When I was younger, I watched an ad that essentially said “we don’t need more creative people, we need more scientists.” This stuck with me. As someone who has always been a creator, it caused me a lot of internal turbulence regarding my love for art. My painting is a self portrait inspired by the song “Expert in a Dying Field” by the Beths. This is one of my favorite songs. It resonates with me because I feel like it accurately describes mine and my peers situation: young artists studying their art at a boarding school trying to discover how to fit art in with our future. I described this situation, personal to me as a Visual Artist, by depicting myself painting myself in, almost angrily, while looking at the viewer. Art has always been something that I’ve loved; it can be uplifting and a great way to escape. However, finding the path you want to follow involving art can be very frustrating. This painting represents a lot of emotions for me, and I hope others can identify with it.