Quinlan Tian

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Reflections Artist Spotlight: Quinlan Tian



Quinlan Tian Ref-Icon-Painting 

Quinlan Tian is a visual artist from Medina PTA in Washington.

His painting “Find Joy in the Journey” reminds us that fulfillment doesn’t always come from a perfect outcome, but from the purpose, growth, and happiness we discover along the way.



"Find Joy in the Journey"

Artist Statement:
"I love swimming. I have been practicing in a club for years. Once in the pool, I feel myself gliding like a fish and it’s so relaxing. I sometimes join swimming competitions. Yet, I never come in first. It made me sad for quite a while. But whenever I’m in the water, I forget about anything else. Over time, I realized it’s not about winning or losing but about enjoying swimming itself. This helped me find true pleasure in simply doing what I love, enjoy and appreciate the happiness it gives me rather than worrying about the outcome."

Quinlan Tian | "Find Joy in the Journey"



Artist Biography

My name is Quinlan. I’m 11 years old and I live in Washington State.

I've loved drawing for as long as I can remember. My mom is an art teacher, and our home has always been filled with art supplies and a dedicated creative space. When I was younger, I would often sit beside her and draw—it was our way of playing, sharing, and connecting. Over time, art became more than just a game between mom and me. It became a way for me to express myself, understand the world, and record what I feel and imagine. My inspiration comes from everyday life—nature, books, the little things I observe around me and any touching experiences. Each artwork I create holds a piece of my curiosity and perspective.

I especially love oil painting because of its rich, delicate colors and the way it allows me to build depth and texture in my work. In addition to oil painting, I enjoy working with watercolor, markers, pencil sketching, mixed media, digital art, installation art, and traditional Chinese ink painting. Exploring different materials and techniques helps me find new ways to express myself.

To me, art is a form of communication. I hope that when people see my work, they can feel something—whether it’s a sense of warmth, a new idea, or a moment of curiosity. Receiving the National PTA Outstanding Interpretation Award is such an incredible honor. I feel my voice through art is heard and valued. When I was nine, I once said, “Without art, I wouldn’t be me.” That simple sentence still feels true today and expresses exactly how I feel inside.

Looking ahead, I want to keep creating, keep telling stories through my artwork, and continue to bring joy, reflection, and inspiration to others. Thanks for this recognition—it encourages me to keep moving forward.

Quinlan Tian 01

Quinlan Tian 02



Artist Spotlight


Meet the Artist




Artist Interview

Quinlan shares more about his life, inspirations and the advice he has for other student artists.


Tell Us More About Yourself


"Needless to say, I enjoy drawing. But aside from that, I also love swimming. I started to learn swimming when I was 4 years old, and have been training in local swimming clubs for 4 years. I’m also very interested in badminton. Although I haven’t got a chance to play that much, I do have plans to take some badminton lessons.

I’m also very curious, and love figuring out new things. Take the Rubik’s Cube for example. I not only learned how to solve it but also found faster ways to do it. Sometimes I come up with simple magic tricks to perform on my friends, and they’re always surprised. If they find out how it’s done, I would try to improve it until they can’t see the tricks behind it. Recently, I’m fascinated by making various rope knots. To me, learning something new is really cool, and makes me want to learn more.


My most favorite subject is science in school. I can learn about various new things and knowledge from science. The more I learn, the more I find I need to learn."



What Advice Do You Have for Other Artists


"I want to tell other kids who like art: just enjoy it! Art is really fun. You can use it to share your thoughts, your feelings, and all the cool or crazy ideas in your head. It doesn’t have to be perfect—the most important thing is that you like what you’re doing and you’re having fun. Try different things like watercolor, colored pencils, oil paint, or digital art. Every material feels a little different and exciting. As long as you’re making something, you’re already an artist. Art makes me happy, and I think it can make you happy too!"


Why Students Should Participate in Reflections


"I started to participate in the Reflection Art competition in grade 1, and have participated each year since then. I’m proud of myself when my paintings are shown in school. I still remember how happy I was when my parents told me my painting got recognized by the national PTA. But what’s more important is that with Reflection, I got the opportunity to express my thoughts and my feelings by my drawings.

I attended the state PTA celebration this year, and I realized there are many other forms of arts, such as music, dance, writing, etc. I will for sure continue to participate in this program. I also hope more students can get involved and take the opportunity to express themselves and impact others with their creative artworks."



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