Mixed Media Drawings
Graphite & Charcoal
Miniatures
Miniatures was created as part of a series of quick drawing exercises I completed in a single day. The series included about eight pieces, but this one stood out because of the small details I managed to incorporate despite the limited time. The stylistic choice of long, exaggerated lashes appears throughout many of my 2022 works, reflecting my interest at the time in bold, fashion-inspired art.
Miniatures, Jun. 2022, graphite pencil, 5.5” x 8.5”
Fade
This experimental piece was designed to challenge my ability to draw the human face—only in reverse. I began by blocking in the entire face shape with charcoal, then carved out the features using an eraser. Working from shadows toward highlights created a striking, high-contrast effect that evokes a sense of mystery and omineness.
Fade, Apr. 2023, charcoal and graphite, 5.5” x 8.5”
Darlings
Similar to Miniatures, this drawing was completed within a short time frame. I used Darlings as an opportunity to test my ability to clearly depict children, exaggerating certain anatomical features and giving careful consideration to their poses to enhance clarity and character.
Darlings, Jul. 2023, graphite pencil, 7” x 10”
My Middle School Eye
In my middle school art class, we learned how different camera shots can convey distinct meanings. I chose a close-up shot of my own eye to serve as a metaphor: something as ordinary as an eye, when examined closely, reveals immense depth and detail, much like the everyday things we tend to overlook in our lives.
My Middle School Eye, Nov. 2021, graphite pencil, 9” x 12”
Zendaya
My interest in realism started around 6th grade, and Zendaya was one of the key pieces that pushed me toward observational accuracy. It was also the first time I experimented with a blending stump, which opened my eyes to the concept of smoother shading and how soft transitions could transform a portrait.
Zendaya, Jan. 2019, graphite pencil, 9” x 12”
Other Mediums
Mindmap
Mindmap, Sept. 2025, colored pencil, felt tip pen, ballpoint pen, & pencil, 28” x 11”
While brainstorming the essential question for my Sustained Investigation in AP Studio Art (a series shown in another tab), I created a mind map to lay out the emotions, experiences, and ideas that felt meaningful or fascinating to me. In the upper left, I wrote in Japanese about my sadness over not being able to fully communicate with my grandparents, who do not speak English. Just below, in the warm-toned beach scene, I captured what summer means to me: a brief time to enjoy life in contrast to the rest of the year, which is devoted to hard work.
In brown pen, I drew a three-panel comic about a recurring feeling of mine—how affection can sometimes be difficult to embrace. Beneath that sits a suitcase, representing my anxieties about leaving for college and searching for a new sense of home beyond the one I’ve known all my life.
On the right side of the page, I sketched two female track runners with a continuous line of thought, illustrating what runs through my mind during a race. Above them are outlines of my teammates; I am the only one colored in because I remain in high school for my senior year while they have graduated, a detail meant to express the sadness that comes with their absence.
Finally, the character drawn in blue pen exhales a burst of collage imagery from his cigarette. I chose these cut-out elements because of my admiration for South Asian culture. The vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and traditional clothing captivate me.
Untitled
This simple piece features two character ideations. Using felt pens, I focused primarily on achieving a high level of detail in the hair, aiming for a balance between realism and a stylized overall look.
Untitled, Mar. 2021, felt tip pen, 9” x 12”
Riverbank
Riverbank was a small exercise piece inspired by Claude Monet’s serene landscapes. Using a palette knife and oil pastels, I loosely depicted a scene of water and a grassy riverbank dotted with flowers.
Riverbank, Aug. 2023, oil pastel, 4” x 4.75"
Unfinished Garden
Unfinished Garden, May 2025, colored & graphite pencil, 11.75” x 16.5”
Inspired by my grandma’s beautiful watercolor paintings of flowers, I was moved to create my own interpretation of a garden. Each flower is unique, and the opaque quality of colored pencils gives the piece a distinctive, rich appearance.
Bubblegum
Bubblegum, Aug. 2020, ball point pen & colored pencil, 8.5” x 11”
Bubblegum is a style-focused piece influenced by gyaru culture in Japan. The fashion, bold colors, and unique accessories capture the essence of this culture, which I became interested in during 2020. I discovered that this bold form of self-expression could be perfectly translated into artwork.
