Happy Birthday

Etana K.

Colored Pencils

• Artist Statement

  Past expectations will only lead to future disappointment. Flames long blown out still linger in memory. My work explores these quiet, reflective moments—where joy once burned brightly but now lives only in the shadows of nostalgia. I am fascinated by the way birthdays, once magical and full of laughter, can turn to melancholy with time. Who decides when we’ve become too old for celebration? These questions shape the themes of my art. While my work acknowledges loss, it also carries a sense of hope: you must find the light for yourself. Through this piece, I reflect on the beauty and complexity of memory, time, and self discovery.

• Creative Statement

  To me, creativity is being able to find the artistic freedom to bring to life a concept that exists only in my head. Even if it’s a struggle, finding the courage to make something that you are passionate about is creativity--regardless of technical quality.