An incorporation of newfound inspiration as visual motifs.
Shells, spirals, and anything with nautical notes. I’ve grown a sudden yet steady appreciation for the sea over the past 6 months. I’m not completely sure as to why—but perhaps its partly from my desire to reconnect with my southeast asian roots. Or maybe it was fate, considering my birthstone is the pearl.
From winding branches to the repetitious grooves of the common mollusk, nature’s patterns are now a heavy fascination and have slowly integrated itself into my work.
Unlike previous pieces, I wanted to attempt the incorporation of more hues. I was still quite hesitant while applying colors to the paper with the worry of ruining the color harmony—color theory was never my strongest suit.
I enjoy watercolor for its build-ability and transparency. The idea of sheerness and translucency has always intrigued me. However I wanted to experiment with opaqueness, and so darkly-tinted acrylics and gouache became options for my palette.
July 6, 2024
The individual strands of hair were therapeutic to draw.
July 6, 2024
July 28, 2024
A rough, uneven wash of shadow blue helped to create some underlying texture for the shell. Shades of earth green, violet, indigo, & terra cotta worked beautifully for adding depth and subtle pops of color.
August 8, 2024
I find that crisp yet softer lines make for a more fanciful look, especially when looking at the piece from further away. Drawing in the details with watercolor pencils and then partially washing it away works great for creating the subtle suggestion of a line.
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January 6, 2025
January 9, 2025
April 26, 2025
April 26, 2025
Creating this piece was an interesting experience as I tried to find ways to incorporate inanimate objects. There was no clear concept behind what I wanted to depict—my only thought was for it to feel nonsensical.
A wash of pigment with watercolor, fine details with pencil, and creating depth with gouache—being able to layer different mediums it what makes this long process most enjoyable.
As for future pieces, I want to explore the use of more saturated colors and darker, bolder backgrounds.
April 26, 2025