A key trait held by artists is the ability to take everyday life experiences and use them to create inspirational pictures for the world to see by warping perceptions of surroundings into new meaning of the world. Artists are not ordinary people abiding to the status quo. Artists are pioneers, and with a creative mind and a passion for impacting others through aesthetic innovation, I believe I exhibit these qualities. I am an artist.
     Having passion and ambition are key essentials of my artistic individuality. The American Dream states that the sky is the limit I strive to reach beyond by working to the best of my abilities. Though this makes me an over-achiever, I like to make everyday goals possible. With high standards for success and skilled work ethics, I have extraordinary potential in my artistic talent. This potential results from my effort in aiming towards perfection. Nobody is completely perfect in everything they do but there are always ways to improve one's skills, even in the case of the most talented people. Even if it means taking risks in life, as an artist, my all-time goal is to take that potential and bring out the best of me towards others by utilizing skills. Artists have once been said to be these risk-takers; different, and impractical, but innovative. I am always doing whatever it takes to keep up a strong integrity of purpose with a vision no ordinary person can see. From my art I am distinguished from a lot of other people. Many often see me to be very different and extraordinarily creative. I keep a very open mind while exhibiting a lot of patience and effort in what I do as an artist. As an artist, not only do I enjoy expressing myself to show creative skill, but I also like incorporating my work into good practical use for the world that I live in everyday.
     Everyday I exert a lot of my artistic experience to the world around me. Ever since my childhood days I have always been known to have a passionate eye for creativity. In elementary school I was very well noticed and I had my art submitted a few times to a newspaper called Just Us Kids. My work appeared on the front cover a few times and some issues and some displayed within the newspaper content too. Around 3rd grade I wrote my own books and stories with illustrations that became published within our school library. Within the classes at our school my books were very much admired. My art is extremely important to me and I spend a lot of my time and effort dedicated to creativity. Being the creative one is who I am, what I do, how I think, how I feel it's the heart of my soul. I would always be seen with a sketchbook at hand or my binders filled with artwork ready to show to the world around me.
     Drawing also is not the only thing I did. I also loved to create crafts. Around my preteen years I started making jewelry and taught myself to sew handbags and clothing. I used my mother's old sewing machine and eventually figured out how many amazing things I could do with it. In my public all the jewelry and handbags I make are highly noticed and admired by many. Random people I didn't even know would come up to me and tell me how successful I could become if I continue with my creations in the future. The things I make are definitely different, and something I wish to introduce some more to the world. I create a lot of jewelry not just from beads, but also from random everyday objects like bottle caps or cards. The handbags and wallets I created were very popular because they were made not only from fabrics but also from things like candy wrappers, chips bags, Caprisun juice pouches, playing cards, or magazines. I started a trend that some people today attempt to imitate making. Requests to make something or draw something are always asked from me.
     Dozens of people all over the world have recognized my achievements as well. In my early middle school years I had a fond interest in using the computer. Eventually on the internet I learned HTML and created personal websites and forums using tutorials I found. I learned to use graphics applications such as Paint Shop Pro and Animation Shop. Eventually I learned to use Adobe Photoshop after becoming accepted into an internship during my summer of 2005 at the Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense in APG, Maryland. I was considered as the first and only graphics design intern at the department creating posters, logos, and brochures for companies and organizations. Being in their department for the summer was such a great learning experience and I benefited greatly from it. Eventually I taught myself web design techniques and learned more about graphics design. From all of my self-taught learning I met a lot of other talented people online whom I've found inspiration from and millions who have admired the work they have seen from me too. I joined forums, affiliated with other websites, and tried my best to advertise and promote my personal site with all my creations. From those interactions I became more recognized on the web by putting myself out there so I can someday be found and make my creations into good use.
