Ongoing Series:
Beyond The Boundaries
In “Beyond The Boundaries,” these paintings aim to explore places I’ve never been—yet through the act of painting, I bring them closer to me. This series reflects how my art goes beyond the mere physical distance between me and these locations, turning them into personal, emotional, and intellectual spaces.
I’ve lived in a small town my entire life. Very rarely do I ever get the chance to travel, but I’ve always been attracted to these far-off places. I have a lot of inherent curiosity about the unfamiliar and all the different cultures I’ve never had the chance to be exposed to in-person. I wanted to explore this in my art, and painting these cityscapes is a way of bringing these places and people closer to me; it allows me to engage with them personally despite being so far away.
The idea of traveling, whether it be physically or imaginatively, is something deeply tied to my human and artistic experience. Painting these scenes where I get to inhabit the places I’ve never visited, allows me to become a part of them, seeing them from my own unique perspective, and sharing it with others. I love exploring cultures and people, and I’m only now starting to capture these feelings in my artwork. My previous works were safe and doable, and for most of them, I wanted to highlight my skill rather than focus entirely on the meaning or expression of the piece--but I want to change that, and this piece, along with my previous one “Slice of Life,” was a successful first step.
I’ve only ever been to one Chinatown, and it’s in New York. I was only there for a single day--but I was immediately enchanted by the lanterns, lights, and people. It was exciting to have that level of deep exposure to the many cultures I don’t typically get to see. Given how I love color and saturated tones, it often carries a lot of emotion and psychological meanings, and Chinatown is rich with colors--the red, gold, and bright neon lights. It gave me a new palette to play with, both emotionally and creatively.
Chinatown, acrylic on canvas, 5ft x 4ft, 2024
Slice of Life, acrylic on canvas, 53.5 in x 38.5 in, 2024
Although I mentioned before that I want to paint places I’ve never visited—I decided to paint “Slice of Life” based around an image I took on my visit to New York, so my earlier statement isn’t entirely accurate in terms of this painting in particular—however, it holds true that I do plan to paint more places I’ve never visited. “Slice of Life” can be considered a precursor, a practice painting, to prepare for more paintings with similar subject matter.
This painting, along with “Chinatown” is my first step towards my growth as an artist—allowing myself to find more meaning in my abilities, my philosophies, and my future work.
“Beyond The Boundaries” suggests movement, discovery, and a journey into uncharted territories—not just in the literal sense, but in the sense of exploring new perspectives and emotional connections through my genre paintings. It implies that my works are an adventure in art, one that goes beyond simply representing a place and into the realm of understanding and connection.
“Slice of Life” allowed me to explore compositions and people, as I normally don’t paint human subjects. This painting increased my confidence and showed me that it was indeed possible for me, and that I should no longer be scared of exploring such subject matter. Painting people has always been a fear of mine—I now know that my worries are unfounded. It’s not impossible—and I rather enjoy it.
“Slice of Life” and “Chinatown” are the beginnings of this series, and building blocks towards a foundational portfolio I plan to explore further, not just to showcase my skills as an artist, but rather my philosophies, emotions, and desires.
“Pepper Woman” 20in x 30in, acrylic on canvas, 2025
MOST RECENT in “Beyond The Boundaries”
"The Spirit of Nepal: Sadhu Men" a diptych, each painting is 12in x16in, acrylic on canvas
This painting captures the essence of the Sadhu men, revered figures in Nepali culture. Known for their deep spiritual devotion, Sadhus are ascetic hermits who dedicate their lives to meditation, self-discipline, and the pursuit of enlightenment. With their simple lives, often marked by vibrant clothing, sacred ash, and long beards, they embody peace and profound wisdom. In Nepal, they hold a sacred place in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Sadhu men often wear orange (or saffron) robes due to the color's symbolic association with renunciation, purity, and the flame of spiritual knowledge, as well as its historical practicality as a readily available dye.
I focused on creating more vibrant oranges, yellows, and warm tones to emphasize these beliefs, and took creative liberties on the backgrounds, where I wanted to explore the heavy contrast of ultramarine against bright oranges. I also included teal tones in some areas to add a heavier contrast.
My goal was to capture personality through their expressions, colors, and culture, while also staying true to my own personal style.
