Every November, I like to do a self-portrait - not only to see how much my appearance has changed, but also to reflect on my artistic progress. It’s also a great opportunity to talk about the past year in terms of my career.

Compared to last year, I wanted to take more of an oil painting approach. I fell in love with oil painting last December, and it’s definitely something I want to pursue more in the future. The tone of this self-portrait is also a bit darker and grimmer, with strong orange rim lighting. One noticeable change in my appearance is the hair - I fell into the trend and got myself a mullet. The mustache is also something I haven’t tried before; we’ll see what I come up with next year, haha.

As for my career, this year has been a bit less chaotic and marked by a more conscious approach to art. I finally figured out the best way to tackle illustrations and perfected my creative process; every new artwork now feels like an exciting adventure rather than a stressful endeavor like in past years.
I also achieved my goals and expanded my network - met amazing people during my exhibition in Seoul and finally got a commission from a big company that I’m currently working with. After four years of doing art, I finally feel like I’m on steady ground career-wise, and I’m excited for what’s to come.

My goals for next year are pretty much the same: improve my art, grow as a person, and have fun doing what I love the most!