I love Art. Not because it is the easiest thing to do, like putting a single color of paint on a canvas, but it challenges me from what I thought I knew about the historical figures in textbooks to what I stand by in morality and common sense. Each piece from every artist I encounter or know makes me consider what I do and who I am as an artist within my passion, self-worth, ambition, and determination. For example, when I took an art history course, and I studied the iconic painting "The Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh, I felt a large mix of admiration and empathy for the painter. I shouldn't feel ashamed to admit that I have depression; it can happen to anyone, but the only question they have to ask themselves is how to cope with it. For me, I have been using Art as an escape for more than a decade. I paint and draw what I'd observe right in front of me and imagine in my mind by using my senses (touch, smell, hear, see, and taste). I also enjoy experimenting with new kinds of Art styles, such as graphic designs, digital art, 3D art, illustration, and photography. Frankly, I developed a new appreciation for graphic design, in which I plan to pursue a concentration after I applied for an Art and Visual Technology major.
A friend of my mother is an art professor from another school, and she occasionally teaches lessons and helps me with working on my projects for school. I feel gratitude towards her from when she gave advice and support in creating my pieces. At one point, when she was helping me with my portfolio, she was honest about her opinion that even though I have a strong sense of imagination and creativity, I lack the skills to express those on blank surfaces. The worst part was that I was aware of it even before I asked for her aid; I felt a bit vulnerable when she mentioned it out loud. However, that only fed my determination to strive for the knowledge of Art, to pursue my passion for discovering alternatives and resources, like new materials for pigment coloring, and to explore the world in different lights whether I'd see it through my eyes or mind. I will never stop learning.