My Portfolio
Welcome to my world of visual art! From the cramped, florescent-lit easel of my high school to the lush fields of Tuscany, I sketch the inner workings of my brain on sketchbooks and canvases alike. In this page, you will find four main phases of my artistic journey.
Exploring Contrast
The Story
Marking the beginning of her high school art journey, "Crimson Eye," "Rose Without Thorns," and "The Light in My Eyes" capture the essence of Novia’s emerging voice and identity. Through pencil and charcoal, they explore depth and introspection, focusing on contrast and light-defined edges. These pieces convey an appreciation of beauty and showcase growing self-awareness while highlighting the progression of foundational technical skills.
First Encounters With Color
In these two paintings, Novia begins her exploration of color theory through the mediums of acrylic and watercolor in sophomore year. Rainbow Acorns emphasizes subtle brown hues, demonstrating mastery in color mixing and consistency over time. In contrast, Floating on a Memory explores the colors and distortions of a memory in water, challenging her control and application of watercolor.
Exploring Form and Fragility
In these sophomore Drawing II works, Novia balances playfulness with introspection. "Yarn Cat", crafted from delicate yarn lines, evokes a sense of wonder and whimsy through its detailed texture and imaginative form. Meanwhile, "Last Breath" revisits a familiar hand, this time exploring the fragility of life and the suffocating nature of depression. Together, these pieces showcase Novia’s growing technical skill and her ability to blend curiosity with deeper emotional themes.
Normalization & Identity
This group of works is part of Novia’s AP studio art portfolio, which received a score of 5 upon review. This portfolio represents the culmination of Novia’s artistic journey and the discovery of her unique voice. Building on earlier explorations—such as the foundational focus on contrast in Drawing I, the initial forays into color theory during Painting I, and the playful yet introspective themes developed in Drawing II—this body of work deepens into a sustained investigation of the normalization of stress, specifically related to academic and ethnic trauma.
Defining stress as any abstract or physical strain on the mind or body, Novia reflects on the tension she experiences within the Asian and “honors kid” communities. Her perspective as someone culturally disconnected yet immersed in these environments allows her to reveal the hidden trauma beneath what is often dismissed as “normal”. Through this portfolio, Novia transforms personal struggle into powerful visual narratives, capturing raw emotion and critical reflection that mark her artistic and personal growth. Her work exposes the hidden trauma beneath normalized experiences, portraying emotions that are often overlooked or misunderstood. By maintaining perspective from both within and outside these communities, Novia captures moments of raw emotion and critical reflection, transforming personal struggle into powerful visual narratives.
