Freezing Passion: A Junior Self-Portrait Illustration by Thomas Wilson (2013)

In my illustration I tried to explore how our desires and passions can push us to continue in even the worst of conditions. This is related to my personal essay which talks about my past experiences with my passion for snowboarding. I found that as the year went through its ups and downs, I was able to push through the dreaded heat of the summer and find salvation in the freezing cold of winter.

In accordance to the winter theme of my personal essay, I illustrated a man plowing through a snowstorm towards a warm cabin. To symbolize obstacles and hardship, I put many ominous, dark clouds that create a blizzard with which the man has to power through. Then as a goal/passion, I have the salvation and warmth of a cabin where the man can find shelter from the cold.