Music is a huge source of inspiration for Lily. “A lot of my art is based on the music I’m listening to,” she says. “If it’s a happy song, I’ll create something bright and energetic. If it’s a sad song, my art might be a little darker and moodier.” This connection between music and visual art gives Lily’s work a wide emotional range. Her art can feel playful and carefree one day and intense and emotional the next, it all depends on the soundtrack.

Of course, being an artist isn’t always easy. Lily says the toughest thing she deals with is art block. “Art block is the worst,” she laughs. “It’s when you want to make something, but nothing comes to you. Sometimes you just sit there staring at a blank page, and nothing feels right.” How does she get through it? “I usually wait it out or try to find inspiration. Music helps a lot,” she says. “And if I’m about to give up on a piece, I try to mess around with it first. Add color, try a new medium sometimes you can save it.”

Lily’s had some pretty cool moments as an artist already. One of her proudest was when someone asked to buy one of her pieces. “I said no,” Lily says, grinning. “But it was pretty flattering that they liked it enough to want to buy it.” Even though Lily doesn’t want to turn art into a business, she dreams of sharing her work with the world. “It would be amazing to have my art in a famous museum,” she says. “But it would also be cool to share it on social media. In a museum, people who really love art could study it. But on social media, it could reach more people and maybe inspire someone.”

Lily is clear that art will always be more of a passion than a career goal. “Sure, making money from art would be cool,” she says, “but I want to make what feels right to me  not just what other people want.” That sense of creative independence is pretty impressive for someone her age.

Being chosen as the Emerging Youth Featured Artist of the Month means a lot to Lily. “I’m really honored,” she says. “I don’t know why I was chosen, but I’m really grateful for it.” Art hasn’t completely changed how Lily sees the world yet, but she thinks it might over time. “Maybe when I’m older, it’ll help me understand more,” she says.

Outside of art, Lily loves watching YouTube, where she gets a lot of creative inspiration. She’s especially inspired by Dollightful, a doll customizer known for transforming dolls into unique characters. “It would be so cool to collaborate with her,” Lily says. “She already knows how to work with other artists, so I feel like I could learn a lot from her.”

At the heart of it all, Lily’s goal is to create something meaningful. “I hope my art connects with people,” she says. “If someone finds meaning in it or feels something when they look at it, that’s better than any award or sale.”

Lily’s art is colorful, expressive, and full of heart just like her. She’s still exploring her creative voice, but one thing is clear: whatever she creates next will be purely her own.