Portfolio
Cabinet of Curiosities
Honorable Mention 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
22” x 30”
Gouache on toned paper
This painting shows a cabinet of curiosities overflowing with artifacts. Each object represents memories and stories of the past. In today’s digital world, I find comfort in the physical things I can touch, hold, and share with others. I made this almost like a trinket box of my favorite types of objects. Some I have in collections from beaches and vacations, while I hope to gather others over time.
Still Life with Nautilus, Antique Bottles, and Textiles
16” x 20”
Oil on canvas sheet
This is a still life painting I created to study composition, light, and texture. I focused on arranging objects with different surfaces and shapes, like the nautilus shell, glass bottles, skulls, and textiles.
The Old World and Me
Gold Key 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
22” x 30”
Gouache on toned paper
This piece continues to explore my interest in objects, spaces, and architectural structures. I wanted viewers to discover and be surprised by the various antique objects throughout the composition. Creating a realistic room was challenging, but practicing perspective drawing helped my confidence.
Self-Portrait Study
22” x 18”
Charcoal and soft pastel on newsprint paper
This piece is a portrait study where I explored different angles and expressions of myself to prep for my Knowledge is Power piece using charcoal and blue pastels. I focused on capturing accurate proportions, light, and shadow while adding depth and movement with bold blue accents. Combining quick gestural lines and more detailed shading creates energy and structure in the composition.
Portals to the Past
Honorable Mention 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
30” x 22”
Gouache on toned paper
This painting shows portals into different worlds, scenes, and memories through “window watching” outside of an old house. The warm radiant light from each window contrasts the central structure while drawing the viewer in. The composition coaxes them to want to investigate further and enter through one of the portal windows.
Fascinations
Silver Key 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
22” x 30”
Gouache on bristol paper
I created a series of thumbnails showing me as I interact with the different rooms in my art studio, which is filled with artifacts and strange vases and vessels I’ve never seen before. There are hundreds of objects and artifacts to be inspired by, from casts to taxidermy animals to antique relics. I am experimenting with composition, perspective, and how I connect myself to the past.
The Sound of the Sea
11” x 14”
Gouache on bristol paper
2023
In this painting, the sky melts into the water. I used dark shadows to show the silhouette of the passing boat and the land in the distance.
Flower Study
9” x 12”
Gouache on bristol paper
2023
This piece is the first painting I ever made using gouache. I definitely struggled with it at the time, but I persisted and am so happy with how I’ve progressed in my skills and understanding of material and form. Looking back on older work helps me see how far I’ve come and track milestones.
Knowledge is Power
30” x 16”
Gouache on toned paper
This self-portrait shows me surrounded by the glow of light coming from the windows of a college library at night. The library's abstract shapes and colorful windows create a warm, lively background that contrasts with the stillness of my expression. I’m thinking about my future in the short-term and long-term in quiet contemplation. I can’t wait to experience high school and eventually college, learning everything I can to make my dreams in life a reality.
Peeled Orange
11” x 14”
Gouache on bristol paper
2023
In this piece, I wanted to show the contrast between the bright, rough surface of the fruit and the softer, textured peel. The shadows under the orange and the peel helped me add depth and make the object feel real, while the muted background colors kept the focus on the orange itself. I tried to pay close attention to how the light hit the fruit, creating highlights that made it shine.
After the Dutch Masters
22” x 30”
Gouache on toned paper
2023
Copying the masters helps me to improve my understanding of light, shadow, color, and form through observing and mimicking their approaches and methodologies. I like to paint still life, and this was actually my very first master copy. It taught me so much about how to render light and shadow to make an object feel truly 3-D.