Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

I create realism-based artwork focused on animals and natural subjects. Using alcohol markers and colored pencil, I build depth through careful layering, where each mark contributes to the whole. My work reflects a sense of peace and order, and aims to highlight the quiet beauty and individuality found in nature.

Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration is within a deep appreciation for nature and its balance and harmony. I’m drawn to how every element has a place and purpose. My faith in Christ deeply shapes the way I see the world. There’s something powerful in knowing that what I’m observing was created with intention and care. That understanding fills me with a sense of awe, and it drives my desire to honor His design. Rather than change what I see, I simply wish to reflect what’s already beautiful.

What would you do with $25,000?

As a high school senior from a small town with limited opportunities and no financial support for college, I have started my own art business to fund my education. This prize would mean everything to me, it would allow me to invest in my business and continue my studies without carrying the weight of how I will afford it. My dream is to become both a full-time artist and art professor, and this support would be a life-changing step toward making that future possible.