“At War with Peace” is a painting created over the course of two years, reflecting a deep emotional journey. It embodies a sense of excitement, anger, fury and emotional dissonance, capturing the complexity of feelings associated with peace and conflict. The artwork was developed using a combination of acrylic and oil paints. To convey vibrancy and depth, I began with bright undertones of oranges, reds, yellows, and blues, establishing the figure's presence before layering with oil paints for added richness. While the original photograph of the Buddhist monk during a ceremonial procession that inspired this piece emphasized a vertical composition, I sought to create a narrative that transcends mere visual representation. Each color in the painting was chosen carefully to reflect the emotional content and the interplay between tranquility and turmoil. The main figure is painted with clarity to emphasize its significance, while the surrounding areas and background are rendered with an atmospheric approach, illustrating the connection between consciousness and emotional depth. My personal experiences have influenced my understanding of peace, often feeling that moments of tranquility can coexist with underlying unease, a theme evident in this work. This piece explores the abstraction of consciousness and the emotional self upon achieving enlightenment. It conveys the idea that, despite letting go of worldly possessions and expectations, the emotional experiences we carry remain deeply rooted in our being. My studies in Asian Art History, particularly regarding Buddhist symbolism, enriched my understanding of these themes and inspired my approach to the painting. Throughout the two years of working on “At War with Peace”, my emotions and artistic vision evolved, allowing me to delve deeper into the complex intersection of achieving peace while grappling with lingering feelings of unresolved emotional weight. This exploration of emotions extends beyond mere sentiment, inviting viewers to engage with the physical manifestations of their feelings through color and form. And while I would invite viewers to take their own interpretation from my work I would like to leave them with the duality that emotions can take root within ourselves.

My name is Juan Pablo, I came to this country a few years ago, life could be very difficult because of the language barrier. When people are not able to understand what you are saying you start even questioning your ability to think, I would even get to the point where I would cry because of how stupid I felt. 

In all of this process of learning a completely new language from zero, there was always something that would make me feel better, and something that no matter what language or what culture anybody has, its understandable for everybody: Art. 

I fell in love with art since it allowed me to communicate and express who I am without using a single word. Now that I’m more fluent in English, I adhered to all the courage I had, and decided to present my artwork in front of a lot of people. 

This piece invites viewers to reflect how they think and what their values are. 

People often times say that art reflects our society, and that is exactly what I wanted to reflect in my piece. I wanted to show that in times of uncertainty and fear for many people, there will always be people blind to reason and to empathy, people that believe society exists because them and for them, people so envious that would choose to damage themselves before letting anybody that they think is not worthy, to have a life as good as theirs

This piece is made to mock closed minded people, to mock the ignorance that some people sees as wisdom or the absolute truth

As a Southern California-based artist, my practice is rooted in both mixed media and digital art. While much of my previous work has explored the possibilities of digital creation, I’ve recently found myself returning to the fundamentals—light, shadow, and the tactile experience of traditional materials. This shift represents not only a break from the digital constraints I once embraced but also a deeper reconnection with the emotional core of artmaking. "Pure Love " is a graphite drawing that holds profound personal significance. This moment captures a quiet, yet emotionally charged moment between my mother and my nephew. The piece reflects on love, resilience, and the passage of time—marking a journey through hardship, particularly the silent, cumulative toll of illness. My mother, having lost several toes to diabetes, sits beside my nephew in a moment that feels both ordinary and monumental. It’s a reminder of what illness can take from us—not just physically, but in time, connection, and memory. And yet, within this drawing, there is hope, tenderness, and a quiet strength that mirrors her spirit. Through "Pure Love," I aim to capture more than just a likeness—I strive to record memory, pain, and healing. It’s a work that acknowledges loss while celebrating the enduring presence of love within family.

• Rachael Adams

• Claudia Gallegos

• Michol Loeffler

• Gabi Martinez

• Melissa Stottlemyer

• Cassidy Taylor