of three-dimensional parts and products which would utilize my drawing and creative skills. Watching animated movies and their continual evolution in style, clarity, and detail as I grew up has inspired a dream to create them myself.

The worst “compliment” someone can give me in regards to my artwork is “wow, you’re so gifted”. Although the intentions behind this comment are always positive it’s simply not an accurate remark. I’m not gifted. The walls of my childhood home were adorned with the traditional folk paintings of my Norwegian great grandmother. Despite not knowing her for very long, I’ve been compared to her throughout my life especially in regards to the beautiful art we both created. Although, I attribute my initial love for art and storytelling to my family's annual Walt Disney World vacations. Art never came easy to me but instead made me frustrated to the point of tears. Regardless, I spent hours practicing and trying new methods and mediums until I saw success. Sophomore year of high school is when I saw my efforts finally pay off in the form of local and regional recognition. Instead of feeling complacent, the pride that I felt fueled a fire within me to continue improving. There is no artistic gift. I’m a hard worker. I’m stubborn and passionate about what I do and the stories I want to tell. Like I mentioned earlier, art takes time. As a full time art student with straight A’s and division one athlete I have very little of this time to spare but I wouldn’t have it any other way. So where will my art take me in the future? I plan on going back to my roots. Although my art style has matured greatly over the years, my fixation for Disney has never faded. Next fall I will be applying for my university's brand new animation BFA program with big dreams of someday working for the company that inspired me to pick up a pencil so many years ago.

I took my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was seven. Ever since then, Disney has intrigued my artistic imagination. The earliest memories I have of art consist of hours spent drawing my favorite Disney characters for family and friends. The personal pride I had after finishing a drawing that accurately resembled a character was unmatched. This sense of accomplishment along with the pure joy I would receive from gifting these drawings to others is what encouraged me to continue drawing. High school is when I began to get serious about my art. I was pushed by my teachers to branch out from cartoons and became an award winning artist who specialized in realism. Even though I had matured as an artist and created my own style, I was still in love with cartoons and continued to doodle my favorite characters in my free time. As I was further immersed in the world of art, I gained a fascination for animation and how my favorite Disney and Pixar characters were brought to life. When watching the latest Disney or Pixar movies I find it hard to focus on the plot when I am busy admiring the breathtaking visuals and overall attention to detail that has been carefully crafted by a large team of talented storytellers and artists. The feeling of joy and awe I get from watching these movies is what I wish to give others by becoming part of that creative team behind the magic of animation. Whether it was teachers who saw my art hanging in the halls, competition judges, or my mom’s facebook friends, everyone was constantly beckoning me to pursue a career in the arts and I knew animation was the path for me. Animation is a growing technology-based art used anywhere from the creation of advertisements to the modeling of three-dimensional parts and products which would utilize my drawing and creative skills. Watching animated movies and their continual evolution in style, clarity, and detail as I grew up has inspired a dream to create them myself. When beginning my college search I knew I wanted to obtain a degree in the arts. I went to my art teacher for guidance to get his opinion on which schools would best cater to my career interests. Immediately, he suggested that I look at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro because of its renowned art program. I am choosing to major in animation because of my fascination with it since childhood. This degree would also teach me the large array of skills necessary to make my long term career goal of becoming a film animator a reality. The UNCG animation degree program would provide me with one-on-one teacher guidance and knowledge of the computer applications used by professionals that I would need to achieve my greatest ambitions. I have a very close relationship with my art teacher who knows my artistic, academic, and athletic abilities as he is also the head coach of the cross country team for which I am a captain. While trying to find the major that would suit me best, and provide me with the most opportunities, I expressed my excitement to him about animation. His immediate response was to tell me that he has never had any students take on this degree. He quickly added the confident statement that if anyone were to take this path and be immensely successful, it would be me.

The worst “compliment” someone can give me in regards to my artwork is “wow, you’re so gifted”. Although the intentions behind this comment are always positive it’s simply not an accurate remark. I’m not gifted. I grew up surrounded by creativity, magic and inspiration. The walls of my childhood home were adorned with the traditional folk paintings of my Norwegian great grandmother. Although I didn’t get to know her for very long, I’ve been compared to her throughout my life especially in regards to the beautiful art we both created. My family also started taking annual trips to Walt Disney World when I was very young which initially influenced me to start drawing. These drawings started as cartoon character sketches and transformed into elaborate images each with a personal story to tell. Art never came easy to me but instead made me frustrated to the point of tears. Regardless, I spent hours practicing and trying new methods and mediums until I saw success. Sophomore year of high school is when I saw my efforts finally pay off. My first ever self portrait was awarded a silver key in the Scholastic Art Awards and grand prize at High Point Universities juried exhibition. Instead of feeling complacent, the pride that I felt fueled a fire within me to continue improving. Over the next two years I was awarded six silver keys, 5 gold keys and three honorable mentions in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, one of my pieces was once again accepted into a juried exhibition at High Point University, as well as earning a spot in the National Art Honor Society juried exhibition. I had a painting published in the Kappan Educational Journal and received a grand prize as well as people's choice at a local art event hosted by The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. My teachers, friends, even followers on my mother’s facebook account showered me with affection because of my recent and steady influx of success. “I wish I was gifted like you”. There is no artistic gift. I’m a hard worker. I’m stubborn and passionate about what I do and the stories I want to tell. In the beginning of my journey with art I had family members laugh when I mentioned wanting to pursue a creative career. Now, hundreds of hours of work later, I am an art student at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and have never been happier. Like I mentioned earlier, art takes time. As a full time art student with straight A’s and division one athlete I have very little of this time to spare but I wouldn’t have it any other way. So where will my art take me in the future? I plan on going back to my roots. Although my art style has matured greatly over the years, my fixation for Disney has never faded. Next fall I will be applying for my university's brand new animation BFA program with big dreams of someday working for the company that inspired me to pick up a pencil so many years ago.

