Congratulations on winning the Fine Art Scholarship/ Fall 2025 and best wishes ongoing to:
SHINEY YOU, a Sophomore majoring in Studio Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
“I was first introduced to watercolor from Mrs. Anderson’s art class in elementary school. Something about the way pigment dissolved into water and flowed across the paper held my attention and its transparency felt both fragile yet vivid. I continued experimenting with it throughout high school, and over time, watercolor became more than just a material. It became a process that mirrored how I feel and experience the world. It is both precise and unpredictable. It requires patience but also allows for spontaneity.
In my current studies at SAIC, I explore themes of identity, emotion, and presence through watercolor portraiture. I often focus on the human face, fascinated by how expression, color, and composition can suggest internal states without relying on language. I am especially drawn to subtle contrasts, such as soft washes beside sharp edges, or warm tones layered into cooler ones. These relationships help me explore the complexity of being Korean American, and the quiet dualities I carry in my everyday life.
My long-term goal is to become a professional artist and educator. I hope to continue developing a body of work that speaks to both personal and shared experiences, especially within Asian American communities.”
from top: “Self Portrait” 2024, and “Sleep is Nostalgia” 2024 © Shiney You
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