Mr. Wellman's Class

Artist: Pudding

I chose to draw my house in China because it holds many childhood memories and moments with my cousins. It was the first house I lived in and grew up in. Unfortunately, it was torn down for new condos.

The house had three floors, two balconies, and a backyard. Our backyard was huge, and we grew fruit trees in it. I also rode bikes in the backyard with my cousins. On the first floor, we had a living room, a kitchen, and a washroom. On the second floor, there was a living room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Finally, on the third floor, there were bedrooms and bathrooms.

Artist: Winnie

I am inviting my mother to the table. This painting is a tribute to my mother’s journey as an immigrant from China to Canada. 

Throughout my entire life, my mother has ensured that my siblings and I live a successful and simple life. She sacrificed leaving her home and, most importantly, her loved ones. My artwork, “Choice”, honours her resilience, her courage and the countless sacrifices she made for the sake of her children. This painting was to display the many moments she put our needs before her own. 

In the painting, my mother is standing between the darkness and the hole in the wall. Behind her, the blue sky and red ribbon symbolize her connection to her homeland. On the other side, the floating symbols like the maple leaf, a graduation cap, and a baby represent the dreams and responsibilities that guided her forward: education, opportunity, and family. The gray background reflects the isolation she felt upon arriving; being alone in a new country, surrounded by a different language, culture, and climate, was extremely difficult, considering she had no connections beforehand. The name above her, “Mandy,” was the name she chose when she first arrived in Canada, which helped people identify her more easily rather than using her Chinese name. Although her Chinese name was what connected her to her family and roots, she chose to be identified as “Mandy” to others. Finally, the stars in the dark room show the dreams and hopes that she’d like to achieve and accomplish.

Artist: Gisele 

This is my artwork called Shadows of a Journey and I made it to show my mom’s story. She moved to different countries and cities for example like Madagascar, Macau, Montreal, Australia, Hong Kong, and Toronto and had to leave a lot behind. I drew her standing on a globe with a suitcase, to show her travels and how she carried her life with her.

Around the globe, I drew famous landmarks from those countries and cities to show the memories and cultures she’s experienced.

One important part is the memory bubble I added near her. It shows how much she misses her parents. Even though they’re far away, she still keeps them close in her heart.

This artwork is about moving, family, love, and remembering where you come from. I hope people feel the emotions in her journey, and maybe even think about their own. 

Artist: Trinity 

This drawing shows what life can feel like for someone who moves to a new country. The person in the middle is curious and trying to fit in. Around them are different scenes. After new immigrants come to Canada, they’re not really used to speaking English yet, so it takes them longer to understand stuff, or speak and talk. Sometimes they are too scared or worried about talking to people, so it will be hard to make friends. Also, after moving to Canada, schoolwork might get easier, and things at school could feel different. In some places, they are included and treated kindly, but sometimes they are left out because they don’t know what to do. I made this artwork to show that being a new immigrant can be hard, and show things that will be different from the country you came from. 

Artist: Vania 

This painting took me a couple of days to finish. It’s crazy how I can express what I have been through in six years in one painting. But this painting is based on my mom and her struggles, while coming and adjusting to Canada. The yellow tape has racist comments on it, kinda of expressing that we’re trapped when it comes to racism. The person in the middle is, of course, my mom. The scribbles behind her are all the confusion, loneliness, etc, that she has been through. I am incredibly proud of my mom. As you saw in the painting, she’s got a job, she takes care of two kids, and had to learn how to drive and much more. 

Artist: Sophia 

This painting explores the contrasts my mother experienced between life in China and Canada. Through visual symbolism, I reflect on her feelings of not fully fitting in and highlight the cultural dissonance she faced. Differences in schooling, climate, and traditions are represented through visual images. I aim to express how invisible biases can shape daily experiences in quiet yet powerful ways. This artwork reflects on the immigrant experience, how identity differs across borders, and how belonging can feel just out of reach despite someone’s efforts to adapt.