The world is beautiful if you look in the right places. I am inspired by the beauty of my garden and the wildlife in the forest. I admire the sunrise, sunset, and waterfalls near my home. I would say I am inspired by flowers and beautiful plants most of all. Whenever I go places, I make sure to take my camera with me because I never know when I will encounter something that inspires my creativity. I am grateful to have had the ability to visit an exotic garden center recently where I captured some lovely reference images for my paintings. I created an original watercolor work of “Bird of Paradise” from images I took while at the garden center. Creating artwork derived from the beauty of nature is my passion and is something I desire to do for the rest of my life.

Art is my passion; I appreciate the ability to express something meaningful and add beauty to the world. Art makes the world so much better, without art life would be bleak. I was blessed to grow up on a farm in Connecticut, I have been able to appreciate the beauty of the natural world around me. I use the beauty of nature as inspiration for my artwork. I enjoy painting the flowers in the garden, or the fruit and vegetables grown in the field. I take reference photos with my camera or paint and draw from life. When I go places, I take my camera with me, in case I find something that will inform my next artwork. The artistic possibilities are endless, and my dream is to keep on creating for the span of my life. My favorite artistic medium is watercolor painting, and I love to draw with chalk pastels. I honestly love all forms of art, however. Anything where I can be creative and express myself makes me tick. I have recently become involved in pottery, photography, and graphic design, in addition to painting and drawing. I have never painted a mural before, but I do greatly appreciate people that do. I deeply appreciate people who make the world beautiful. Whenever I am in the city, I am drawn to the murals painted on buildings. It makes the city that much better; it creates a thriving atmosphere. This scholarship will help me with the financial burden of my Senior year of college and help me graduate with less student debt. I already have some student loans that need to be paid off, and this final year of college is going to cost more than the previous three for various reasons. Receiving this scholarship will enable me to be focused on studying art to the best of my capabilities, and not stressing about how I am going to pay for tuition, room, and board. I aspire to be a successful artist and make a positive impact on the world with the imagery I create. I hope that when people see my art, they will experience the same joy that I had while creating the work. I aspire to create some form of large-scale painting at some point in my artistic career. Making a painting on the side of a building would be both challenging and thrilling. It is an endeavor I would be up for!

Among my many recent artworks, this pastel drawing of a cluster of blueberries remains my favorite. The exaggerated size and bright colors make the berries pop off the page as if they are asking to be eaten. I have lived on my family’s farm “Sweet Wind Farm” in CT for my whole life. We do many different things, from maple sugaring and flower farming to providing fresh fruits and vegetables to the local community. My favorite produce to pick (and to eat!) is the blueberries. Over the years I have developed a wide photography portfolio from pictures taken on my farm. When I find a reference that I really like I can’t help but recreate it in the form of a pastel drawing or watercolor painting. This pastel drawing of a cluster of blueberries was created from a reference photo taken in my blueberry patch in late July. My main summer job is picking blueberries. Sometimes I spend five hours each day picking blueberries. Some are sold fresh, others frozen, and the rest my mom makes into blueberry jam. Out of all the blueberry bushes in the patch, I decided this particular bush had the perfect cluster for an effective composition to create a piece of artwork. My favorite art medium is watercolor painting, but a close second is chalk pastel. I used my chalk pastels on charcoal paper to create this artwork. I enjoyed using a variety of blue colors and then blending them together with my finger. I also incorporated black and white mixed in with blue to get a full range of values. My goal for this piece was to make the blueberries three-dimensional, which I accomplished by using the whole range of colors that I had in my box of chalk pastels. I outlined the centers of the berries with pastel pencil to achieve some crisp details. My favorite food is blueberries. Having grown up on a farm where my summer job consists of taking care of blueberry bushes and harvesting blueberries, it is natural that I have become attached to the small round fruit. Not only are they delicious, but they have a remarkable amount of health benefits, most notably their high level of antioxidants. This drawing portrays the berries in all their glory, the time of peak ripeness. This artwork is a great piece to have in the kitchen or the living room. I have made prints of this artwork, gifted it to friends and family, and sold it at art sales. My hope for this piece is that it gives joy and beauty to the viewer and inspires them to eat blueberries. A scholarship would mean so much to me as I enter my final year of undergrad studies in Studio Arts at Liberty University, Lynchburg VA. It would help me finish my college studies strongly and debt free. My goal after college is to be a freelance artist. With my art, I hope to add something beautiful to the world that was not there before.

