Standing Tall:
El Capitan in Ink

I began stippling about three/four years ago. What started as simple sketches in a notebook eventually became a technique I fell in love with. As I’ve evolved as an artist, so have my skills as an illustrator. Stippling—repeatedly dotting away—has transformed into experimenting with different patterns and discovering how every stroke on paper influences the final piece. Whether I’m thoughtfully penning away or mindlessly freehanding in negative spaces, each piece tells a story.

This illustration of El Capitan stems from a series of photographs I took during hikes through Yosemite on my last visit. Majestic and breathtaking, it symbolizes the many mountains I’m currently climbing—the goals and challenges I aim to reach and conquer. Each one requires time, patience, and perseverance. I’m all in on reaching the mountaintop while standing tall.

“Standing Tall: El Capitan in Ink”, received the 2025 Scholastic Art and Writing Award in Drawing and Illustration, Silver-Key