I took my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was seven. Ever since then, Disney has intrigued my artistic imagination. The earliest memories I have of art consist of hours spent drawing my favorite Disney characters for family and friends. The personal pride I had after finishing a drawing that accurately resembled a character was unmatched. This sense of accomplishment along with the pure joy I would receive from gifting these drawings to others is what encouraged me to continue drawing. High school is when I began to get serious about my art. I was pushed by my teachers to branch out from cartoons and became an award winning artist who specialized in realism. Even though I had matured as an artist and created my own style, I was still in love with cartoons and continued to doodle my favorite characters in my free time. As I was further immersed in the world of art, I gained a fascination for animation and how my favorite Disney and Pixar characters were brought to life. When watching the latest Disney or Pixar movies I find it hard to focus on the plot when I am busy admiring the breathtaking visuals and overall attention to detail that has been carefully crafted by a large team of talented storytellers and artists. The feeling of joy and awe I get from watching these movies is what I wish to give others by becoming part of that creative team behind the magic of animation. Whether it was teachers who saw my art hanging in the halls, competition judges, or my mom’s facebook friends, everyone was constantly beckoning me to pursue a career in the arts and I knew animation was the path for me. Animation is a growing technology-based art used anywhere from the creation of advertisements to the modeling of three-dimensional parts and products which would utilize my drawing and creative skills. Watching animated movies and their continual evolution in style, clarity, and detail as I grew up has inspired a dream to create them myself. When beginning my college search I knew I wanted to obtain a degree in the arts. I went to my art teacher for guidance to get his opinion on which schools would best cater to my career interests. Immediately, he suggested that I look at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro because of its renowned art program. I am choosing to major in animation because of my fascination with it since childhood. This degree would also teach me the large array of skills necessary to make my long term career goal of becoming a film animator a reality. The UNCG animation degree program would provide me with one-on-one teacher guidance and knowledge of the computer applications used by professionals that I would need to achieve my greatest ambitions. I have a very close relationship with my art teacher who knows my artistic, academic, and athletic abilities as he is also the head coach of the cross country team for which I am a captain. While trying to find the major that would suit me best, and provide me with the most opportunities, I expressed my excitement to him about animation. His immediate response was to tell me that he has never had any students take on this degree. He quickly added the confident statement that if anyone were to take this path and be immensely successful, it would be me.

I took my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was seven. Ever since then, Disney has intrigued my artistic imagination. The earliest memories I have of art consist of hours spent drawing my favorite Disney characters for family and friends. The personal pride I had after finishing a drawing that accurately resembled a character was unmatched. This sense of accomplishment along with the pure joy I would receive from gifting these drawings to others is what encouraged me to continue drawing. High school is when I began to get serious about my art. I was pushed by my teachers to branch out from cartoons and became an award-winning artist who specialized in realism. Even though I had matured as an artist and created my own style, I was still in love with cartoons and continued to doodle my favorite characters in my free time. As I was further immersed in the world of art, I gained a fascination for animation and how my favorite Disney and Pixar characters were brought to life. When watching the latest Disney or Pixar movies I find it hard to focus on the plot when I am busy admiring the breathtaking visuals and overall attention to detail that has been carefully crafted by a large team of talented storytellers and artists. The feeling of joy and awe I get from watching these movies is what I wish to give others by becoming part of that creative team behind the magic of animation. Whether it was teachers who saw my art hanging in the halls, competition judges, or my mom’s Facebook friends, everyone was constantly beckoning me to pursue a career in the arts and I knew animation was the path for me. Animation is a growing technology-based art used anywhere from the creation of advertisements to the modeling of three-dimensional parts and products which would utilize my drawing and creative skills. Watching animated movies and their continual evolution in style, clarity, and detail as I grew up has inspired a dream to create them myself. When beginning my college search I knew I wanted to obtain a degree in the arts. I went to my art teacher for guidance to get his opinion on which schools would best cater to my career interests. Immediately, he suggested that I look at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro because of its renowned art program. I am choosing to major in animation because of my fascination with it since childhood. This degree would also teach me the large array of skills necessary to make my long-term career goal of becoming a film animator a reality. The UNCG animation degree program would provide me with one-on-one teacher guidance and knowledge of the computer applications used by professionals that I would need to achieve my greatest ambitions. I have a very close relationship with my art teacher who knows my artistic, academic, and athletic abilities as he is also the head coach of the cross country team for which I am a captain. While trying to find the major that would suit me best, and provide me with the most opportunities, I expressed my excitement to him about animation. His immediate response was to tell me that he has never had any students take on this degree. He quickly added the confident statement that if anyone were to take this path and be immensely successful, it would be me. This scholarship would help provide me with the resources needed to chase this dream and grow into the artist I've always dreamed of becoming.