Alloy (2024)
Oil on canvas, 12 × 16 in
This piece marks my first foray into oil painting, a medium I’d long been curious to explore. I chose myself as the subject in case I botched it badly and didn’t want to risk offending someone else’s face. Referencing a selfie, I focused on achieving both likeness and expression while adjusting to oil’s slow-drying, unpredictable nature.
One of the hardest parts was painting my vitiligo on my arm. Capturing the delicate tonal variations and subtle transitions of skin pigmentation challenged me to be more intentional and observant than usual. It became one of the most personal details in the piece.
Initially, the composition felt too bare against the soft pink background, so I introduced floating metallic orbs around my head, inspired by the necklace I was wearing. These elements added balance and ultimately inspired the title. Alloy is an ode to those orbs: a symbol of strength, fusion, and contrast between organic and synthetic.
I was surprised by how small and precise my brushes had to be to achieve the texture and control I was used to in digital work. But the process (slower, more meditative) gave me a new level of respect for the medium.
