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In the spring of 2021, my interest in Korean music began to wane. I found the industry increasingly perplexing, and ultimately, I just wasn’t enjoying it anymore. During this period, I was quite active on my art Instagram account, where fan art of K-Pop stars garnered a lot of love. However, creating original characters became disheartening, as it was challenging to reach an audience.

As my enthusiasm for posting faded, I noticed the rise of Reels on the platform. This shift meant I had to film my entire creative process to gain likes and engagement, which only added to my stress. I realized that I was no longer enjoying painting as I once had; I was too focused on capturing the process rather than immersing myself in my art.

The portraits you see here were created during this transitional phase, when I was still trying to maintain my output while clinging to my Instagram presence. I participated in numerous “Draw This in Your Style” challenges, where artists reinterpret an original character in their unique style. It was a fun way to connect with other artists and explore creativity, even as my relationship with art was evolving.

The first and largest portrait in this collection features my favorite character from the webtoon—and now anime—Solo Leveling: Esil Radiru, a demon princess who captivated me during my reading.

You’ll also notice that I began experimenting with different mediums in my art. I moved beyond just watercolors, blending them with acrylic paints and colored pens to create more dynamic compositions.