16″ x 20″
Acrylic
In Collaboration with Brandon Fiew, Research Vessel Engineer, UW-Milwaukee: School of Freshwater Sciences

For a long time, I’ve struggled to depict rigid objects in my work, having been mainly drawn to the artist’s inspiration within the natural world. However, over time, I’ve come to enjoy the challenge of creating pieces where opposing elements come together harmoniously. In this piece, I found inspiration in the unpredictable, crashing waves against a sturdy boat built to withstand them. I wish to convey the power of water versus the strength of machines—contrasting elements created by nature and humankind coexisting in a turbulent struggle. My process involved observing how water interacts with a moving vessel and studying boat construction before combining these elements in my piece. As an artist, I create to capture how different elements in our world present themselves to me, using my abilities to give the work in my mind a physical form.