"Then and Now" is an oil painting I finished in 2024. It compares the artist I once was to the artist I am today. As a young child, I recall doing art for pure enjoyment. There were no standards or expectations yet, just joy. As years passed, my relationship with art became more complicated. I struggled with self-doubt and perfectionism, which wore down the pure, childhood joy I had for art. Of course, I don't hate art now, but I don't feel that joy like before. I feel content, a more quiet kind of love that allows me to still enjoy and appreciate art. To make this piece, I included various art materials I've used throughout my life to show my art journey. There's the oil pastels from my youth, and the pencils I use today. The younger me is in shadow, pushing her back to the past, while the older me is in the light, pushing her forward to the present. I used vibrant colors in order to capture the tender, nostalgic feeling I feel with this comparison of my selves and my artistic growth.