Visual art has been an escape for me for as long as I can remember. I do not think there has been a time in which I did not have a crayon at hand or something to be transformed into what I considered to be a work of art.
Luckily, my parents encouraged and influenced my interest in art. I always remember my mother working her own project, whether it was sewing or quilting a blanket. It is safe to say that art has always been a part of my environment, nature, and nurture.
To this day, it has still stuck with me, as I am now studying Psychology and Studio Arts at the University of Pittsburgh. Many people ask me how those two disciplines can possibly merge. I think there is a subtle misconception that art cannot expand beyond a singular perception.
This attitude even translates in the adult world. “How can someone possibly make any money with that?” I feel with this mindset, society is only suppressing the inherent talents that a five or eighty-five year old may possess.
This may even stem from a lack of arts programs in schools. In recent years, my school district faced cut funding of the arts, and in turn there was only a limited amount of extracurricular activities that children could pursue to express their creativity.
I believe children should have the opportunity to experience making their imagination come to life.
Art can only broaden horizons. Art can allow one to truly express what is within, as it is a progressive form of being who you are. It grows with you; it grows with your experiences. It can be used for anything from a personal story to a moving historical statement.
I only hope that I can delve into what potential I have, and expose myself to what I have to offer, and what art can offer for me.