Saraswati is the Hindu Goddess of learning, knowledge, and wisdom. My attempt at painting her ended up looking like my friend Amber. It works, because Amber is someone that inspires me in those areas.

I made the eyes dark because 1) I can't paint eyes and 2) I wanted to symbolize that she is tired of having knowledge but not knowing how to apply it.

I continued that symbolism with the rocks in the water; they represent the barriers (ego, insecurities, laziness) that keep her from reaching the swan (symbolic of knowing how to apply knowledge).