I wanted to do a piece that turns an insult into something more motivational. For context, to be called a strawberry is associated with being weak and sensitive, as strawberries are soft and easily bruised.
Inspired by the Irworobong design (korean palace folding screen) during my Korea trip. Since I made the trip in spring, with flowers abundant, I thought to use the five mountain peaks as five petals to form a flower.
Inspired by my recent trip to Korea, which I intentionally went this season to catch the cherry/plum/peach blossoms. As I observed the zigzagness of the tree branches, I see in it the number of roads/mis-roads I had to take, as someone unfamiliar with the land, to get to a good bloom spot. Which kinda reminds me of life. I felt I just had to do this piece.
This portrait was created using mixed media like colored pencils, markers, and ink. The portrait features the face of a man resting in his hand, and staring dead-eyed at the viewer. I used non local color techniques to create depth and form using colors not typically found in the human face, like blues and violets for shadows and yellows and oranges or highlights. Parts of his face include small pink stars which originally faded from the previous page, but I really like the look it gives, they almost look like celestial freckles.
