Art Community

For a long time I aspired to become a teacher of the arts. I had always felt it was my duty to share my passion with others. I wanted not only to teach individuals about the color pallets VanGough idealized, but also to show in times of need how art can be your best friend. Whenever I find myself caught up in the mysteries of life I turn to my sketch pad and there I find clarity. It may not always result in an answer but creating art simplifies the heart.

Art helped me learn to express the feelings I couldn’t say and during that time period and I choosing to study it is the greatest decision I have ever made. Art is the reason I live now. It gives me hope, happiness, and an ability to escape. I love how it can change my view and to make me feel things. This year one of my illustrations was hung in the Museum of Contemporary Art: La Jolla, and I could not be prouder.

The first class I took part in was weaving and fibers, and similar to that of playing an instrument, art influenced my life. Weaving and fibers opened up a whole new world I had never experienced; my grandfather built me my own loom, and my whole family became interested in my art projects. After taking my first art class I chose to participate in many more: arts & crafts (twice), ceramics, and stained glass. Art opened up many opportunities for me both socially and intellectually. I participated in art competitions including the contest for the Erie Times News 100th year anniversary (my school placed second) and the Vans Custom Culture contest. I collaborated and built friendships with diverse groups of individuals, worked on group projects (such as stained glass windows), and a plethora of independent study projects (macrame hangings, dream catcher’s, gnome houses…). Through the arts both musical and visual I experienced unimaginable opportunities and experiences that allowed both self-expression and

Creativity and art have been a significant parts of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was little and we visited my Grandma Carol in the summers, my favorite thing to do with her was make art. She taught me about so many different media, such as: acrylics, oil pastels, and the ink press. Sometimes, I would bring my sketchbook from home and she would help me set up art shows around her house. I would sell my art for a few dollars each, and then use the little bit of money I earned to buy more art supplies. As she introduced me to more artistic styles and mediums in the

As the only child, of my mother, I often faced the problem of not having someone to play with forcing more creativity. I often did various arts and crafts projects, but I found that I enjoyed drawing the most. With each drawing I become completely engrossed partially because it is a self-taught skill that requires focus, but also because I must be patient with myself as I work towards what I envision and learn new techniques. The Art of Drawing is a skill that I can continuously develop and perfect. The patience that my artwork teaches goes beyond the work itself. It demonstrates the importance of accepting my weaknesses and working towards bettering them. I am able to properly release the struggles I encounter and not be consumed because of my artwork. Creating my drawings is more than expression, but also self-discovery because I can be more honest with myself, embracing who I am and what I feel. However, from time to time I do encounter “artist block” and the exhibitions held at the museum of fine arts at Florida State University could provide inspiration much like my environment here at Spelman

I am grateful for the YMCA program I attended at age nine that started me on this journey towards my goal of becoming an art teacher. Programs such as the ones that the YMCA offers can have a profound influence on those that attend. I am proof

It was my freshman year of high school when I took Drawing A; I quickly learned that I had a skill that I had previously ignored and began embracing it. Sophomore year, though, was when I truly started using my art. It was during this year that I received a 4 on my AP-Studio Art portfolio, and won four awards at Scholastic Art and Writing in photography. Art gave me a feeling of accomplishment that I didn’t usually get in the rest of my academics, so I always tried my

In fact, art has always been an inseparable part of my life. My journey with art started when I was still in Iran and my mother enlisted me in my first extracurricular art class. After moving to Beijing, the capital of China, I became fascinated with Chinese painting that is very different from western paintings in both mediums and techniques. Thus, I signed up for one-to-one classes for Chinese Gongbi and Shui-mo painting. When my journey brought me to the United States, I took advantage of the flexible high school curriculum that I previously did not have and enrolled in a variety of Art classes. I was able to make my own short animation, explore different mediums such as watercolor, acrylic, and clay, learn to develop in the dark room what I photographed with my film camera, and create works of art such as sculptures and paintings, all of which have been displayed at my schools galleries. After my virtual tour of Jewett Arts Center, I fancied of walking down the halls and be inspired by the great variety of artworks. The art center resonates the promise that I can further explore my artistic abilities and perhaps step out of my comfort zone and lead a new adventure with oil

Since I was a little girl art has been a part of my life, whether it has been painting my favorite celebrity, knitting a blanket, or drawing Time Square. I’ve always found joy when creating something others will admire. With my love of art came a decision every teenager has to make,“ what will you do for the rest of your life”. With lots of questioning and deliberation, I made the conclusion to further my passion into a career by going to art school in Chicago.

I genuinely love and appreciate art and the fact that you can express anything through it. When people feel emotional through my art, I feel alive and energetic. Ever since I was young, I always attempted to create something and because of that, I developed a great habit of expressing anything through art. The ability to create an artwork using colors, lights, lines, forms, and shapes, is a unique feeling. I was always an artistic kid where I was always interested in language, expressing

Art plays a huge role in my carefree personality. Poetry pushes me to use the power of my voice and to care less of what people think of me or my story,giving me the freedom to tell my story how I want to tell it. Not only poetry, but being a visual artist also gave me the urge to express myself unapologetically because it's a freedom in what I draw and how

People take art for granted and don't see the arts taking a fundamental role in our lives. I admit I was one of those individuals, but when I joined Citi Spotlights, it changed my view on the arts and the world surrounding me. The program taught me leadership skills and exposed me to things I had never done before. It introduced me to acting, singing, and dancing. Today, I am able to use my imagination and use any artistic form to express my most profound thoughts to my surroundings.

Currently, I am a sophomore studying Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Nevada, Reno. As a college student, one of the most important aspect of my education career is to gain different kind of experiences from opportunities that are offer at the university. Personally, I believe that completing a paid, local internship can give students, such as myself, the chance to gain valuable work experience and build networks and connections, while applying knowledge and skills in real life settings. Every type of experiences that exist, such as internships, offer me the chance to enhance my strengths, understand the world around me, and to push myself in continuing to develop as an individual to become successful in life. For example, I was selected as an art intern for the Summer Business Institute Program in Summer 2014. Throughout the eight weeks of exploring to arts, I had an opportunity to work with a team of artists to create a mural and an art piece for two local community centers in Las Vegas as well as organizing a civil engagement project for a neighborhood that have families who are in need of financial aid. As a result, we were thanked by the families to sponsor an event for their children to enjoy art for a day. Reflecting back on

studied various art mediums to explore creative talents. In my junior year, I decided to

Good art allows me to flee the realms of reality. In my mind's limitless consciousness, I can escape the mundanity of everyday life. It opens a door in my head to a world only limited by my imagination. I am no more a slave to gravity, chained down on the earth when I am reading. I can be a bird and soar high above the clouds, or be a fish and swim deep down in the darkest depths of the ocean. I am there, I am that person, and everything else around me regardless of what it is, fades away. Sometimes these people are the one's I'd like to be but sometimes I encounter nefarious characters I wholly condemn. I am able to feel the emotions that the artist intends for me to feel. However, it is not merely reading or listening, but understanding