Sound, 2024

Here is the process of painting “Sound” which captures the essence of my friend Evelyn. At work, you can sometimes catch Evelyn with a smirk, and I couldn’t help but see the Mona Lisa in her. When I started this piece, I had just moved out of my parents’ house for the second time, determined to make it permanent this time. Even though I had just settled into my new place, I found myself spiraling—constantly thinking about where I’d go next. During this time, I spent hours driving around, picking up items from Facebook Marketplace. One evening, a sunset during a drive in Rochester brought me unexpected peace of mind. Its beauty reminded me that better days were ahead, and it inspired the background of this painting. I wanted Evelyn to appear bright and hopeful, but her downcast eyes reflect an inner rumination. The sky represents the mounting anxieties of the outer world, which I intentionally painted to feel turbulent and angry. The title of the painting is Sound. It is created in oil paint on a 12 x 9.5-inch canvas and priced at $200. Currently, it is NFS (Not For Sale).