Mediums of Discovery: A Collection of Life

This collection represents a journey of artistic growth, one shaped by a blend of mediums and the invaluable guidance of my teachers. Each piece combines acrylics, pastels, oils, crayons, and colored pencils to explore the diversity of techniques, textures, and emotions that these materials offer. From the bold strokes of oil paints to the delicate shading of pastels, each work reflects a step in my evolution as an artist, where composition, color, and technique all come together to tell a unique story.

A large part of my artistic development came from Mr. Smathers, who opened my eyes to the science behind mixing paints and the intricacies of composition. His lessons on the behavior of color and pigment, how they interact and layer, provided me with a deeper understanding of how to balance elements within a piece. With his guidance, I learned not only to mix paints to achieve the perfect hue but also how to plan the composition to lead the viewer's eye through the artwork, creating harmony and depth.

Mrs. DP played a crucial role in pushing me to break free from the confines of reference photos. She encouraged me to use my imagination to explore new perspectives and reimagine forms in ways that felt more alive and expressive. Under her mentorship, I honed my ability to create more accurate human figures, learning to capture movement, emotion, and anatomy with a fresh, dynamic approach. She taught me to trust my creativity and intuition, allowing me to infuse my work with energy that goes beyond mere representation.

Mrs. Brecker introduced me to the world of pastel artists whose techniques and approaches profoundly influenced my work. Their use of color to convey mood, atmosphere, and emotion opened my eyes to how powerful color can be in visual storytelling. This has deeply impacted the themes and subjects I choose to explore in my art—whether it’s capturing the quiet beauty of nature or the emotional depth of human expression. The use of vibrant color to evoke feeling has become central to my practice, adding layers of meaning to every piece.

Through these experiences and the support of my teachers, I have learned to blend technical skill with creative vision, experimenting with different mediums to find the perfect language for each idea. This collection is a reflection of that journey—a testament to the learning, growth, and exploration that continue to shape me as an artist.