“You are what you eat”, is a statement I firmly believe in. The things you put into your body are what your body is ultimately composed of. The cells in our bodies are continuously being replaced, and the body needs constant energy sources to maintain everyday functions. Fueling the body with proper nutrients is like filling your car with high-octane gas, it burns more efficiently and improves longevity. When the body does not receive the proper amount of nutrients, energy levels will fade, and brain function will be impaired. The body will literally run out of gas quicker. Healthy eating habits will lead to a happier life. Not only will you feel better, but you will look better, and function properly. I have noticed when I do not fuel my body with what it needs, I will experience mood swings, depression, and illness. The physical body is tightly intertwined with mental health. When the physical body is doing well, mental wellness is improved, and vice versa. When I eat a lot of sweets. I feel fatigued more often, and I have less motivation to tackle my day. When I focus on fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains I begin to feel like a better version of myself. Not to say sweets are a bad thing but eating everything in moderation is key. Money is an issue when choosing healthy foods. Most college students divert to Ramen noodles because it is convenient and affordable. I try my best to eat plenty of fruits and veggies, and whole grains whenever possible, as well as nuts and seeds. It is difficult when these things are not always offered at the college dining hall. This leads to me purchasing extra food on my own, which adds an additional cost. At the end of the day, I find it worth it how much money I spend on groceries, because health and wellbeing are priceless. It is much better than spending tons of money on medical bills down the road because your health has deteriorated. Healthy eating habits not only impact you now, but you will thank yourself in the future. Overall dietary trends have a significant role in preventing chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and the list goes on. Establishing healthy eating patterns while you are young, will create lasting habits in the future, resulting in long life and prosperity. I am a student who needs the brain power to do my best in my studies, and I am also an athlete. Eating properly will enhance my physical performance, and it will optimize my academic achievement. Some students do not realize the truth of this, but I notice a significant difference on days I eat well versus the occasional times I do not. Creating healthy eating habits and learning to enjoy the taste of healthful foods results in outstanding benefits.

I have been so blessed to have grown up on Sweet Wind Farm in East Hartland CT. From fruits and vegetables to flowers and butterflies there is always endless beauty to inspire my next art piece. Painting and drawing are my favorite art forms; I love to paint and draw from life when the weather is nice. When I was 10 years old my mom took me up to our family property in Blandford MA, I set up my easel in the woods and drew for hours. Fortunately, I do not have to travel to do the same today. Right outside my door is 44 acres of land full of beautiful plants, animals, and insects, not to mention the beautiful sky and clouds, making endless artistic possibilities. I also have my house, sugarhouse, cabin, and garage located on the same property which helps me practice painting and drawing architecture. When the weather is stable, I enjoy setting up my easel outside. Existing in the same place as what I am recreating inspires accuracy and exquisite detail. If I am painting a more transient scene, such as a sunset or a fleeting butterfly, I will take a reference photo with my digital camera. When I go to the beach or a park, and witness sunsets and rainbows, I start to imagine what my next artwork will be.

My greatest life experiences have been outside of my comfort zone. It is important to get out into the world and experience life, and not worry about what could possibly go wrong. Growing up I have developed a passion for gymnastics and for dance. The sport of gymnastics requires a great amount of bravery. Trying new skills and perfecting old ones all risks the chance of injury. But if I never try, then I will never achieve my dreams. Taking the stage at a dance competition requires boldness. Thoughts run through my mind about what could potentially go wrong, and what other people might think of me. At the end of the day I am glad that I went out and did my best, not allowing anxiety to weigh me down. Getting in the car and driving each day is an act of bravery. People get into accidents all of the time, but that cannot be a reason to stay home. Living a good life will require taking some risks. I am making a bold step in my future by transferring to a four year institution this fall. I have lived at home my whole life, including the past two years spent at community college. I am nervous to live away from home for the first time, but I am also excited to get out there and live my best life!

I admire the ethereal landscape titled "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh. It was one of the first artworks I learned about in school and I have always been drawn to it. I love the painterly strokes and the impasto technique. The swirling motif draws your eyes into the scene, making the viewer feel like they are part of this mystical world. The generous strokes of paint evoke emotion. Emotional impact is something Van Gogh found important in a piece of artwork. The sweeping effects of the stars, sky, and cypress trees give it a dreamlike quality. Van Gogh even admits this piece was inspired by a dream. The Cypress tree serves as a symbol for life, death, and the eternal. It rises up towards the heavens suggesting there is life after death, inspiring deep thought. I love this piece because it has both emotional and visual power. "Starry Night" is a beautiful piece to look at, and it communicates a message. This painting was part of the post-impressionist era, but Van Gogh's style is uniquely his own. Much symbolism is involved as Van Gogh experiments with making his artwork more expressive and profound. Van Gogh’s philosophy included being true to reality, and then exaggerating colors and details to make the image more expressive and meaningful. This is something I try to employ in my own work. I aspire to be a landscape painter and employ the impressionist technique. The thick expressive strokes add a unique quality of imagery that is just as valuable as realism. I aspire to create beautiful imagery that speaks to the emotions. My goal in my personal work is to express joy and beauty. I desire for my artwork to have the emotional power to brighten someone' s day.