     Not only does art exhibit my capabilities, it also produces an effect on the people who view it. Art is tasteful to the eye, but also touching to the mind. The human eyes and mind connect in relation to one another, and art psychologically affects a viewer's thoughts and emotions. Art is not just aesthetics, but also a work of significance within a soul. The significance is often found within the eyes of the viewers, and they can decipher what it symbolizes or means to them. As an artist I use my inventiveness and capabilities to inspire and be inspired in aesthetically creative ways. I love to take what I learn from relationships, school and other life experiences to use for inspiration. Education is an important value in my life, as well as my family, friends, and beliefs. From traditional 2-D art to crafty 3-D inventions, I introduce something aesthetic that shows the dexterity I possess. I do not like visual insipidness in the world. Art expresses my perceptions, which sets off different emotional vibes to people. This vibe adds more liveliness rather than blandness. With my significant talent I like to add positivism and brilliance into an otherwise overlooked subject. As an artist I can make a great impact on a person by visually communicating with them through creativity. My art is something I am highly recognized for in my community, and I've always been told that I never cease to be amazing. My work continues to progress and improve daily. My growing talent and love for art is a very significant part of me that I love sharing with the world. It is everything that defines me.
     Expression that manifests in my artwork is akin to endorphins inside my body that calm and relieve me. Art is my way of expressing myself to others in a way that fills the mind into deeper thinking, rather than having a regular conversation with someone, or in writing, or in song. "A picture's worth a thousand words," is a common saying that gives the example of how concepts can be visually expressed in ways that words sometimes cannot describe. From these expressions it is interesting to see the opinions of others through my creativity. It is commending to have others find understanding within myself and the world. For example, when I created visual self-portraitures they had everything about me, everything related to me in my life. Some may perceive one of my pieces to be random, but maybe they don't understand every little detail about it. It isn't until they get into thinking of the symbolism and overall expression of the significant piece that they find what I am trying to express. Each piece exemplifies who I am as an artist outside my ordinary, typical lifestyle.
     Sometimes I make mistakes, because it is human to do so. Sometimes I am too hard on myself because of my mistakes. But from these mistakes I always learn from them to help improve decisions I make in the future. From moments where I am flawed or feel weak, I use them as learning experiences to help myself become more motivated and stronger next time. Everyone has various weaknesses or traits that they are not proud of. Even though many people experience these moments, I try to never let these moments prevent me from striving to achieve my very best. I like to work hard, and I am very persistent in everything I do. I hate giving up, unless I am required to in improbable situations. Giving up is easy, but it takes more strength to hold it together. I keep myself from ever falling apart by keeping a strong mind. The abilities I have, especially in art are what make me who I am, and keep me from falling apart from my insecurities. It is what builds my self-esteem. My art is something I take a lot of time, patience, and hard work into. In my art, I do not just slop some random lines, shapes or squiggles on paper and call it art without any sort of thought process or intention. No! As an artist I place as much effort as I can in the piece, giving it some kind of purpose by creating something I think is worthy of appreciation. Even if it is an abstract piece of art with random lines, shapes, or squiggles, I try to make them seemingly significant to the viewer to give it some kind purpose for its randomness. Furthermore, persistence and patience are elements that contribute to shaping my identity as an artist.
     By attending Maryland Institute College of Art I strongly hope that I can achieve my goals of furthering myself as an artist by pursuing higher education for the benefit of my future. As a young artist, I would definitely fit into the challenging atmosphere at the institute. Through all the challenging roller coasters in life, art is and always will be a part of my future. I find it very significant to attend an art institute to really help me get a jumpstart on what the next steps are in mastering the passion I share with other artists like myself. Like many other artists, touching the lives of hundreds of other people is very important to me and my art is just one of the ways I like to express this contribution. The values I have for my friends and family inspire me to express my awareness of the world. My art exemplifies how observant I am by taking visual photographs in my head onto a piece of paper. When I observe something that needs a creative vibe, I express the concept of my observation in a more powerful, compelling way. I like bringing pictures together into some kind of masterful piece, in a way the eye may have never seen before. People can look at my art and see my observations, as if they were looking through my own eyes. I am a beholder for creativity as a method through which one can share thoughts. Within the aesthetics lies a powerful, inspirational message conveyed in recognition of my self, the viewer, or environment. Art is very significant to my vivid expression of life. It is the self-portrait of my own life, and even the life of others. Without art I would not be able to inspire or be inspired. Without art, and without the gift I have, I would not know what I would be. If anything, it is a path I will never stray from, what I always wanted, and always will be. An artist.