Ishwar's Virtual Home

Last summer, I picked up watercolours again and created something I never expected – a visual love letter to Persona 5. My piece captures Joker and his spectral persona, Arsene, bound by breaking chains against a vibrant red background that transitions into blue flames. The composition is all about contrast: the stark red and blue create immediate tension, while strategic blacks emphasize the chains and silhouettes, showing the deep bond between these two characters.

In the game, Arsene represents rebellion, and I wanted to capture that powerful metaphor visually. The breaking chains suggest transformation and freedom – that moment of personal awakening.

Looking back, this painting is more than fan art. It’s a milestone in my artistic journey, showing my growing understanding of watercolour techniques and my ability to translate complex emotions onto paper.

Dampened at Dawn’s Rise is a detailed artwork showing a snake’s head and neck covered in morning dewdrops against a black background. It reveals a softer side of something many people fear, highlighting the beauty found in nature’s most misunderstood creatures. The dark background creates a strong contrast that draws attention to the snake. I’m especially proud of the detailed scales and how the water reflections turned out. This piece taught me to see subjects from new perspectives, which will help my future work.

I recently had the incredible opportunity to collaborate on a mural with students from Sacred Heart High School, led by the talented Allan Andre (@art.life.andre). Working together on such a large-scale piece was an amazing experience that taught me so much about teamwork and creative collaboration.

My contribution was the bottom right section, filled with intricate details. At the center is a glowing heart (spray-painted by Allan Andre) with vibrant lines extending to different parts of the mural—many appearing as earpieces worn by figures throughout the piece. To the left, there’s an abstract section in orange and blue, then two figures. One displays the back of a jersey featuring a stylized number five, while the other wears one of those connected earpieces. As you continue left, the aesthetic transforms into something reminiscent of stained glass windows found in churches.

This project was an absolute blast! It pushed me forward as an artist, particularly in painting new figures and exploring fresh colour combinations in the heart and plant areas.

Foundations explores the relationship between hand and pencil—the foundation of artistic creation. This piece depicts my hand holding a pencil, rendered with careful attention to depth and contrast. 

In Art class, we explored the process of printmaking, creating our own designs and transferring them onto fabric. It required patience and focus, but the reward was seeing an idea take shape in such a lasting form.

For my piece, I designed a dragon rising from strands of DNA — a symbol of both life’s origins and its endurance. The imagery was inspired by the stories, legends, and games that shaped my imagination, while also tying into my fascination with evolution and the mysteries of how species come into being.

Through this work, I discovered a new perspective on the fragile balance between life, growth, and the passage of time — a reminder that creation is as much about endurance as it is about beginnings.

I completed this acrylic painting as a way to explore my fascination with how knowledge shapes us. Through vibrant color, layered textures, and a sense of perspective, I wanted to create a world that draws the viewer in and invites reflection.

At its center, an astronaut reaches toward a worn, mechanical brain drifting through deep space. The image, inspired by the “Brain in a Vat” thought experiment, became a meditation on the limits of human understanding and the quiet fading of passion that can follow once certainty is attained.

For me, the piece blends science and philosophy into a single story — one that speaks to humanity’s relentless drive to seek knowledge, while also questioning what is lost when the mystery that fuels wonder is finally resolved.

This graphite drawing started as a way to capture something small and fragile, but it grew into more than that for me. I kept it monochrome to focus on the smooth shell of the amber and the tiny details of the mosquito inside. The contrast from shading gave it depth and made the insect feel almost suspended in time.

As I worked on it, I realized I was revisiting the fascination I had as a kid with prehistoric life—dinosaurs, fossils, and all the mysteries of deep time. This piece is less about studying an object and more about holding onto that early sense of wonder, bringing it into my art in a way that feels both nostalgic and new.

Recently, one of my close friends celebrated a birthday, and I wanted to give him something more personal than a store-bought gift. Knowing he is a huge fan of Billie Eilish, I decided to create a hand-painted portrait of her as a surprise.

Using acrylic paint on canvas, I spent several days working on the piece, drawing on techniques I’ve learned through past projects and self-practice. My goal was to capture Billie’s distinctive style and energy while adding my own creative touch.

This project pushed me to challenge myself artistically and apply what I’ve learned outside the classroom. While it took time and patience, I truly enjoyed the process—and I’m proud of the final result. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

I recently finished one of my most personal works—a self-portrait titled “Lighting of All That Is Imaginary.”

In it, I’m holding a lighter, but the flame transforms into a tree—my take on the Norse world tree, a symbol that connects life, death, and imagination. I used watercolour, Prismacolor, and ink pen to bring it to life, layering texture and movement to capture both emotion and flow.

Most of the portrait is purple, including my skin tone—a choice inspired by my colour theory experiments. It gives the piece a surreal, dreamlike quality that feels both intimate and otherworldly.

Some people see it as a burning spirit. I love that it invites different interpretations, because for me, it’s more than just how I see myself—it’s how I think, feel, and imagine the world around me.