I come to the art studio each day because this is what causes joy and satisfaction in my life. I hope to inspire people with my artwork to see the good in life, and the beauty of creativity. The majority of my portfolio consists of vibrant watercolor paintings and pastel drawings. Painting and drawing are my favorite art forms, but I do love other creative practices as well. My painting portfolio has grown significantly since my senior year of high school, and my pastel drawings have improved significantly since I took a college drawing course. My favorite subjects are animals, plants, and landscapes. My style is one of vibrant colors and playful qualities. I aim for realism, but also allow for my creative and expressive impulses to shine through. My work has been described as “gorgeous and lovely”, “realistic and beautiful”. I find serenity in my drawing and painting practices, and I aspire to fill the world with beautiful artwork. The intent of this work is to express joy and beauty in our natural world. My artwork is for pleasure, I love using vibrant colors. It is my hope and desire when people experience my art, that they feel the same joy and satisfaction that I feel. I believe it is important to look for the good in an imperfect world, this is the purpose of my artwork. I hope to brighten up the world by contributing nothing but my best.

Hello, my name is Audrey Case and I deserve this scholarship because I am a high achieving, low-income student who has been given very little financial aid to cover the cost of tuition to my dream school. School costs so much money, and the prospect of borrowing thousands of dollars in loans and then having to figure out how to pay them all back is overwhelming. My dream is to be a successful freelance artist. I want to market my own paintings, drawings, and designs. I am also interested in job opportunities where I get to exercise my creativity. The experience of going to college and learning from wise professors will aid me in becoming the best artist I can be. I have overcome the internal obstacles of anxiety and OCD. I have also overcome external obstacles in the form of physical injuries. I have broken my wrist twice, broken my toe, and dislocated my arm. All these instances challenged my ability to cope and maintain a positive outlook on life. Especially since I love being active, having to rest and refrain from activity was devastating to me. During the time of my elbow recovery, I invested in my watercolor artwork which helped me cope and heal.

“You got to spend money to make money”, is something my dad always says. My family is self-employed, we run a farm business. We make maple syrup in the winter and grow produce in the summer. Everything with running your own business comes at a price. You have to invest time, money, and resources into your business in order to have success and make a profit. We spend money on syrup containers, sapping equipment, seeds, propane to heat the greenhouse, and our vending spot at Farmer’s Markets. We then sell our maple products and produce at the Farmer’s Markets and that is our profit. When considering the investment of money, time, and energy we joke that it is not worth it, but when everyone does their part, it makes us a living. I aspire to have a successful art business one day. My dream is to market my work in the form of paper and canvas prints, pillows, blankets, tapestries, coffee mugs, etc., and have my own physical and online store. When considering the feasibility of my dream I must analyze how much money I am spending on art supplies and on getting the items manufactured. It will be a large investment with the hopes of the profit eventually outweighing the expense. Running your own business has highs and lows and does not have the same consistent flow of income as those who are employees. There is something very special about being an entrepreneur however, it means making your passion your job.

I live with gratitude by thanking God every day for my many blessings and the opportunities I have. When life gets busy it is important to take time to "smell the roses" and appreciate life for what it is. I live on a farm with 41 acres. I am very grateful to have grown up on a farm, although it is a lot of work at times. When I am feeling down, I like to go outside and spend time alone in nature. It is important to reflect on the beauty of creation and appreciate everything that is good in this world. I am grateful for my family and for my possessions. I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue what I love. My mom always told me “Some people in this world have more than you but there will always be someone who has much less than you”, so you just have to be happy with what you have. Happiness and gratitude play hand in hand. Happiness is an attitude and a choice; it stems from being grateful for what you do have and not what you wish you had.

