Esther Boller describes herself as a problem-solver, and that's what she loves about fashion design.

From the creative process through the making of a garment, all kinds of challenges must be dealt with and overcome.

Boller now is pursuing her dream of a career in fashion design as a sophomore at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, Ga. For Boller, 20, and a number of other past participants, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program has played a part in launching their futures in the art world.

"I don't think my art would be at the same level" if not for participating in Scholastic Art judging, said Boller, who entered her artwork while in grades 8-12. The regional competition is hosted by the Fort Wayne Museum of Art and co-sponsored by The News-Sentinel.

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"I helped push me," she said during a phone interview, saying she always tried to better each year than she had the previous year. Participation also helps people get over the fear of entering art competitions, she said. In addition, she believes her success in Scholastic Art judging also contributed to her acceptance and full scholarship at SCAD, one of the top art schools in the country.

Boller, whose mother is an abstract painter, said she has been working with her hands since she was a little girl. When she was in seventh grade, her mother bought a sewing machine at a garage sale, and Boller, who was home schooled, began sewing every day.

With experience and some training, she blossomed from sewing basic clothing from patterns to designing her own patterns and making the dresses and other garments. In about eighth grade, Boller also took an interest in photography, and her images won numerous Scholastic Art awards.

"I combine fashion photography with fashion design, and all my photos are self-portraits," she said.

The Fort Wayne-area native grew up in a rural area between Fort Wayne and Roanoke, she explained, so her friends weren't always around to help when she wanted to take photos. She would set up a tripod and use the camera self-timer to give herself a few seconds to jump into the scene.

She since has gotten into filmmaking and using a storytelling approach with her photos.

Boller said her fashion designs have "a retro vibe," but at the same time they also convey a sense of whimsy and the heavenly or otherworldly. Design inspirations come from everywhere, including movies, photos and other fashion designers.

She makes about 80 percent of her own clothes. She also operates a freelance, custom design, fashion business, which includes selling some garments through retail shops and also designing and making garments for local women and those who contact her via her blog.

After graduation from SCAD, Boller hopes to move to New York City to work as a pattern drafter for several years. Then she wants to start her own clothing line and company, where she could create the garment patterns and also coordinate the fashion photography of the designs.

"That's my ultimate dream," she said.

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