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Creative Design
Explore a collection of sketches and paintings that capture emotion, memory, and human connection through visual storytelling. Each piece reflects a search for meaning — how art can restore, translate, or preserve what words cannot. From portraits that explore loss and resilience to studies of light and form, this work represents the heart of my creative practice.
Don’t Cry, Sweetheart
With this painting, I wanted to explore how families with a terminally ill child often hide their grief behind cheerful smiles. The painting shows how parents protect their child's happiness while—unbeknownst to the child—preparing to say goodbye. The camcorder symbolizes the effort to preserve joyful memories, even when that joy can feel performative. The smiling masks represent this emotional shielding, and the warm picnic tones are juxtaposed with everyone's inner sadness. Through this piece, I learned that small compositional choices—like something as simple as adding masks—can carry profound emotional weight.
Frozen in Motion
With this pen & ink piece, I wanted to explore how grief can freeze a family in time. The family is stuck in the moment, emotionally suspended, while life around them keeps rushing forward. This is the reality for many families with a terminally ill child: the world continues its pace while they are left to grieve and pray for hope. I'm proud of how I found a way to make the figures feel isolated without being hidden; it's clear they're physically present but emotionally detached. The rush of the people behind them is conveyed through broad, expressive streaks symbolizing motion.
Longing Beyond the Glass
With this charcoal piece, I wanted to capture the isolation of a child separated from normal life by illness. The boy sits in his wheelchair, physically present but emotionally distant, watching through the window as other kids play basketball in the mountains beyond. The desk tells its own story: instead of textbooks and pencils, it's cluttered with medical devices, a water bottle, and tubing. A backpack slumped in the corner suggests that school has been replaced by treatment, that he's missing out on the everyday experiences most kids take for granted. The window acts as a barrier, framing the world he used to be part of but can no longer access.
Reality v.s Dream
With this piece, I wanted to explore the split between a child's reality and his dreams. On one side, the child is in treatment for cancer, shown partially through the radiation mask; on the other, he imagines himself as a doctor and astronaut. The left side is darker and heavier, with dead flowers; the right side is brighter, with blooming flowers and symbols of hope. I incorporated details like the IV line and stethoscope to highlight the contrast between the two sides.
Reflections of a Classic
With this direct observational piece, my goal was to capture a vintage car I saw on the streets of San Francisco while utilizing creative mark-making. I began by designing a compelling composition, and then used pen and watercolor for the details. Stylistically, I was interested in keeping the background especially loose so the car would stand out. When drawing the car, I used stronger detail to show the character of the vehicle. As I added shading, my goal was to create depth and form. Highlighting the reflections on the chrome helped the car pop against the sketchy background. Through creating this piece, I discovered how tricky, yet rewarding, it is to capture reflections, as well as the impact of a simple background.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (on My Desk)
With this creative observational piece, my goal was to represent the chaos of my high school life: academics, deadlines, and peer pressure, all piling up on a student's desk. The spilled drink represents stress leaking into everything: caffeine-fueled nights, pressure to perform, and the emotional overload that often goes unnoticed. Each object is placed intentionally to show how creativity and rest get buried under it all. The overflowing bottle spills rainbow-colored liquid, symbolizing the boba, coffee, soda, and energy drinks students rely on. The beverages seep onto my schoolbooks, showing how stress spills into everything.
Order in the Chaos
With this piece, my goal was to capture the controlled chaos of my workspace. I intentionally left no empty space and layered tools like tape, brushes, and sketchbooks to represent the constant juggle of ideas and media. I worked each section, using blending tools and erasers to sculpt highlights, then refined with compressed charcoal for shadows and edges. This piece challenged me to explore a more personal reflection on my own creative world.
Microcosm
With this oil pastel piece, my goal was to create an abstract composition based on the microcosm of a flower. I began by observing the blossom, zooming in until it became only shapes and forms, partially unrecognizable. I chose to work with oil pastels so that I could create a rich, colorful image with bold textures. In designing the piece, I worked with an unusual color palette, pushing warm oranges against cool blues to make it feel alive. I learned how changing scale and color can completely transform something familiar into something abstract and new.
A California Scene
In this direct observational watercolor piece, my goal was to capture the intoxicating nature of summer through overgrown palms, a bountiful yard, and the humble character of a Victorian house. While painting, I was struck by how the green plants pressed around the structure, neither threatening nor tame. The painting captures a specific kind of California scene that feels very familiar to me: history holding its ground, nature doing what it does—and somewhere in between, a wonderful sense of home.
Self-Portrait
In this digital self-portrait, I explore a modern twist on "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." Instead of protecting myself from evil, I'm shielding myself from our societal reality and world. One figure shields his ears from bad news, a second features eyes glazed over from doomscrolling, and a third covers his mouth with rage. The original proverb comes from a religious teaching about moral integrity, and I'm using it to question our relationship to a complicated world. This portrait reflects my experience: I juggle between staying informed and protecting my peace, while staying aware of the privilege to look away when others can't. I painted myself three times because I feel split; I want to engage meaningfully with the world, but also need to preserve enough energy to actually do something about it.
Rangoli of the Deep
With this digital painting, I was inspired by Diwali Rangolis: traditional Indian symmetrical patterns that celebrate light, unity, and new beginnings, using physical colored powders. I chose a radial layout with wave-like forms, fish scales, and leaf motifs to reference ocean life. This connects to Diwali's deeper meaning: the triumph of light over darkness, just as light penetrates even the deepest waters. The central element includes a mirrored and reflected diya (lamp), tying it to Diwali. This piece challenged me to incorporate cultural warmth while using a digital tool, and I discovered how patterned complexity can contribute to a unified whole.
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