Q: Where do you find inspiration from? What was your inspiration for this particular piece?

A: This was actually a still-life assignment for one of my art classes. In terms of the colors I chose, I wanted them to be vibrant and inviting. The colors symbolize how I was feeling at the time: happy and excited. 

Q: You used pastel for this piece. Why that particular medium? What was your creative process like?

A: Chalk pastel can be used and applied in different ways. There can be a very smooth application or a rough application, meaning everything isn't blended completely. When I was making this artwork, I realized I liked the rough application a lot! It kind of reminded of a painting that you can see the brushstrokes in, and that was pretty cool to me. I wanted to keep that going throughout the whole piece. Some parts are blended, and some are not. 

Q: Is there a story your piece is trying to tell? If so, what is it?

A: There isn't really a particular story I was trying to tell, but it did remind me of my family's dinner table, which is usually filled with vibrant, flavorful food. Whether we have company or it's just my immediate family that I live with, our food and table is always filled with delicious food! 

Q: One final question, what does art mean to you?

A: This piece was a big stepping stone for me. It was my first time using chalk pastel for an artwork, so I was surprised at how well it turned out. I also don't feel like I'm that experienced yet, so I was surprised when I saw the email that my piece was chosen. So really this work is an encouragement to me to keep going and keep trying to be the best artist I can be.