“Gingko Biloba” by Zia Jerdon

Zia Jerdon is a freshman at University of Michigan with a passion for music and art. They have been drawing and practicing piano for over a decade, and feel most creatively fulfilled when exploring and expressing their love for games, TV, and other media that move them. Having grown up in an isolated, rural town, Zia enjoys the accepting and inclusive community they've found within LSWA.

Artist's statement: "My artistic process is most often characterized by frustration and a persistent dissatisfaction with the finished product. This particular piece, though, was made while in a voice call with some of my friends who are also artists. We came up with this character design together, and I shared my screen so they could contribute reference pictures and give feedback at each step. I'm still not completely happy with some elements of the end result, but for the first time in a while I genuinely had fun drawing, so I think that counts for something."