My artwork explores themes of identity, protection, and the balance between strength and vulnerability. I am drawn to animals as symbols because they allow me to express human emotions without relying on direct self-portraits. In this piece, the dog represents loyalty, resilience, and instinct, while the woven, basket-like surface of its body suggests ideas of defense, containment, and complexity beneath the surface.

My creative process is highly detail-oriented and meditative. I used different types of graphite pencils to build value, texture, and depth, layering and blending them carefully to create the woven effect across the form. The repetition of these marks reflects how identity is constructed through layers of experience, memory, and external pressure. I chose to use pencil crayon for the eye, allowing it to stand out as the only area of color. This contrast draws attention to awareness and emotion, emphasizing vulnerability within an otherwise protected exterior.

What makes my work unique is the way I combine realism with symbolic elements. I aim to create images that feel familiar at first glance but invite viewers to look closer and question what lies beneath. My creative practice allows me to communicate emotions that are difficult to put into words and to connect with others through shared ideas of strength, fragility, and growth.

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