This illustration was inspired by gymnast Sunisa Lee’s powerful floor routine, specifically a striking pose that captured her grace and strength. The piece began with a background of gymnastics equipment and a competition floor, but the visual clutter distracted from the emotional focus.
As the illustration evolved, Tou Yia simplified the composition to highlight Sunisa. The final piece features Sunisa at the center of the American and Japanese flags. The result is a bold, symbolic portrait celebrating her moment on the world stage.
The video below shows the sped-up process for the illustration.