Laguna College of Art + Design

Artistic evolution is highly personal and unique for each person. As a formally trained

illustrator, I’m intrinsically afraid of change and desperately hold onto processes that feel

familiar. However, I know that growth is full of risks and uncertainty, and this MFA program

has helped me cope with those fears. This thesis body of work questions my original

approaches to problem-solving and acts as a diary of explorative progression. More

importantly, it functions as a mirror and offers me therapy by reflecting on my past family

traumas and regrets. By taking time to look at myself, I’m able to learn more about why I am

the way that I am. As I continue to make narrative paintings in wet media, my images shift

from more accurate, literal scenes to psychologically distorted figures, which exaggerate the

expression of emotional anxiety. The experimentation with foreign solutions instills me with

renewed energy and a fresh outlook for what a painting can look like. I hope my evolution in

becoming more open to unfamiliar ideas can give reason to inspire you, my reader.