Hello, my name is Audrey Case, and I am a current Sophomore in community college. I am currently pursuing any scholarship opportunities I can so I can afford to transfer to a four-year university this fall. I am an artist; I love being creative. My dream is to make a living doing what I am passionate about and making a positive impact on the world. My passion for art started when I was a toddler when my favorite activity was to “make a craft”. This passion has developed into a pursuit of a Fine Arts Associates degree at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, and the continued development of my personal artistic practice. I dream of being able to pursue a Bachelor’s at a four-year institution but the cost of tuition is sky-high. My hope is to receive enough scholarships, so I am not paying off student debt for the rest of my life. I am interested in being an artist because it is what gives me the most joy and pleasure in life. I aspire to create my own line of merchandise and sell my original artworks. I want my artwork to be something that makes life a little extra special. I dream of my artwork finding its way into people’s homes and on the walls of museums. I come from a family of farmers. My family produces maple syrup in the winter, and we grow produce in the summertime. Farming is how we make a living, and I have been heavily involved with it my whole life. My dream is to be able to make a living by selling my artwork and designs. I hope to brighten up people’s days and lives by sharing my artworks with the world. My artwork is all positive, no negative emotions. The goal of my artwork is to express beauty. I read on most days because reading is an activity I enjoy. I have recently been reading a book on watercolor painting because I want to expand my watercolor practice. I have learned new tips and techniques to apply to my paintings which further inspires my pursuits. The book also has step by step instructions for practicing watercolor techniques which are helpful to practice my skills.

My talents include being creative and athletic. I have a passion for painting, drawing, and anything where I can be artistic. Ever since I was very young, I have aspired to do my best in all my creative works. I used to draw with markers, pencil, and work with Sculpey. Today I am a developed watercolor artist, I love to work with clay and draw with pastel. I have recently dived into the world of digital art; I hope to expand my skills in this medium as well. I try to practice my art daily whether it is personal work or an assignment for school. I am currently taking a drawing and a painting class as part of my Associate’s degree program in Fine Arts. I also work on my personal artwork whenever I can make time. I have developed a vast watercolor portfolio apart from my school assignments. I developed a passion for gymnastics at a young age, this passion has matured into an active and healthy lifestyle. I always push myself to be the best I can be in both my athletic and artistic endeavors. I am currently a competitive dancer and I love to run. Gymnastics, dance, and a general goal of physical fitness and wellbeing will always be an important part of my life. I exercise and stretch every day so I can achieve my athletic dreams.

Hello, my name is Audrey Case, and I am an aspiring artist. I am currently a Sophomore at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, and I am slated to receive an Associate’s degree in Fine Arts this Spring. I live on a farm in East Hartland CT, where I am inspired by the beauty of the natural world. I have created many of my artworks from photos taken on my farm and some things I have painted from life. I have been creative since I was very young, my favorite medium is watercolor. I love painting, drawing, and anything where I can be creative. I also love to be athletic. I am a dancer and an artistic gymnast. It is my goal is to take my passions further and make these things my career. Art is part of life; everyone is a creator whether they use their ability or not. Art brings something more to life than the plain and simple. Life without art would be very boring, society would be very dull. Artwork can be displayed in museums, in people’s homes, on the sides of buildings, or in parks, but no matter where it is it has the ability to make a positive impact on a person’s life. Artwork makes life beautiful; it makes the perfect addition to the plain walls inside of a building, or it can cover whole exterior sides of buildings. I experienced some very large murals in Philadelphia PA where my sister lives. These murals really brightened up the city, they have the ability to positively impact culture and society. Art can be a means of silent communication that says more than words. Symbolism and expressive qualities evoke an emotional response in the viewer. Artwork holds both emotional and visual power. It can express beauty in ways we never imagined, or it can represent someone’s deepest thoughts. Either way, art is an important means of communication, and it is part of what makes us human. Artwork is everywhere, it is part of life. Musicians are artists who create audible work. Music is everywhere and is an essential part of life. I am not a musician personally, but I listen to music whenever I am in the car, and I use music for my dance and gymnastics routines. Listening to music is important for emotional health, it really has the power to inspire and build people up. Graphic designers are artists who work creatively to produce everyday applications such as advertisements, book covers, and business logos that are going to make an impact in the marketplace. Graphic designers create artwork for the purpose of communication which is essential to having a successful business. Art is on clothing, coffee mugs, blankets, and other merchandise. Wherever there is some form of imagery or composition, someone designed it. My dream is to sell my personal artwork as prints for people’s homes and sell my own line of merchandise such as coffee mugs, clothing, pillows, towels, blankets, rugs, and puzzles with my original designs. I want to be a storybook illustrator for children’s books which are important to child development. I also dream of displaying my art in museums for the sole appreciation of what it is.

