Art portfolio

echos of strength

This piece was designed to echo traditional Chinese artwork. It was created primarily using ink, a common medium in Chinese art. The background features soft brushstrokes that draw us into the foreground and into the young tiger’s mind. It directs our focus to the sharp lines and bold colors of the tiger’s stripes, as well as the branches of the cherry blossom tree.

The image depicts a baby tiger looking at its reflection, where it is portrayed as a fully grown tiger. This piece can be interpreted in several ways: excitement for the future, dreams and goals, growth, maturity, and more. However, the main message, in my opinion, comes from the meaning of the Chinese characters in the top right-hand corner. If you look it up, they translate to “Do not be afraid.” There is so much beauty in growing up, and even though the future is uncertain, your story is already written.

To finish the piece, I added flowers using watercolor, blending in just a touch of color. In Chinese culture, the cherry blossom tree symbolizes the beauty in change and serves as a reminder that the season you are in now will not last forever. What seems overwhelming today will later be remembered as just a small moment in your life.