A Pencil and a Dream: Amber’s Story 
A seemingly small desire is placed into the heart of a young girl. Picking up a pencil, she begins to draw what appears to be messy lines on a blank page. Despite the occasional shaky hand, she continues shading, pausing, and erasing – and when she finishes the process, the lines form a monarch butterfly so vivid it appears as if it may fly off the page. 

Just as a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, Amber started her artistic journey at five years old and has since experienced incredible growth by developing her portfolio. Her story is beautifully orchestrated with twists and turns leading to a powerful testimony. With the help of Alicia – her QIDP – and support from a close friend from her hometown, Amber continues to perfect her craft.

 

Her unique sketching ability led to a wonderful opportunity to sell and share her work with her community. After seeing an advertisement online, Alicia contacted Artists Open Studio, which would display Amber’s drawings. Amber had a dream, and Alicia helped her make it happen. 

“Amber came to Echoing Hills, which was a big change.” Alicia shares. “She found her way, and it’s been exciting to watch her discover her independence.” This independence continues because Amber’s love for working with her hands pushes her towards exploring her potential. 

In addition to drawing, Amber enjoys working on puzzles and coloring books. She also likes watching her favorite Disney movie, The Little Mermaid. This shows in her collection, with pages filled with sketches of Ariel along with butterflies, her favorite animal. 

Vibrantly spreading her wings, Amber shares, “Art is amazingly awesome! My drawings help me to express my true self. I hope to use my art to help others and encourage them to explore creativity.” 

Amber has a colorful future ahead, and Echoing Hills looks forward to coming alongside her as she cultivates new artistic abilities.