My family farms for a living. I have grown up and lived on Sweet Wind Farm all my life. I enjoy finding beauty in nature and in everything that grows on the farm. We primarily produce Pure Maple Syrup for a living, but we also grow fruits vegetables, and flowers in the summertime. The flowers that my mom grows have been the perfect subjects for my watercolor paintings. I have been an artist for my whole life. Ever since I was a toddler, I would ask my mom daily if we could “make a craft”. I would love to draw, paint, sew and partake in any creative activity when I was little. I have maintained my artistic practices into adulthood. My favorite medium has been watercolor painting, I love the versatility of the medium and the bright color possibilities. I would paint with watercolors daily when my mom purchased a subscription box for me. I then began my own series of original watercolor artworks which have developed into a complete body of work. This painting is of the sunflower field on my farm. In the background are the cornfield, the woods, and a beautiful sunset. My mom took this photo one summer when the sunflowers were at their peak. The sheer pure beauty of the scene inspired me to re-create it in watercolor. I produced this artwork on my own time, it was not part of any school assignment. I did this purely for the enjoyment of painting. When I create artwork it gives me serenity, especially when I paint subjects that I love. Most of my watercolor paintings are from photos that my mom has taken over the years, but I am now a photographer myself and take my own reference photos for all my paintings and drawings. I have gifted many of my paintings as Christmas presents over the years, I even printed my original artworks on canvas for gifts this past holiday. I am now 19 years old, and I am slated to receive an associate degree in Fine Arts at Northwestern Connecticut Community College this Spring. A scholarship would enable me to pursue my dreams of transferring to a four-year university and obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art. I aspire to be the best artist I can be and turn my passion into a full-time career. I dream of having my own art business and sharing my artwork with the world.

My favorite notorious piece of artwork would be "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh. It was one of the first artworks I learned about in school and I have always had a particular attraction to it. I love the painterly strokes and impasto technique. The swirling motif draws your eyes into the scene. The generous strokes of paint evoke emotion which is something Van Gogh found important in a piece of artwork. The sweeping effects of the stars, sky, and cypress trees give it a dreamlike quality. Van Gogh even admits this piece was inspired by a dream. The Cypress tree serves as a symbol for life, death, and the eternal. It rises up towards the heavens suggesting there is life after death. I love this piece because it has both emotional and visual power. "Starry Night" is a beautiful piece to look at, and it has meaning behind it. This painting was obviously influenced by the impressionist era, but it is unique to Van Gogh’s personal style. Much symbolism is involved as Van Gogh experiments with making his artwork more expressive and profound. Van Gogh’s philosophy included being true to reality, and then exaggerating colors and details to make the image more expressive and meaningful. I aspire to be a landscape painter myself and employ the impressionist technique. The thick expressive strokes add a unique quality of imagery that is just as good as realism. I aspire to create beautiful imagery that speaks to the emotions. My goal in my personal work is to add more to someone's life than just the plain and simple. I desire for my artwork to have the emotional power to brighten someone' s day.

I am a very visual person, I am always searching for and creating what pleases the eye. I have been a creative person since I was four years old. My mom noticed my passion and talent for art at a young age and encouraged me to further my pursuits. When I create something, I find fulfillment. Creating art gives me a sense of peace and purpose. I love to create artwork as gifts for my friends and family. I aspire to run a success art business and share my passion for art with the world. When I was eight years old, I sewed my first stuffed animal. My mom helped me with the first one, but once I got the hang of it, I started sewing a new one every week. Before long I had a whole bin full of handmade felt stuffed animals. I have gifted my stuffed animals to my friends and family and still have a passion for making them today. Some days I get out my paint supplies and just paint for hours. I do not have a sense of time when I create artwork because I am so invested into my work. My mom has an acrylic painting I created when I was eight years on the wall because she thought it was very creative and colorful. Today my artwork is all around the house and on the walls, including many of my works that have been previously gifted as Christmas presents. My favorite medium is watercolor painting. I have a particular passion for painting and drawing, but I do enjoy all styles of art making. I deeply invested into my passion for watercolor painting during my Senior year of high school. I took a portfolio building course where I spent hours creating original watercolor artworks. After I graduated, I continued to create watercolor artworks on my own time. My dream is to paint landscapes and nature using watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints. I want to market my work and gain notoriety in the artist community. This scholarship will help me pay for school and further my education in art. I am planning to transfer to Liberty University Lynchburg VA this coming fall to complete my Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art. I am a current Sophomore at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, and I am slated to receive an Associate’s degree in Fine Arts this spring. The cost of tuition, housing, food, and travel adds up to much more than I can afford. If I receive this scholarship, it will help me with these expenses. I want to attend school and further my education so I can maximize my creative potential and have a successful future.