" From the Horse’s Mouth "
Medium: Oil Pastels and Acrylic Paint Pens
Concept: This piece depicts a young horse and its mother. The scene is meant to reflect the saying, “you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink”. In this way, the relationship between the mother horse and her child’s ability to learn from her behavior can be observed. I used a combination of acrylic paint and color pencils for the piece and used a white ink pen to add finer details, giving a more realistic touch. Shades of black and white are used for the background to accentuate the horses as the focus.
" The Enlightened One "
Medium: Acrylic Paints, String, and Yarn
Concept: This was inspired by the temples I visited in Thailand during a family trip, where I saw many depictions of the Buddha. The temples were beautiful representations of Thai culture. To incorporate these inspirations, I used bright colors that would stand out from the traditional ones used to create the Buddha statues. Additionally, I used string, yarn, and other household items to give the piece a 3D texture. By using several techniques, the piece has a unique perspective on traditional and beautiful Thai culture.
" An Elegant Platter "
Medium: Glass, Marbles, and Wire
Concept: This piece is a medium that differs from usual styles. I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and expand my repertoire of artistic techniques and mediums. I sculpted a piece that was 3-dimensional by creatively reusing and decorating an upcycled vintage wine bottle with marbles and wire to create a functional and elegant cheese platter that my family proudly uses when we entertain. Upcycling is an innovative and popular process today which leads to a more sustainable society.
" The Magnificent Elephant "
Medium: Oil Pastels and Acrylic Paints
Concept: This piece was inspired by a school unit where I learned about the endangered future of elephants due to the demand for their ivory tusks. I have used bright colors to highlight the beauty of these magnificent creatures. I was upset and fearful for the future of the elephant species, so I drew a simple floral background to keep the focus on the beauty of the elephants.
" The Beauty of Life "
Medium: Colored Pencils and Acrylic Paints
Concept: This painting depicts a crow caring for its nest and eggs. I painted this scene after I witnessed this exact moment while on a hike one day. I was inspired by how amazing it was to have beautiful moments like this in a world where our devices constantly consume us.
" Time Through Our Eyes "
Medium: Color Pencils, Acrylic Paints, and Molding Paste
Concept: The focus of the piece is the past and present of the girl’s life. In this scene, the young girl is visualizing her life as each lens of her sunglasses demonstrates the most crucial stages in a mother-and-daughter relationship. The first stage is infancy, where the child is vulnerable, and the mother must care for and protect her. After a time, the roles reverse, and it is now the child’s turn to give back. The child must care for the mother as she is elderly and must depend on her child’s love. This piece is dedicated to my mother whom I love, and it also serves as a reminder of my appreciation for all mothers.
" Glorious Seashells "
Medium: Color Pencils and Acrylic Paint Pens
Concept: This drawing portrays the details of a bowl of shells on the table of a beach home. This was drawn based on a scene I had observed over a vacation. With intricate details and shading with vibrant colors, I depicted the shells vibrantly to give a realistic look. My vision for this piece was to create something that reflected a realistic scene, yet somehow incorporated colorfully inspired elements.
" Berries on a Vine "
Medium: Earthenware Pottery and Ceramic Glaze
Concept: Ceramics has become a favorite medium since I became a student employee at a ceramics and painting studio. While at the studio, I work on a new piece each week. Earthenware is a specific type of pottery that I most frequently use. This piece is in the style of an earthenware mug that I painted with various ceramic glazes, depicting a beautiful strawberry plant.
" The Power of Music "
Medium: Acrylic Paints, Acrylic Paint Markers, and Color Pencils
Concept: This painting portrays a young boy on the steps of his orphanage. The boy has lived a life of instability with no one to call his own. During his free time, he enjoys playing the flute. In this way, music has changed his life by giving him opportunities in life and a companion. The power of music leads him to the companionship of a neighborhood dog. The dog is like the boy as it has no family; therefore, the two became inseparable. This scene highlights the power of music to change one’s life.