• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
3 Wishes Program

3 Wishes Program

3 Wishes Program
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Fulfilling Wishes
    • Our Impact
  • Research
  • Videos & Resources
  • Media
  • Patient Stories
  • 3WP Photos
    • Gallery of Wishes
    • Fingerprint Paintings
  • Contact Us
  • Giving
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine

3 Wishes Program

Fingerprint Paintings

  1. Home
  2. 3WP Photos
  3. Fingerprint Paintings

Fingerprint Paintings

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, the UCLA Health System stopped allowing non-essential workers inside the hospital in an effort to decrease the risk of exposure and spread of the virus. As such, despite wanting to help, volunteers were no longer allowed to be in the hospital. The Director of Volunteer Services connected Liz White (UCLA student and volunteer for the UCLA Health Creative Arts Program) with the 3 Wishes Program to see how she might be of help. After some brainstorming, we were able to come up with the idea of commemorative Fingerprint Paintings. With permission, healthcare workers obtain the patient’s fingerprints on a blank sheet of paper. The fingerprints would then be incorporated and transformed into a one-of-a-kind painting by Liz that is then returned to the family. As the demand for the paintings became high, more volunteer artists have joined the effort (learn more about them in the bios below!). We are planning to continue providing these beautiful fingerprint paintings even as the pandemic improves and visitation restrictions are lifted.


Purple flower paintingPainted by Liz White
Sailboat paintingPainted by Shuyi Yu
Sailboat paintingPainted by Shuyi Yu

religious paintingPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
Warrior paintingPainted by Liz White
DumboPainted by Shuyi Yu

Purple flowersPainted by Liz White
Owl paintingPainted by a guest volunteer artist 
Bird paintingPainted by a guest volunteer artist 

yellow flowers paintingPainted by Liz White
dandelion paintingPainted by Liz White
Tree paintingPainted by Liz White

red roses paintingPainted by Liz White
tropical paintingPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
sailboat and fish paintingPainted by Shuyi Yu

Cats and DogsPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
blue flowersPainted by Liz White
musicPainted by Liz White

fp18-lake.jpgPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
sunsetPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
Redondo BeachPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi

Costal drivePainted by Shuyi Yu
Garden scenePainted by Shuyi Yu
Plane and lanternsPainted by Shuyi Yu

Plane and pink cloudsPainted by Shuyi Yu
Redondo BeachPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
Dragon Ball ZPainted by Emma McVay

The GettyPainted by Liz White
San FranciscoPainted by Liz White
Soul MusicPainted by Aliza Ajmal

Japanese GardenPainted by Aliza Ajmal
Japanese GardenPainted by Shuyi Yu
Golden catPainted by Liz White

OrchidPainted by Liz White
GumboPainted by Shuyi Yu
TurtlesPainted by Liz White

Hats at beachPainted by Liz White
GumboPainted by Liz White
Dodger StadiumPainted by Ashley Tang

Hawaii SunsetsPainted by Shuyi Yu
Stars and SpacePainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
OutdoorsPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi

Classic carPainted by Ashley Tang
GardeningPainted by Ashley Tang
Beach walkPainted by Liz White

ViolinPainted by Liz White
Dodgers and crossPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
Heart BalloonsPainted by Jade Tai

BirdsPainted by Emily Jiang
ButterfliesPainted by Emma McVay
ChihuahuaPainted by Crystal Trinh

Gold FlowersPainted by Liz White
Teddy BearPainted by Jade Tai
ViolinPainted by Emma McVay

Music and GardeningPainted by Emily Jiang
Family HikePainted by Emily Jiang
Tweety BirdPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi

Tweety BirdPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
BroadwayPainted by Ashley Tang
Sports CarsPainted by Shuyi Yu

Sports and FoodPainted by Emily Jiang
SoccerPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi
Living roomPainted by Liz White

Hot air balloonsPainted by Liz White
CampingPainted by Shuyi Yu
Cats, Dogs and AngelPainted by Emma McVay

HeavenPainted by Emily Jiang
Sports and rap musicPainted by Jade Tai

Beach WalkPainted by Jade Tai
Jungle BookPainted by Jade Tai
Beach runPainted by Ashley Tang

NursePainted by Ashley Tang
Dogs and chessPainted by Shuyi Yu
Fishing and baseballPainted by Ashley Tang

Jazz and HorsesPainted by Emily Jiang
Hamsa HandPainted by Liz White
Hamsa HandPainted by Liz White

CookingPainted by Apurva Chaturvedi


Meet The Artists


Liz White

Liz White

I am a fourth year UCLA student majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Evolutionary Medicine, and I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. I believe in the use of art as a means of healing, for both the artist and the recipient of the artwork. Art allows me to create a physical manifestation of what resides within my heart, and I have made it my goal as a future healthcare provider to open my heart to as many people as I can. Though my words may fail, art is a universal language that lives on forever. Thus was born my interest in making thumbprint art for the 3 Wishes Program.


