it’s in the details (2020)
Created during a 14-day quarantine in a hotel room with no outside contact, this piece became a focused outlet during an intensely isolated time. It was the first illustration where I moved beyond single-object compositions and embraced a full-page narrative. Inspired by Thailand’s iconic floating markets, I imagined wooden boats gliding through a surreal river filled with oversized koi fish, each vessel overflowing with people, fruits, and vegetables. Every element, from the glistening water droplets to the cracked textures of weathered wood, was a technical study in variation and detail. I pushed myself to capture contrast in materials, lighting, and scale, creating a deliberately chaotic scene that, hopefully, still reads as visually intentional.
Reflections & Areas for Improvement:
This piece challenged me to consider the balance between density and clarity. While the busyness adds energy, the sheer variety of elements made it hard to establish visual hierarchy.
Some of the color choices lacked cohesion — in particular, the fruits ended up looking overly glossy and reflective in parts, disrupting the overall texture harmony.
Still, it was a turning point in exploring world-building on a single canvas. I learned that leaning into complexity is valuable, but unifying elements like tone and finish are what truly tie a piece together.
