I am an art educator; I currently teach art to elementary students. I am also an artist who is constantly growing and evolving through my practice. “In the artistic experience is the capacity to expand your sense of how the world is or might be” (Booth, Eric. 2009. What is a Teaching Artist.) Lastly, I am a student constantly in a state of self-growth. There is always more to learn about oneself and the world surrounding you and how you can use your gifts and talents to positively impact the world. 

The first word I would choose to describe myself is artistic. From the age of two years, I remember endlessly drawing images of family members, using items I found around my grandparent's farm to create things with my hands, and always thinking about what I could make next even though I hadn’t finished the previous painting or sculpture. Ideas are constantly swirling around in my head, colliding to take center stage. My passion for creating is vast; it is one of the constants in my life. Through the act of making and understanding art it has helped me “grow into a whole person capable of expressing myself and having empathy for others.” (Davis. Jessica Hoffmann (n.d). Making Room for the Arts.) The next word I choose to describe myself is bold; I have always been a risk taker, and I am not afraid to step out of my comfort zone in my personal life and artistic practice. Through that level of uncomfortability, growth will surely take place. If we are not growing as individuals, are we truly living? My final word is honesty; I feel my work, whether a painting or a sculpture, evokes a sense of honesty. I am also forthcoming, which stems from being honest with myself about who I am and how I fit into this society. 

The colors in my images are very bright and bold, like me. I love exploring colors and how they can enhance my work. The words are in different fonts, a testament to the various styles I explore in my work. One painting I can make may be vastly different from another. These words are at the core of who I am.