June Dai

My series contrasts bright, optimistic themes with subtle dark undertones. This makes the viewer do a double take to really get all the piece has to offer them, and makes the reader question why some darker elements blend in so well yet are so out of place.

My works were composed using a combination of watercolor and colored pencil. In earlier works, I used watercolor to achieve the more colorful, bright settings. However, the challenge, while great for learning the medium, the results were lackluster. Colored pencil is a medium that I am very comfortable with, and can use with ease. This change allowed me to get the brighter settings that I desired. Another change seen through my pieces is my change from realistic characters to more cartoonish characters. This was, like the previous change, one made in the interest of making a better piece at the cost of reverting back to an art style I am familiar with. In this series, breaking out of my comfort zone was something I was ambitious with, but in the end I returned to what I was most comfortable with.