Fine Art
My Undo-ing: Drawing vs Video Editing
Video editing is forgiving. Due to its digital format, mostly the “undo” button, risks are not really risks but rather experiments. When I draw or paint though, something different happens. At first, all is great. Starting is the best part. The blank page is full of possibility. The strokes are bold, vibrant, and daring. The colors are wild. But as the piece takes shape and becomes its own thing, a responsibility mounts. Each stroke carries more weight than the last. Hesitancy emerges and the lines gets weaker. The work becomes too precious too fast. The stakes are high now and irretrievable mistakes loom. Many wrap it up prematurely and call it done. But this is the nexus that makes a good artist a great one. Throwing caution to the wind, experiment, risk losing what has been so painstakingly gained. Because in the end letting go of the perfection of craft may free you for something far greater.
Reviving Grandma I, Graphite/Pastel. 11”x14” recreation of 8”x11” b&w photo
Moon Po Pae. 1905 - 1999.
In 1950 at age 45, she and her husband shepherded 5 of their children, the youngest being 9 yrs old through a raging war to safety in the South. Many families were separated but theirs managed to stay together.
They rebuilt their lives from the few items they hand carried on their journey. Namely textiles imported from overseas. A few years later, when they finally had a foothold, her husband died in a truck accident. She became he sole provider to her children. In 1973, they came to America all together.
This drawing is based on a photo that was taken before the war. My grandpa was initially drawn to her beauty but held by the undeniable fortitude that radiated from within.
Reviving Grandma II. Graphite/ colored pencil. 9”x12” recreation of 3”x4” b&w photo
We, the grandchildren dulled by one-world comforts joke that Grandma’s so gangster. But her toughness is no joke. She lost much due to the war and displacement so relics from better days was treasure for her. Before the war, my grandpa did well as a textile trader. She made this vest during that time and held on to it, took great care regularly replacing the fur trim.
My rendition of the vest is not exact but it captures its vibrance of my memory.
Benthic Baba back in the day spent endless hours under water. He emerged a prune. Wrinkled but sweetened by the love of being weightless. An air of levity surrounded him, always attracting the ladies, but mom was grounded. So naturally, he was instantly drawn to her. His charms must’ve worked. They were married in 1970 and stayed married until her passing.
Lake Chon. Watercolor. 9”x12” recreation of 2.5” x 4” colored photo.
KiEup in Gold. Colored Pencil. 24”x46” recreation of 2”x3” b&w photo
Grandpa was born at the cusp of the 20th century when Korea was going through great changes. All corners of the globe were being pried open and cultures were endlessly mixing. The east was seeing an influx of Western style suits and the accoutrements to match. Many hung on to tradition but grandpa was curious about the new. He traveled to China and Japan, building an impressive trading company. His speciality was textiles, fabrics. This was what instilled in him a keen eye for high quality threads. Here he is in Osaka year 1929 in his very stylish golden wool suit.
Open for portrait inquiries.
Photoshop Composites
Gay movie posters with Ed McCarthy. Bringing representation to the screen, one poster at a time.
