Paintings
Acrylic
Mughal Women in the Colonial Age
As a unit final project in AP World History, we were required to produce a creative work to demonstrate our learning. I chose to create this acrylic painting expressing the cultural synthesis during the British Crown’s overtake of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century. In the background, there is a clear European influence in the architectural style, as well as subtle details such as traditionally British necklaces being worn.
Mughal Women in the Colonial Age, Dec. 2023, acrylic & colored pencil, 9” x 12”
Lady Untouched
Lady Untouched, Oct. 2022, acrylic paint & colored pencil, 9” x 12”
This was one of my first major attempts at using acrylic paint. Depicting faces without relying on a pencil was a breakthrough for me. I would like to emphasize the lighting and use of cooler hues to unify the backdrop and natural shadows.
I Want to be a Cowboy
This recent piece began with inspiration from cowboy fashion. I wanted to tell the story of a young boy’s dreams and his imaginative vision of life as a cowboy. As children, our fantastical perspectives bring life to the simplest things, but as we grow, rational thought often overtakes that sense of wonder. This painting is meant to capture a moment when imagination is still flourishing, a moment that deserves to be held onto rather than forgotten as the boy matures.
I Want to be a Cowboy, Aug. 2025, acrylic paint, 7” x 10”
Rouge
This piece is strongly tied to my interest in the Neo-Soul genre of music, along with a few elements inspired by early 20th-century makeup. I had been listening to artists like Erykah Badu, which influenced the inclusion of the hair and headscarf. The thin eyebrows, deep red lipstick, and signature upper-lip beauty mark reflect 1920s makeup trends that stood out to me.
Rouge, Feb. 2024, acrylic paint & colored pencil, 7” x 10”
Complexion
This was one of my projects in my Drawing and Painting class during my sophomore year of high school. It was a relatively quick piece, with the goal of creating a colorful and lively skin complexion using a single square brush. I layered countless colors to achieve this effect, contrasting it with the flat, solid-colored hair.
Complexion, Nov. 2023, acrylic paint, 8” x 10”
Streetlights
Streetlights was my first acrylic painting, though it wasn’t a major work. This piece was a smaller study I completed in preparation for Lady Untouched. Experimenting with hue values and defining sharp facial features presented the biggest challenge. I used red on the lips, background, and ruby earrings to create cohesiveness throughout the piece.
Streetlights, Oct. 2022, acrylic paint, 9” x 12”
Watercolor
2016
Before using acrylic, I experimented with watercolor paints. This more animated character style was inspired by the pieces I created when I was younger. Since 2016, my style has evolved to become more realistic. The character also evokes “2016” through the vibrantly colored gradient hair that was popular at the time.
2016, Mar. 2022, watercolor and colored pencil, 9” x 12”
Untitled
These are several character ideations I created using a distinctive style that I often explore in sketches rather than final pieces. In 2022, I experimented with exaggerated features such as plump, round lips, a small nose, and large eyes, which are evident in these characters. During this period, I was also very interested in unique fashion styles and bold visual statements.
Untitled, Jun. 2022, watercolor & ballpoint pen, 9” x 12”
Grove
This miniature tree study draws inspiration from the style of the short film Burrow. Its cozy, picture book–like aesthetic appealed to me, which is why I wanted to practice this storytelling and illustrative technique. It was also my first true attempt at painting nature with watercolor, and I believe this medium helped achieve the effect I was aiming for.
Grove, Aug. 2023, watercolor & graphite, 4” x 4.75"
