Sloth｜11 x 8 in｜ Colored pencil, and ballpoint pen on tan drawing paper.

Pencil: detail and blending. Pen: outlines. Eyes lead to prom dress focus. Size disparity draws in the viewer.

I knew I had to look inward and find something relevant for myself with what was happening all around me. The inquiry that guided my investigation was a question for myself. "What am I feeling in the middle of this pandemic? How can I express this?"

This investigation included my experimentation with strange materials. It pushed me to become more skilled in colored pencil since I did not have the resources to paint with my usual preferred material: oil paint. I had to revise my pieces over and over again to truly represent how I felt in this confusing time and was forced to return to the drawing board many times for my most honest work. Practice and revision led me to my answer.

I had a completely different investigation at the beginning of the year. However, my original portfolio seemed to lack any importance when the entire world came to a halt. I was angry at the world for taking my senior year away. I was depressed, lacked motivation, and became overly aware of my weight gain. I used the small things around me to be content with my changed life; I finally found peace.