Junior Hugh Saetia turns tragedy into art. Through his nonprofit, The Eternal Canvas Foundation, he paints portraits of people who have passed away.
The project was first sparked by personal loss. Saetia’s long time babysit- ter, Marilyn, lost her son, Eddie, in a shooting. While witnessing his babysitter in such grief, he knew he had to do something.
“I wanted to help Marilyn somehow,” Saetia said. “So I used the one thing I had, my art, to attempt to console her grief.”
The Eternal Canvas Foundation helps families memorialize loved ones through oil portraits. He’s painted over 20 pieces since he started, working side by side with families and growing reach through word of mouth and a dedicated website.
“My mission aims to help memorialize beloved members of the community that we have lost and to carry their legacy on through visual depiction,” Saetia said. “I choose to take the good out of the bad.”
Each painting is deeply personal. Saetia begins the process by listening to the family’s stories: who the person was, what they loved, and how they lived. He learns their history, ensuring each painting is personal and reflects not just how they looked, but who they truly were. Every portrait is crafted to reflect the unique personality and carry the spirit of the person remembered.
“I ask families about their loved one’s hobbies, their expressions, and what made them smile,” Saetia said. “Each detail helps me bring them back to life on canvas.”
Saetia’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed: He’s scheduled to speak at TEDx Manhattan Beach next year in June to talk about transforming grief into creative growth. He hopes to inspire other young artists to use their gifts with purpose.
“Grief is universal,” Saetia said. “I want to grow the nonprofit and give other young artists a chance to help carry these stories forward and use their passion for something beyond them.”
Balancing clubs, sports, school, and the nonprofit is not an easy task. Saetia has a busy schedule, filled with rigorous AP and honors school courses, as well as extracurriculars and volunteering, yet still carves out time for each painting, a process that can take weeks.
“It’s really difficult,” Saetia said. “Painting is slow and tedious, and with school, it’s a lot. But when a family tells me I helped them heal, it makes it all worth it.”
The portraits are more than just paintings, they’re emotional bridges helping families connect with memories and moments that might otherwise feel lost.
“The most rewarding part of what I do is getting to learn people’s stories,” Saetia said. “Every person I have commemorated has left their own individual mark on this world.”
For Saetia, art has completely transformed from a simple way to pass time into a way to serve and honor others, and to find deeper meaning and purpose in his work. Saetia feels grateful to be able to use his passion for the good of others.
“I used to paint without a real reason,” Saetia said. “Now I paint with a mission, purpose, and impact with my choices.”
Leave a Reply