At the age of 14, I painted my most peaceful work, titled Silent Summer. During that time, my life was filled with voices saying things like, “You are a girl; you must stay at home,” “Painting won’t secure your future,” “Learn something practical besides painting,” and “Why are you always painting?”

Amidst all these thoughts, I began to paint. Silent Summer is a vibrant, colorful piece because I wanted to create a world full of color. It shows a little girl sitting with her dog, quietly enjoying the view of a bright and beautiful forest. The only sounds reaching her ears are the soothing ripples of the lake and the gentle breeze whispering through the trees.

Silent Summer carries a message of peace, tranquility, and freedom. I wanted to express that life can be noisy and overwhelming, but what truly matters is what we choose to listen to and where we place our focus.

Artwork by Donya Hussain Yar