Growing up as an excitable only child with ADHD, I struggled to find ways to express myself. The thing I loved most, sitting alone in my room, was watching television. Whether it was a cartoon that was premiering or that had been airing since before I was born. I loved watching how each character was dynamically mixed into one big solution. I wasn't just watching those cartoons for entertainment; the characters imprinted positivity on a little girl sitting alone in her bedroom. When I didn't have anyone to laugh with, I laughed with the characters on my screen; I cried, got angry, and felt through them. When the pandemic struck, I spent much time in my head. I learned more about myself as a creative: how to succumb to my creative thoughts and let my hands create rather than my brain. I freed myself to wherever my mind could wander, and my characters emerged. I continued to develop them, day by day and year by year, displaying pieces of myself in each character. When beginning my inquiry for my AP series, I chose a story about the internet and its effect on people, something I thought people wanted to see rather than something I was passionate about. My art teacher encouraged me to lean into my authentic self and, in turn, feel free! I pivoted and brought Alejandra and Nelly, the characters I'd been developing for years, with me. I broke from what was considered the norm and let my characters investigate the multiverse in my head. While experimenting with each piece, I valued the importance of color theory and how colors shape the piece's mood. I also studied dynamic poses and the importance of fluidity in composition. Each character varies in design, big or small; each character has a sense of originality. Similar to that in real life, regardless of where you go, there will always be someone who looks different and lives differently. My goal as an artist is for people to see parts of themselves through my work, through my characters in the big and tiny details. My work is for everyone, all the kids sitting alone exploring cartoons just like I was as a child. I invite them to stand with me in being different, not fitting the norm, and branching out to do something that has yet to be seen. The question that guided my inquiry was: How different would life be if we could go to different universes in our multiverse? We follow the main characters, Alejandra and Nelly, throughout their journey into the multiverse. We watch them grow and meet many unique faces throughout the multiverse! I love expressing my imagination through expressions and character design; the thrill I get from telling my stories through my backgrounds and character depth is a joy I am excited to share!

We are delighted to write this statement supporting our wonderfully talented student, Prettlophine Cotton. Prett is enrolled in the Visual Art Center, the oldest magnet program in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. One unique thing about our program is the students have two teachers/mentors to guide them in their work. We want all our students in our program to find their voice when creating their work. The inquiry-based approach to the AP Art and Design exam supports this individualized learning. Our students can follow their intuition, experiment, and investigate a topic. We encourage them to analyze how their experiences, backgrounds, beliefs, etc., shape their investigation and then infuse that analysis into the work. Prettlophine is a highly proficient painter and artist in traditional media but is drawn to digital media and storytelling. She lived and breathed her characters and spent hours sketching and developing the back story, personalities, clothes, body positioning, etc.