“I dream my painting and I paint my dream” - Henri Matisse

While growing up I’ve always been drawn to art and design, and inspired by people around me I decided to pursue it by taking it as a gcse, which has helped me grow in many ways as a painter as well as a person. I always loved architecture and admired all forms of art including realism, but I was especially drawn to experimenting with abstract, mixed media paintings, trying out different methods of painting and experimenting with different color schemes and color theories with every painting. Some of my favorite artists from this year have been Allison Pearce, Lucy Jones and Michele Clamp, and I enjoyed trying to recreate their style in my work. I’d love to thank everyone who has helped me throughout the journey, like my teacher and my family, especially my dad as an architect himself who always helped with inspiration when I needed any. I can see the gradual improvement of my artwork throughout the years and can’t wait to see how far I can go.

Art GCSE is tough, but I wasn’t warned when I got into it. Prior to even picking art, I only ever sketched and doodled, never truly finding the commitment to even paint. However, through the short deadlines and sketchbook papercuts, I learnt a truth behind the art I possess now and just how much of me it expresses. Through art you discover yourself. You learn through trials and tribulations the strokes you should and shouldn’t make and, when reflecting on the whole picture, the art captures the whimsy in the vision you aspired to create. I loved the idea of colors, the way they can blend and intertwine. How colors could be interpreted as emotions or evoke feelings that one can’t simply express in words. I adore the inspiration cultivated even from the space of the class. Watching my classmates' creative, artistic endeavors thrive also allowed me to keep going, working to grow my skill over the past two years. I find that although it’s the end of my year in Art GCSE, I will endlessly learn the unlimited ways to translate my abstract ideas and thoughts and feelings into my art for the world to see.