Medium: Pencil on Paper

Dimensions: 14.2 x 10.25 in.

Date Completed: 2026

2026 Congressional Art Competition 3rd place in Drawing Category

Our hearts are often associated with feelings. Through this drawing I was able to visualize two recurring feelings I’ve felt. One is nervousness and trepidation born from worrying about what others think of me at a mass scale, like walking into a room full of strangers or speaking in front of a crowd. The other is frustration born from being put in a situation that I cannot control yet yearning to break free of the situation. In one, the hand is trying to restrict the heart and in the other, the hand is trying to get rid of the heart.