Raven was my featured piece at the 28th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl in Vancouver. Creating it was such a rewarding experience, especially after struggling with a major creative block for the first half of 2024—nothing I drew seemed to match what I had in mind.
A vacation to Parksville and Alaska helped break that block. Taking a break helped tremendously. It sparked the vision for this artwork.
Side note: If you’re dealing with a creative block, I highly recommend watching Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service. I saw it for the first time this summer, and it’s a beautiful reminder that it’s okay to pause and take a break.
Similar to my other pieces in the Hidden World series, this drawing was made using a simple ballpoint pen to create detailed, nature-inspired patterns. Visitors who came to the show were often surprised to find out that such fine, detailed work was done with an everyday writing tool. It’s a reminder that art can be created with whatever you have—it’s truly accessible to everyone. Look closely and you’ll find tiny creatures and whimsical treasures tucked away within the details, just waiting to be discovered!
Last summer, I was fortunate to travel to Parkville for the first time. I love hanging out at the beach with my husband and daughter, where we enjoy our own scavenger hunt by discovering miniature crabs, seashells, and sand dollars. We also visited an animal sanctuary where they rescued many types of birds, including ravens, eagles, and owls. They even have white ravens there, as they are very vulnerable in the wild.
Later that summer, we went to Alaska. One of my fondest memories growing up is tuning into The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights on CBC. It’s been on my bucket list to go on a Disney cruise. I’m so happy I got to go on a Disney Alaskan cruise and get inspired by the magic!
After returning from my trips that summer, I felt compelled to capture these inspirations and experiences through a drawing—what better way to preserve all those wonderful memories?
Of all the pieces in my Hidden World series, this one is the most personal to me.