Sparrow
4 September 2025
Gouache on canvas
I love watching these little things chirp and flit about.
Aurora
2 August 2025
Acrylic on canvas
First time using acrylics on canvas and I just love how the colors pop. I don’t see too much of a difference from gouache but I suppose I need to use both a bit more to really get the nuances. I do prefer them over watercolors though, on canvas at least. I might test out some watercolors on paper to try and understand what I’m missing with that medium.
Speaking of this piece itself, this might be the longest I’ve worked on one yet. Usually, I like to finish in a day or two but I was determined to do right by this girl in particular. My palette almost never needs cleaning while I’m in the middle of a piece but on this one, had to clean it 2 or 3 times by the time I was done.
Kingsfield
28 July 2025
Gouache on canvas
I expected the lavender field to give me more trouble. But the sky did instead. Maybe it’s a sign.
Metaphysics aside, I draw because I like to. I do it when inspiration strikes or whenever I feel like it. Making art has a calming effect but I can still sense impatience ready to creep in whenever the piece isn’t panning out as I had hoped.
I can imagine how stressful it must be for professional artists to force perfect creativity due to external demands.
Pristine
10 July 2025
Charcoal on paper
I imagine that most artists, at a certain point, feel the need to tell a story with their art. Merely recreating a scene from reality or imagination is just not enough.
It has helped me realize how important composition is and how building a unique style helps that process.
Setting Sail
23 June 2025
Gouache on canvas
I definitely like how easier it is to work with gouache on canvas. Easy enough to attempt waves and clouds! Although I think my favorite part of this piece is the reflection of the sails.
Rider
19 June 2025
Color pencils on paper
Color pencils require a lot more persistence than it would seem at first glance. Maybe it’s a paper issue but I find I have to keep scribbling over an area to really fill in color. I suppose it also helps differentiate shades in the piece.
It’s fun to see how different media require different approaches.
The Final Battle
26 May 2025
Oil pastels on paper
No battle is ever final. Keep fighting.
Bahareh
13 May 2025
Charcoal on paper
A bit more risqué than what I normally draw but I find that charcoal lends itself almost too easily to sensual illustrations. I wonder why.
The Estate
24 April 2025
Oil pastels on paper
Any difficulty detailing with oil pastels are, in my experience, offset by the ease with which they can be wiped away. This is why I like using black paper for this medium. A black color pencil is all I need to create shadows and defined lines.
Imperium
11 April 2025
Gouache on canvas
Aloha! First time trying out gouache and I enjoyed it. It seems easier to apply color with this than with watercolors but I think I must work on my technique with paints in general.
Techniques that I personally find challenging are mixing colors for skin tones and then shading them in properly. I suppose I now have a technical reason to marvel at paintings that show off some skin!
