I was born on April 15, 1999 in Denver, Colorado. I lived with my mom in the Denver metropolitan area. I also traveled much; my family is spread throughout many of the United States. Also, my grandfather was frequently sent throughout the west to conduct field change orders for Philips Medical Systems, and my grandmother and I would frequently accompany him when convenient. Via this, we saw many of the great wonders, such as Yellowstone National Park. My grandfather only had two weeks’ vacation time, but it was used well, sometimes even to treat me to things like a two-week trip to California.
I began to take an interest in drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. My artistic ambitions always matched my motor skills. I also worked hard in school. I enjoyed playing soccer informally at recess for a few years and was in the choir around the same time. I took Taekwondo lessons for a while as well. When I did school projects, I always did my best to excel artistically and greatly enjoyed the special classes which were offered, namely art, music, and physical education. I remember Ms. Muniz, my art teacher in the special elementary school class, fondly. I was very creative in her class.
Around 2010, my mother married a member of the USAF. When he got stationed at Robins Air Force Base, we accordingly moved to middle Georgia. He has since divorced and left our family. However, one coinciding life change is permanent so far; another is permanent for ever. We still live in Georgia and have been frequent movers between houses within middle Georgia as we were in Colorado. It is also around this time that I made my decision concerning whom I will serve, so to speak. I came to accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord and God as my Heavenly Father. For me, it was a very emotional few years as it fully sank in. Since then, there have been a few trials which I did indeed rejoice in because it was for Jesus. On an intellectual level, I had noticed the stark contrast between the various worldviews I was exposed to in the world and have concluded definitely that the God who created the world in six 24-hour days approximately 6000 years ago, sent the global flood in Noah’s day after telling Noah to get on the ark, made the covenant with Abraham, and sent Jesus Christ through Israel his chosen people to die on the cross to atone for our sins, among other things, provides the best one in The Judeo-Christian Bible, His Word.
Here in Georgia, we have made many friends. One in particular, however, has really impacted my art aspirations. Micah Goguen is a career artist and I began taking lessons from him about three years ago. I like to think of myself as his apprentice and friend. He has helped me make many invaluable connections in the art world. Under his instruction I have done many works, most notably a series of paintings juxtaposing the majesties of planet earth and the celestial realm and a series of paintings concerning what I believe is good stewardship of our God-given but finite resources here on earth and our responsibility to remember that though we are indeed created in God’s special image, we are not the only living things on earth. Even the Bible speaks of regarding the life of beasts and how the tree of the field is man’s life. During my work on these paintings I have diversified from acrylic to oil paint.
I attended an awesome high school, Woodfield Academy. There I have made good friends and made more invaluable connections. There I was introduced to Disc Golf, which I also enjoy very much, having joined the Disc Golf Club. One of my connections got me a summer job as a Roving Listener in Macon. Also, I had an internship through Woodfield with the Ampersand Artist’s guild.
Through all of my life, I have had one great blessing in particular. My mother. I’ve been in tears over how thankful I am to her for sacrificing so much for me and how thankful I am to God for her! I don’t know where I would be without her. She claims to not be talented but in my opinion the fruit of her life shows otherwise. If she has one talent it’s hard work.
One of the latest tests of my faith has been Keratoconus, a corneal disease which causes the cornea of my eye to degenerate and change shape undesirably. For the past few years, my vision has slightly deteriorated from the 20/20 vision I enjoyed when I was younger. It had begun to have an impact on my reading ability and artistic confidence. I have had contacts for about five years now, which has helped significantly. I also had riboflavin dropped into my eyes under ultraviolet a light in a procedure called corneal cross-linking. The procedure seems to have stopped the progression of the keratoconus.
I plan to pursue art as a career after I graduate from college, perhaps as an art therapist, graphic design artist, or teacher. I am searching for specific outlets, such as schools or jobs, to allow me to do this. Currently I have completed two Associate’s degrees at Georgia Military College majoring in Studio Art, earning a 4.0 GPA. I have developed quite a good relationship with the resident art professor Mr. Gillies, and now, in 2019, consider him to be a second mentor to me. I have entered the Georgia National Fair thrice and recently placed third in a juried show at the St Francis Art Center in Macon, Georgia. In both 2016 and 2017 I won first place in the Georgia Right To Life art contest.
Some of my other interests include reading and cooking. I like all genres of literature, although I can only tolerate low, infrequent doses of horror and crime. I like to cook anything I have the opportunity to.