My biggest passion in life is to pursue a career in Illustration, specifically focusing in the field of children’s books. I am a firm believer that there is magic within literature. To make a positive impact in the industry that has given me so much joy as a child would be my biggest goal. There is a strong dedication that I have for making books accessible. It is important for knowledge to be gained during every step of development. The affordance of books, especially illustrated literature is incredible and everyone is entitled to experience the joy of seeing two of the best art forms intertwined to create a story. When I was younger illustrated books opened the door to brand new ideas for me. Art within books was a way for me to truly connect to things or people that otherwise wouldn’t have felt real to me. Book Illustrations has created such a magical gateway for every child to have the capability to become hungry for learning. Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen a plethora of books get banned in the United States. Books about intersectionality, race, gender, class consciousness and cultural diversity. Most of these books are meant for young children, they are vital tools for them to learn about the world from the safety of their classroom or home. We as future artists and educators have seen how little our government cares for the pursuit of knowledge. I want to be part of the artists that are taking action using their work to impact the youth of the future and provide them with the different perspectives and opportunities they need to grow in terms of literacy. Children deserve to exercise their critical thinking, they deserve to be able to grow their creativity and most importantly enjoy, as well as, relate to the stories they are reading. Through my illustrations I wish to inspire younger generations to seek truth within storytelling. Books are able to connect youth around the world, even more so now in the digital age than ever before. This sort of connection fosters the necessity of community in every aspect of their lives. It is important to aid kids in learning that diversity is not meant to divide people but rather an invitation to see the world around us for what it was meant to be and the beauty that resides in each of us.

Throughout my early life I have had the privilege to meet countless artists who influenced the direction of my work. Many mentored me, such as my high school teacher Miss Wink or my grandmother who grew up writing poetry in her spare time. Despite how thankful I am to all who have helped shape my voice, there is only one that has always stuck with me. If I had to tell my story right, the one person that has been the most influential in my life and has truly shaped the direction I am heading is David Espinoza. David was an architect from Guayaquil, Ecuador. He was also an artist. He used to work as a banker when he was in his late 20s drawing straight lines on the notebook behind his desk. At 30 his quick pencil sketches would finally be put to good use, he became an architect working north of the city. He drove an old white Chevrolet and had dreams of traveling the world. He had one million friends in his office building, from the security guard on the first floor to the secretary on the tenth. David was bright, very much a gemini. When he smiled the sun rose, and every house he drew plans for would stand tall and sturdy. He died in 2017 of stomach cancer. I was around 13. He was a fantastic man, but above all else he was my uncle which at the time was the only father figure I had. My first eight years of life were spent in Guayaquil, riding in his white Chevrolet. He took me to his office after school. I’d watch him carefully draw up plans for the next construction. Firm pencil sketches of three story homes that he would free hand so precisely that you’d wonder if he used a ruler. During this time my art was just beginning to blossom within the corners of my worksheets and between the pages of my grandma’s cookbook. When David was home he would gaze at my shaky lines. “How much?” He would ask, I would smile holding up my doodles. I was selling them for a quarter. He then without fail gave me a dollar. David was the first person to value my work, so much so that he let me draw on the walls of his room. He was adamant on having me express myself and through that gave me my first lesson as an artist: Confidence in my work. Before he died he wanted nothing more than for me to pursue a creative field. He wanted me to have goals, community and to be kind. He was one of the most influential people in my life. Nowadays, it is much easier to talk about David. I continue to advocate for community within artist spaces and one of my favorite experiences extends from that. In recent years I’ve had the privilege to be part of the Illustration Student Group in Columbia College Chicago. Every year as students we organize InkFest, a huge public art market where students and alumni are able to share and sell their work. The mere energy that comes from that space during peak hours of the event is so lively it’s almost tangible. It is the best reminder that we love beautiful things and beautiful things reside in each of us. When creating events like these I am reminded of David. I desperately wish to show him what we have done for the illustration program but part of me knows someday I will be able to tell him all about it.