Wistful Affection

15”x17” Watercolor, embroidery thread. and gel pen on paper

2025 Carnegie Library Teen Media Awards: 1st place recognition

Inspiration taken from childhood nostalgia and the innocent whimsy that is lost through the inevitable process of becoming: Feeling the urge to reconnect with a simpler reality.

The process of this final regional award-winning piece required a revision of a previous work. I enlarged the canvas, incorporated significant depth and color, and re-imagined the stitching process, which is used to embody a cartoonish and playful aspect into the life-like subject.

Painting of two hands with colorful embroidery thread on a dark background.
Watercolor painting of two hands, with one hand gently touching the back of the other, against a dark, textured background.
Painting of two hands with fingers extended, surrounded by dark rocks or stones.
Painting of two hands reaching toward each other, with a dark, textured background.
Painting of two hands submerged in water with colorful threads around the fingers.
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This piece was inspired by a certain type of sad nostalgia that many students may feel as the end of the school year approaches. Through the use of muted greens and blues I strived to foster a sense of serenity. similarly, I embroidered colored string to mimic the effect of ripples in water to emphasize a gentle yearning for childhood whimsy. “Wistful Affection” was a result of my own reflection upon my former years of high school, which I had previously taken for granted.