Drip (2021)
Drip was one of the first illustrations I created on Procreate, and it marked a turning point in how I approached digital composition. I made a bold decision to work with negative space, starting on a black background and using white to build form and light. The limited palette (white, red, and blue) helped me focus on contrast and minimalism.
At the time, I was deep into Greek mythology and fascinated by the recurring imagery of snakes. This piece was created during the height of the COVID era, when I had to unexpectedly leave the U.S. while still studying there due to shifting international laws. That dislocation and tension showed up in the mood of this piece, even subconsciously. Something about it felt cold, sharp, and disoriented.
I had also toyed with the idea of turning this into a hoodie graphic. I was wearing a lot of black then, and I liked how the stark contrast could translate to apparel.
Reflections & Areas of Improvement
Working in reverse lighting (building white on black) was a great technical challenge, but I could have refined the tonal transitions further.
The red and blue elements add interest but may feel disjointed — better integration could have tied them into the symbolism more clearly.
