Reflection On The Atmosphere And Culture At Appalachian State University

I believe the atmosphere and culture at Appalachian State University will provide an engaging environment and spark enduring inspiration in my artist heart. My intended major is Studio Arts and as an artist I am eager to create in a community as breathtakingly gorgeous and culture-rich as Boone. In my art, I tend to focus on nature and environment. My passion is sketching and painting deep landscapes. Boone is surrounded by grand, spectacular backgrounds and artists and crafters are blessed to absorb and funnel into artistic expression the picturesque views in the Watauga County area. When visiting Boone and the NC mountains, I am inspired by the scenes along the Blue Ridge Parkway as well as several hiking ranges like the Cascades and Craggy Gardens. From the setting sun cresting the mountains to the numerous stars visible in the sky on a clear, frigid night inspiration for art is abundant.

In addition to my love for creating art, I enjoy learning about art forms, movements, and history. I find the traditional arts and crafts of Appalachia intriguing, as well as the culture and history of the people surrounding the southern Appalachia region. The vast amount of craft history stemming from the Appalachian Mountain region is moving. As stated by Gustave Courbet, "The beautiful is in nature, and it is encountered under the most diverse forms of reality. Once it is found it belongs to art, or rather to the artist who discovers