In middle school, I spent hours sketching whatever cartoon characters came to mind. I would pull out 25 markers, finding the perfect shade of lemon yellow to finish filling in Princess Peach's hair. Although my adolescent sketches didn’t involve much thought or care, they sparked my passion for art. At first, I was very opposed to using watercolors. Their free flow and fuzzy lines made me look at watercolor as unpredictable and lacking in dexterity. I was used to making precise lines and shapes with rigidly defined edges from my fine-lined markers. Watercolor was a complete juxtaposition to my art-making process.
It wasn't until my freshman year of high school that I truly started to embrace all of watercolor's "drawbacks." My teacher gave me an assignment to use watercolor to describe an inner layer within us. I felt a wave of dread wash over me as it meant I would have to depart from my norm; I didn't like change. I was strict and comfortable in my routine. As my brush shakingly hit the paper, I made a dot, but my dot didn't stay in its shape. It evolved, and after an hour, all of my precise lines and shapes expanded into light, fuzzy patches. However, as I stared at it, my head wasn't full of disappointment but excitement. It wasn't what I expected, but slowly the fuzzy, unpredictable colors blended into a vibrant portrait of me.
As my watercolor skills blossomed, I learned new techniques and began to incorporate other media. My use of watercolor taught me much more than color theory or value; it taught me to embrace life's unpredictability. Ever since that assignment, watercolor has become an essential outlet of expression. It lets me convey my emotions in a visual format. In my latest watercolor piece, I use the medium to express the dichotomy between myself at home and myself at work. My afternoon consists of two activities: work and work. No matter how fast I complete projects, I will never escape the ever-encompassing flow of responsibilities. A portion of me lies on the left in my uniform, and as time passes, reflected in the change of clothes, she doesn't go to bed but instead shifts to the other side. Tomorrow she will complete the same routine. It's run, rinse, and repeat!
As a growing artist, I take advantage of every opportunity that comes to me. I plan to study fine arts at the Rhode Island School of Design. I am excited to learn new techniques, skills, and trades, working with larger interconnected pieces. RISD will expand my artistic horizons by enabling me to explore new and unexplored facets of life. I aim to create art that elicits a response, challenging myself to rethink and reflect.
I absolutely love painting with watercolors! I started out playing with watercolor when I was 10 years old. I was incredibly inspired by my mother, who also has a passion for watercolor painting, and who put me on the path towards seriously developing my talent. When I started out, I was not confident in my abilities, but to me, watercolor is forgiving and confidence-building. They say that “practice makes perfect” and it turns out it is actually true! The more that I practiced with watercolors, the more that I fell in love with the way that I could make the paint flow on the paper, creating the color blends and textures for my illustrations. My passion lies in whimsical art, delicate and beautiful. I have been called an “egg-shell artist” before, which perfectly describes my style. I rely on the defining lines of deft pen strokes to outline my paintings, and I leave the color and styling up to the watercolor portion of my composition. I love how watercolor can add so many moods to a composition piece, changing the feel of the painting based just on how the paint lands on the paper.
Now, nine years later, I have the confidence to pursue my dream of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Art Illustration. I am learning so much about paint, color, and how it all works together to become a piece of art that people cannot help looking at and loving. Out of all the media that I use for my major, watercolor is still my media of choice, and my hope is to someday illustrate children’s books that I would have wanted to read as a child. I am so excited to see what I can do with this major, and to continue thriving in my watercolor journey!
As I sit here, brush in hand, I am transported to a world of color and imagination. Watercolor painting has been my passion for as long as I can remember. The way the colors blend and flow together, creating a unique and beautiful masterpiece, is truly magical.
My love for watercolor painting began when I was just a child. I would spend hours upon hours painting in my backyard, capturing the beauty of nature on my canvas. As I grew older, my passion for painting only intensified. I began to experiment with different techniques and styles, constantly pushing myself to create something new and unique.
Now, as I look towards my future, I know that I want to pursue a lifestyle in the arts. I want to share my love for watercolor painting with the world, to inspire others to see the beauty in the world around them. Whether it be through teaching, creating my own art, or working in a gallery, I know that I want to spend my life surrounded by the beauty of art.
Attached are two samples of my watercolor paintings. The first is a painting of a sunset over the ocean. The vibrant oranges and pinks of the sky blend seamlessly into the deep blues of the water, creating a sense of peace and tranquility. This painting was inspired by a trip I took to the beach with my family. As I watched the sun set over the water, I knew that I had to capture that moment on my canvas.
The second painting is a portrait of my grandmother. She has always been a source of inspiration for me, with her kind heart and unwavering strength. I wanted to capture her essence on my canvas, to create a lasting tribute to the woman who has meant so much to me throughout my life. The soft pinks and blues of the background complement the warm tones of her skin, creating a sense of warmth and love.
In the end, my love for watercolor painting is not just about the act of painting itself. It is about the way that art can capture the beauty and essence of the world around us. It is about the way that art can inspire us, move us, and bring us together. And it is about the way that art can change the world, one brushstroke at a time.
