In Inner Fire, I wanted to visualize the warmth and resilience that we often carry silently within ourselves. The contrast between the cool, electric blues of the background and the fiery oranges that define the face and body represents that spark of spirit that stays lit even in a sea of calm.

I chose glass beads because they are both fragile and enduring. Each line of beads is a single thought or a single second of a person's life, hanging together to form the whole identity. Because the lines aren't fixed to a solid backing, the portrait shifts ever so slightly with the movement of the air in the room. This makes the figure feel alive—as if she is breathing and reacting to the space around her. It is a reminder that our 'inner fire' is not a static thing, but a constant, shimmering energy that defines who we are