Still I rise

For my My Hero Project, I created a diptych of Maya Angelou, portraying her both in her prime and in her later years. I chose Maya Angelou because her life and work embody resilience, wisdom, and the power of self-expression. By presenting her at two different stages of life, I wanted to show the persistence of her strength, how the courage of her youth evolved into the insight she carried in old age.

The first portrait reflects the vibrancy and determination of her earlier years symbolizing the many experiences that shaped her voice. For the second portrait, I combined pointillism with light watercolor washes. This softer approach highlights her later-life serenity and the calm authority she radiated. The contrast between the two panels emphasizes both change and consistency. Ultimately, the diptych honors Maya Angelou not only as a cultural icon but as a hero whose life story continues to encourage others to rise, speak, and persevere. My source of inspiration to keep on pushing through one day at a time. In this way I rise.