There's nothing better in life than to be able to express yourself through a form of art. When you put your pen onto the canvas it's like getting a sense of liberation. Art has no limits and that's what I love about it, I love being able to get messy and destress all while doing something that I enjoy. With my art, I want to be able to show everyone that my art not only represents me but where I come from as well. Others may call it a gift but I call it a skill that was acquired through my dedication and admiration for those around me. What may seem like a forgotten memory for some is something that has stuck with me through the years. Watching my dad create such fascinating portraits and being able to share a love for art with him has been my biggest motivation. 

Working with charcoal is a messy yet beautiful way to approach art. For this piece specifically, I wanted to portray my initial purpose for pursuing art. I was very anxious about starting this piece because I wanted to get everything right. It took a lot of trial and error, constantly restarting, erasing, and getting frustrated was a process. This work was depicted from a photograph from my childhood. I wanted to capture this photograph because I felt like it showed how much I have grown from watching others draw to now drawing for myself. During the time in which the photograph was taken, I had barely started gaining an interest in art. I want to dedicate this piece to those who have helped me pursue my interest and praised me for my growth.