I'm a dexterous designer, artist by calling, and devout for detail. My first encounter with art was when I was little. With my small hands dipped in paint, I splashed to life my first piece of artwork. There was a feeling of joy that swelled through me as the color splattered on my paper danced vivid images through my mind. I was recognized for my creativity in school, and I envisioned my future full of paint, color, and lots of paper.
Years later, I found myself in contemplation of becoming an artist. I took art classes in high school. The defining moment came during my junior year when I attended the California Institute of the Arts through a summer program. The exposure to a community of artists was an enlightening experience, and I found myself immersed in this creative environment.
In 2009 I attended the Academy of Art University to pursue a graphic design degree. Since then I've been using concepts I learned as an artist to help with my graphic design. My skills as an artist and illustrator give me a competitive edge. I'm often exploring new ways to create art in Illustrator and Photoshop, but I haven't spent time creating art with my hands like I did when I was young. I want to change that. This is why I feel that this fellowship will help me achieve this goal. For many years I’ve been a freelance graphic designer, but my work has come to a stall recently. The ad agency I work for laid me off since November 2022. Financially I’m struggling to move forward. If I were awarded this fellowship, it would be a tremendous blessing and a unique experience that will push me to reconnect with creating art with my hands.
