Let’s talk about me.
Hello, my name is Natalie and I love art. I love it so much that I want to make a career out of it. I should start going to AA meetings (you know, Artists Anonymous? hahaha) But I wouldn’t have gotten into art if not for school. I started taking art (by choice, in elementary school it’s mandatory) in middle school. I really liked it, so I decided to take it in high school too, and that’s when I realized that I really like art. I like art so much that I even started a Gold Award about it.
When I was trying to figure out what in the world I was going to do this project on, I honestly had no clue what I wanted to do. I mean, if I have to do 80 hours to complete this, I want it to be about something I like, right? So, first I thought of my brother. He was born prematurely and while he was in the hospital, my mom stayed in the local Ronald McDonald House and when they left, he got a special blanket. I had heard that a new Ronald McDonald House was being built in Charlotte a couple years ago, so I thought it would be a good idea to make blankets for them too. Turns out I don’t like making blankets, and when I went to get the project approved the committee said I didn’t have enough leadership. It was a bummer.
So I decided to start over, and while (again) trying to think of new ideas, my mom suggested that I incorporate my love of art. I was like, “Bingo! Thanks, Mom!” and I rushed up to my room where I’ve been planning this project ever since. Eh, not really. But I have been working with my friend Marah to get started, since she’s also working on a Gold of her own and we’ve been doing planning sessions and working to get our projects approved. It’s really exciting.
My plan is to locate kids who don’t have great art classes (or don’t have any at all) and give them a chance to learn about art and teach art techniques that they can then showcase on some lucky wall in Matthews. (That’s where the “mural” in “The Young Artists’ Mural Project” comes in!) I hope that you’re just as excited as I am, because I really believe that by letting kids try something new and giving them a chance to explore their own talents is important for creating great leaders in the future.
Live long and prosper my friends!
-Natalie
