My Portfolio
Mirror 2024
Amy Nielsen
Pencil, 2024
This pencil piece of artwork is a mirrored image of my junior year of high school. Even though this picture was taken nearly just one week after my junior year started, I thought that it pictured how I imagined my junior year would go, and really, how it is going. Throughout my 90ish days of being a junior so far, I have done so many fun things that I think my smile in my picture represents greatly. I’ve gone to sporting events, school dances, helped out when I can, and everytime I do those things, I always have a smile on my face. This picture represents so many things that have gone on in my life during my junior year, and I thought choosing this as my self portrait would be the best choice.
Turtle Tide
Amy Nielsen
Acrylic Paint, 2025
This acrylic paint piece of artwork is a piece of art that I will never forget painting. The journey I had while painting this turtle is one that I will forever remember as one of my favorite pieces. While painting this piece, I used four different techniques. Realism, Impressionism, Abstract, and Pointillism. While some were a little more difficult than others, Abstract was my favorite. It was fun to get to use a bunch of different colors, rather than stick with the plain orange, yellow, and black. This painting represents my love for turtles, and really the ocean all together.
MJ in the Clouds
Amy Nielsen
Watercolor, 2025
This watercolor piece of artwork with the name of “MJ in the Clouds” is a great example of my life, and all of my favorite things. I have always looked up to Michael Jordan, not only for the love and mindset of the game, but also for the real life lessons he has learned and taught off the court. It also shows my love for turtles, which I have had for a very young age. They have proven time and time again that they stand for calmness and courage, which are two things I have always looked for in my life.
Snackin’
Amy Nielsen
Colored Pencil, 2024
This piece of art drawn with colored pencil, is an image that represents my love for snacks, and Peanut M&M’s especially. I enjoy all snacks, but I am a big fan of M&M’s, any kind. One reason I chose to do this candy specifically is because of it’s unique history. The original M&M candy was invented and introduced in 1941, from a town called Newark, NJ. Obviously they were a hit because who doesn’t love chocolate?! It was only a short 13 years later that the peanut version of this sensational candy was introduced. The reason I find it interesting is that in the beginning back in 1954 they were only introduced in the color tan. Later on, M&M realized that just like the OG’s they needed to add some color. They then proceeded to add yellow, green and red. Blue soon to follow. Overall, I think this candy just represents a interesting journey that they went on, which is something almost every human can relate to.
Blue Wide Open
Amy Nielsen
Acrylic, 2025
This acrylic piece of art work is a wonderful interpretation of the ocean and all of its underwater creatures. It is called Blue Wide Open because I think that those three words are a wonderful description of what the ocean really is. I like to look at the name of this piece in the sense that you can interpret it in whatever way you want. I love the ocean, and sea life is my theme for the year, so this was a wonderful piece to start the year out with. People always wonder what the deep depths of the ocean is really like, whether it’s full of creepy creatures or cute marine life. I loved making this piece because it let me put my own swing on it, and really let me make the depths of the ocean the way I had always thought it would be. The coral pieces and small marine life being added to the painting was a great way for me to express my favorite creatures and really just my love for the ocean as a whole.
Floating Friends
Amy Nielsen
Watercolor, 2025
This is a watercolor piece of art that I named “Floating Friends”. I decided to make a seahorse and jellyfish piece of art to portray my love for marine life and the ocean. I came up with the name from the thought that both of these creatures tend to float around the ocean. I have heard that they are both goofy little creatures that like to have fun in their environment, so I thought this name was perfect. The colors and value that these watercolor piece of art portrays was one of the biggest reasons as to why I decided to take on this work. The way the darker oranges and reds, and blues and purple shade the seahorse and the jellyfish add value to the piece was just super mesmerizing for me to bring to life. I thought this was really fun to create with just watercolor and I thought it was super cool to bring these real-life looking creatures to life on a canvas.
Rainbow Voyager
Amy Nielsen
Acrylic, 2025
This is an acrylic piece of art work I decided to name Rainbow Voyager. I decided to portray a whale in the wide open but put a spin on it by using different colors for the background rather than just a normal ocean background. I have always loved whales because they also seem so calm and full of emotion, especially the blue whale. I decided to name it the “Rainbow Voyager” because I used lots of colors not only in the background but also on the whale itself.
Breach
Amy Nielsen
Oil Paint, 2026
This is an oil paint piece of art that I decided to name Breach. I decided to name it this because it clearly depicts the orca whale breaching the surface. I think that the whale breaching the surface can be interpreted however you want, which is why I think the name represented it perfectly. When you reach the surface of something you get the opportunity to face the thing head on and take it as the first person. The painting represents whatever you want it to represent and I think it gives hope for people getting the chance to restart whatever it is they want to restart.
Treasures of the Tide
Amy Nielsen
Oil Pastel, 2026
This is an oil pastel piece of art that I decided to name treasures of the tide. I named it this because it clearly represents how things like starfish are treasures along the tide of the ocean. For me personally, it represents how not everything has to be big and glamorous for it to be special, and you can find that glimmer and specialness in the little things. It truly shows how no matter how small something is, it can still have the same power.
Education
2013-NOW
Hillsboro Public Schools
My time at Hillsboro Public Schools has been a blast. I am a senior in the fall and just finishing out my junior year.
