Row to Light
Keane W.
Colored Pencil on Paper
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“風雨飄搖” is a Chinese idiom meaning tossing and turning in the wind and rain. It also refers to one who is struggling to survive. Everyone will encounter personal challenges, but those who achieve satisfaction have worked hard to get there. “Row to Light”, inspired by this idiom, depicts a man on an unstable wooden raft, persevering to reach the horizon amidst the harsh waves. I first used watercolor to define the general regions of each color and then used colored pencil to etch in details. I chose colored pencils because I find they are a great medium for texture variation. By blending more in the sky, I could convey more peaceful emotions. In contrast, I left the pigment on the waves less blended to portray the roughness of the man’s conditions. My piece is a tribute to those who refuse to give up, no matter how low the odds.
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I express my creativity by layering multiple ideas into each other and creating something visual through imagery and symbolism to share something beautiful with the world. Hayao Miyazaki’s carefully rendered animations have fueled my creativity through his strategic use of color and composition.