The Lotus
November 2025
Commissioned Work
Watercolor & paper-crafts
The Lotus was a mini book written for the client’s young family member who was experiencing bullying and discomfort with the idea of growing up. Through talking with the client and their descriptions of the family member’s personality, I was able to push the emotional direction of this project. While something like this would have been too poetic for me at this age, my client knew that it would be successful.
The goal was to provide a sense of comfort in the discomfort of growing up, showing it’s something that even the most beautiful creatures must witness and go through to develop their final form. Nature is full of these motifs, from butterflies, to the seasonal changes, to lotuses: a better future awaits after the growing pains.
Painting Process
I chose to use Daniel Smith PrimaTek watercolors mixed with my usual Mission Gold set because of their unique ability to granulate. Because the PrimaTek line is made from real earth gemstone pigments, it has this unique and organic texture that is not replicated by any digital technology. Perfection was not the goal, instead emotion and the sensory imagery of a pond.
Why the Lotus?
Lotuses start out as a bulb in the bottom of a body of water, typically in a pond or river flood plain. They push their way up through the water to the surface to finally bloom. Despite their long journey, they turn out to be beautiful and balanced flowers. The lotus holds spiritual significance in both Buddhism and Hinduism, representing transformation and divinity.
Growing up can feel like navigating murky pond waters, trying to find your way up to the sunshine beyond.
Sketches
Final Spreads
Cover & Binding
I had this wonderful vision of a cover that had cutouts revealing the first page underneath. The cover acts as the leaves, the title as the flower, and the first spread as the water where the lotus begins its life. The cover even casts this beautiful shadow over the water pages, like the leaves do in real life.
After using a Cricut machine to cut the cover details, I hand stitched the book together.