2025 Scholarship Winners
Announcing the 2025 Drawn to Art scholarship recipients!
My team and I were blown away by the passion, dedication, and creativity shared in each application. It was truly an honor to read about your journeys and the challenges you’ve faced in developing your signature style.
After much consideration, I’m excited to announce the recipients of this year’s scholarship! Please join me in congratulating:
🎨 Diana Cortavarría
🎨 Jynette Hayes
🎨 Laura Borner
🎨 Lisa J Michaels
🎨 Nadia Frias Duval
🎨 Shatia Thompson
🎨 Swethaa Chelladurai
🎨 Urszula RadwanI wish we could offer scholarships to everyone who applied. If you weren’t selected this time, please know this isn’t a reflection of your talent or potential. I’ll be offering more opportunities in the future and would love to see you in Drawn to Art.
Thank you again for sharing your story with us. Keep creating, keep exploring, and know that your artistic voice matters!
Diana Cortavarría
📍 United States
🎨 Painting & Sculpture
📷 @dicostudio
Diana Cortavarría is a Peruvian artist and humanitarian whose work explores identity, community, and spirituality. With a background in painting and sculpture, they see their journey as an experimentation to discover how to make art more accessible to all. Diana’s goal is to transform their creative practice into a full-time career, developing a distinctive style that speaks to their vision.
"I plan to use the work created as a catapult to launch my portfolio and apply for future residencies. I plan to network with other artists in the hope that we can all grow together and help each other build a community that uplifts each other. "
Jynette Hayes
📍 United States
🎨 Mixed Media & Visionary Art
🌍 Sierra Mystique Studio
Jynette is embracing her lifelong passion for art with renewed purpose. From performing in plays to hosting an art show, her creativity has always been a way to navigate life’s twists and turns. Now, as the founder of Sierra Mystique Studio, she is dedicated to creating artwork that tells stories, expresses deep emotions, and builds community. She sees Drawn to Art as a stepping stone to refining her skills, finding her artistic voice, and turning her studio into a vibrant space for creativity and connection.
"My dream has always been to have my own art studio—a space where I can create freely, tell my story, and inspire others. Now that I’ve finally launched Sierra Mystique Studio, I want to develop my skills to create more meaningful, professional, and emotionally powerful pieces."
Laura Borner
📍 United States
🎨 Textile & Surface Design
After 26 years in the fashion industry, Laura left behind the fast-paced world of apparel design for an off-grid life in the mountains. Now, she is rediscovering her creativity through surface pattern design, seeking to find her unique artistic voice. Drawn to Art provides the guidance she needs to transition from designing for others to embracing her own style, with the goal of creating a sustainable, flexible creative career.
"I never thought I was artistic, but all my friends and family tell me so, so I think it's time I start believing it myself. My entire career I designed for other brands, and hope Drawn to Art can help me find my signature style that as I understand is so important to stand out in this industry."
Lisa J Michaels
📍 United States
🎨 Illustration & pattern design
🌍 ljmichaelsdesigns.com
Lisa J Michaels spent her career illustrating children's books. However, after years of adapting to clients’ needs, she is now on a mission to rediscover her own artistic voice. She looks forward to Drawn to Art offering the structure and guidance to refine her style, break into the world of art licensing, and create a body of work that reflects her personal vision.
"After decades of illustrating children's books for clients, I am searching to discover my signature style and enter the world of Art Licensing and pattern design."
Nadia Frias Duval
📍 France
🎨 Illustration & Punch Needle
📷 @nanustudiofr
Originally from Argentina, Nadia now calls France home, where she balances studying graphic design with running her own small business. Her passion for illustration and home decor led her to open her own business selling punch needle pieces and other goods featuring her artwork. Through Drawn to Art, she aims to refine her drawing skills, expand her creative confidence, and break free from creative blocks to establish a signature artistic voice.
"My goal is to continue improving my skills so I can sell my illustrations directly to companies and collaborate on creative projects."
Shatia Thomspon
📍 United States
🎨 Mixed Media & Craft Arts
📷 @tiast_ff
Shatia Thompson is an artist, educator, and mom of two with a deep love for creativity. Her journey began with a passion for hands-on crafts, and she continues to love scrapbooking, embroidery and illustration. After spending years teaching in South Korea, Shatia returned to the U.S. with a renewed commitment to her artistic dreams. Through Drawn to Art, she hopes to refine her signature style, build consistency, and create with intention to create art that feels authentically her.
"I dream of teaching art classes, creating craft kits like the ones I adored as a child, and designing papers, stickers, and fabric that inspire others. Once upon a time I thought this wasn't a possibility for me. But creating has transformed me, and I hope to share that joy and hope with others through my work."
Swethaa Chelladurai
📍 India
🎨 Surface Pattern Design
📷 @sillymails
Swethaa is a self-taught pattern designer with a love for playful and expressive designs. From simple doodles to intricate surface patterns, she has spent years learning and growing through online resources. Her biggest challenge has been defining her unique style, as she experiments with floral, geometric, and abstract motifs. Through Drawn to Art, Swethaa hopes to gain confidence, consistency, and the skills needed to craft a portfolio that truly represents her creative voice.
"My goal is to become a skilled pattern designer whose work is recognized and loved. I want to create patterns that tell a story, bring joy, and maybe even inspire others like me who are learning on their own."
Urszula Radwan
📍 Poland
🎨 Illustration
📷 @brutulula
For Urszula Radwan, drawing has always been a source of joy and relaxation, yet she never fully pursued it due to self-doubt. Now, as she dedicates more time to her craft, she dreams of sharing her work with the world. Drawn to Art is an opportunity for Urszula to develop her skills, overcome fear, and build the confidence to claim her place as an artist.
"My artistic goal is to develop my style, to say out loud that I draw and to share this joy with others, so that others will also have the joy of seeing and using my works."