Apurva Chaturvedi

I am a second-year undergraduate student at UCLA. My major is Psychobiology and I am working towards a minor in Visual and Performing Arts Education. I joined the 3 Wishes Program because I was really moved by their mission and each patient's story touches my art. Through the program, I am able to show how art can create strong bonds and unite people through difficult times. I took art classes throughout middle school and high school. In high school, I taught art classes as a volunteer art teacher for special needs children at Gigi's Playhouse, and I painted a mural for their studio. I also completed a portfolio for AP Studio Art during my senior year.

Apurva Chaturvedi

Shuyi Yi

Shuyi Yu

I've always loved art since I was a little girl. But, many of my passions, art included, have been put aside since I got busy. As a pre-med student, it is easy to lose myself in all of the studying I do and I very quickly became stressed out and unmotivated. Art became the only thing to help me calm down. Being a part of 3 Wishes Program gives me the opportunity to de-stress by creating and giving a keepsake of loved ones to their families. By doing this I get to help myself and others at the same time.


Aliza Ajmal

I am a fourth year psychobiology student at UCLA and an incoming medical student. I have been painting since I was young and art has been a way for me to practice self-reflection and mindfulness. I also believe that art can be a form of healing and connection. Although art is a solitary activity, painting allows me to share a message that I feel is important or beautiful. I am so grateful to be a part of the 3 Wishes Program to use my art to celebrate life. I love that I can be a part of commemorating a loved one in a beautiful way. I hope that each painting will be something to cherish and remember. I will use what I have learned from creating fingerprint paintings to take a compassionate approach to healing as a future physician.

Aliza Ajmal

Ashley Tang

Ashley Tang

I am a fourth year UCLA undergraduate Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology major with a minor in Art History. I have been doing arts and crafts forever. I have always loved the healing and soothing effects that art, both creating and experiencing it, has had on me. I joined the 3 Wishes Program because I think in a time where everyone is struggling, art is necessary to bring back some joy and healing and I would love to be able to help patients experience that.



Emma McVay

Art is a process that defocuses my worries and declutters my mind, but more often I create because the results can make others smile. This was my motivation for joining the 3 Wishes Program, as is it for my other artistic pursuits. When I’m not painting, you can find me in the kitchen baking something sweet for my family or at my desk drawing chemical structures for a bioengineering course. I’m not too sure what my future holds, but I’m certain art and dedication to bringing people happiness will be part of it.

 

Emma McVay


Jade Tai

Jade Tai

I am a second-year UCLA student majoring in Psychology. Art has always been a huge part of my life growing up, and as a pre-med student I’ve found comfort in expressing my feelings through different forms of art. I find that art holds a big impact in healing, so I’m extremely honored and grateful to be a part of the 3 Wishes Program. I hope to bring love and happiness to families by creating beautiful fingerprint paintings in memory of their loved ones



Crystal Trinh

As a second-year UCLA international development studies student with a minor in global health, I am interested in different approaches to healing. More specifically, art as healing therapy (for both the artist and audience). From painting and cooking to dancing and music, the arts have been at the center of my life for as long as I can remember. Painting has been particularly special to me. Each brushstroke, splash, swipe, and dot allows me to freely express my thoughts and emotions. At the same time, I love seeing how others react to my creative projects. I am filled with gratitude to be contributing to the 3 Wishes Program and showing the true power of art.

 

Crystal Trinh


Emily Jiang

Emily Jiang

Art has always been a major part of my life. Even now, as a biology major at UCLA, creating art remains a way for me to soothe myself and find peace and a sense of achievement through creation. When I learned about how the 3 Wishes Program uses art as a means of healing others, I immediately felt a connection and a need to join such a meaningful organization that allows me to bring happiness to others while doing something that I love. I am also keen in exploring different art forms from acrylic to sketching, even digital art. In difficult times, no matter how little, I hope my art can bring joy and solace to the patients and their family

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube LinkedIn
UCLA Health hospitals ranked best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report
  • UCLA Health
  • Find a Doctor
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Subscribe
  • Patient Stories
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • International Services
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Billing
  • Health Plans
  • Emergency
  • Report Broken Links
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Your Feedback
  • Report Misconduct
  • Get Social
  • Sitemap

Sign in to myUCLAhealth

Learn more about myUCLAhealth