Waves of Sweat
Ethan C.
Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Black Mixed media paper, white sketch paper, Daler & Rowney graphite pencils, Faber Castell kneaded eraser
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Upon first glance, there is a portrait of a distressed person in the center of the piece who has been participating in a rigorous, physically demanding exercise while wearing a sweater, causing them to profusely sweat. Their facial expression reveals that they are tired and unmotivated, yet they continue to stay disciplined and continue strict conditioning regardless if they are exhausted, or in extreme discomfort, showing they strive to be the best through putting in their maximum effort. Not only do the seismic waves in the background represent what the figure is feeling in their head-an onslaught of emotions-but also visualizes the pressure the character faces in achieving difficult goals. The motive behind this piece began with my athletic career in the beginning of adolescence: I never felt that I belonged in my school volleyball team because the others were more athletically gifted and experienced than me. I was on the verge of quitting, however through being inspired by the professionals, I knew I wanted to be among the best. I trained everyday under the hot summer sun, forcing myself to break through the pain; despite feeling that I had made no progress- depicted by the distress on the figure’s face in the drawing- I’m now in a high achieving club team, and I wanted this drawing to portray a piece in the journey I took in order to reach where I am today, where I’m still striving to be the best I can be.
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The beauty of creativity is that it has no limits; it allows one to explore the edges of reality and dive into their own world of imagination. Creativity allows one to express new ideas and perspectives. It is ultimately the unifying force that drives civilization towards the future.
