Yixin Zhou
An Unreachable Dream
(2025)
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 16 in
This piece was inspired by a memory of me and my sisters hanging wet clothes on the balcony of our home in China. The scene feels so vivid, yet distant, like something I remember clearly but can never return to. Through this painting, I wanted to express the feeling of longing for a moment that only exists in the memory, a dream I can’t go back to.
Self Portrait
(2024)
Acrylic
10.5 x 13 in
I chose a monochrome palette to keep the piece simple and focused, using contrast to bring out the details. Through this approach, I aimed to challenge myself and improve my technique while capturing my image.
Nature within me
(2024)
Acrylic
5.5 x 7.5 in
I wanted to explore my connection with nature and how it surrounds me. The roses and branches wrapping around my head and neck represent growth and the way nature becomes part of me. Through this piece, I wanted to show harmony between myself and the natural world, where both beauty and life are connected deeply.
Fear
(2025)
Charcoal
10 x 11 in
I wanted to explore fear and chaos in this self-portrait. Using charcoal allowed me to create smudged, dark marks that surround the figure, representing a sense of being overwhelmed and uncertain about the future. The blindfold over her eyes shows the fear of not knowing what’s around her, capturing the tension between vulnerability and the unknown.
Beautiful Chaos
(2025)
Crayon, Oil pastel
8.5 x 11.5 in
I want to explore the balance between life and chaos. The bold strokes of the crayons and the vibrant colors used in this artwork capture the beauty of flowers, while the tangled-up lines and darker/ negative areas express chaos and messiness in life. Through this piece, I wanted to show that even in chaos, there are still life and beauty that exists.
Mind
(2024)
Acrylic, marker, crayon, ink
12 x 8.5 in
I wanted to explore the feeling of a cluttered mind through a chaotic environment. Inspired by horror vacui, I filled the room with details, using acrylic paint, markers, crayons, and ink to make the space feel full and almost overwhelming. Through this piece, I wanted to show how thoughts and surroundings can spill over, creating a sense of energy and chaos on the canvas.
Dream
(2024)
Acrylic
8.5 x 4.5 in
I want to create a dreamlike feeling in this painting, almost like bringing dream to life. The girl with blue hair and closed eyes is surrounded by clouds and small red fish, floating as if in another world. I used blue for the shadows to bring out a pastel tone that contrasts with the bright red fish. I captured a quiet, dreamlike moment that is filled with the imagination that only a dream can have.
Gloomy Morning
(2024)
Water-soluble graphite
7 x 8 in
I want to capture the calmness of a gloomy morning. Using water-soluble graphite helped me blend soft and dark tones to create a quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
Room
(2023)
Graphite
5 x 7 in
I wanted to capture a place filled with childhood memories. Using graphite allows me to focus on the small details to bring the space to life and reflect how it looked in my memory. This piece is my way of holding onto the memories I had there, preserving those childhood moments through values and contrast.
Pressure
(2025)
Marker, Acrylic
9 x 12 in
This piece was inspired by a dream I had during finals week, where I was drowning in an ocean surrounded by floating homework papers. I wanted to show how the pressure from school can feel overwhelming and how the environment and surroundings can affect a person. Using markers challenged me to create the movement of the waves while expressing the stress and chaos beneath the surface.
Dessert
(2024)
Acrylic glaze
8.5 x 6 in
I wanted to focus on capturing the reflection and texture in this still life. I was especially drawn to the lighting on the glass syrup cup. Using acrylic glaze helped me show the different materials, such as the shine of the metal fork, the smooth glass, and the shadows on the paper and plate. Through this piece, I wanted to highlight the beauty in small details and make the scene feel realistic and alive.
Reflection
(2025)
Chalk pastel
8 x 11 in
I was inspired by a sunset I saw during a boat ride on Lake Lanier. I want to explore how the colors reflected on the water’s surface and how to capture the movement of the water on a piece of paper. Chalk pastel allows me to focus on creating the positive and negative areas and blending the colors to show the ripples and waves as the boat moved through the water.
Night Light
(2025)
Acrylic on canvas
22 x 28 in
This piece was inspired by the feeling of being isolated and the feeling of being lost. The movement shown in the dark ocean water further expresses the feeling of uncertainty, suggesting the boat is drifting without a clear path or direction, and the light in the center of the painting provides a contrast in the artwork, almost representing a direction and guidance for those who feel uncertain at some point.
Picnic
(2024)
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 in
Inspired by a childhood memory of having a picnic with my family on the beach. I wanted to capture the warmth and joy of that moment by using new techniques, color, and brushstrokes. Instead of blending everything, I kept the strokes visible to create a vivid and lively feeling that reflects the emotion at that moment.
Sunrise
(2024)
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 in
This piece was inspired by a sunrise I saw on a beach in South Carolina. As someone interested in realism, I wanted to capture the movement of the water and the soft colors reflected on the ocean’s surface. Using acrylic paint not only let me explore a new medium for water but also helped me express the calm, soothing feeling of that morning.
