Artist Statement
“What’s Your Quiet Moment?” explores the importance of taking a moment in time for ourselves. My series contains four illustrations showing a glimpse of the quiet, joyful moments in our daily lives. Over the last few years, I’ve noticed that more people started to do things that make them happy. There has been a huge rise in focusing on mental health and leisure time is a huge part of that. When we experience joyful moments, we don’t think about all the things that we need to finish immediately, but instead we are purely in the moment. People are starting to prioritize their own happiness and health rather than focusing on things that don’t provide fulfillment. Burnout is real, and unfortunately, we’re taught that if we’re not overworking ourselves and monetizing every aspect of our lives, we’re not being useful to society. As important as it is to work, I believe it’s just as important to take a break and prioritize our happiness and state of mind. We are allowed to take up time and space in this world.
To research this series, I started by asking people what they like to do in their free time and also thought about my own leisure activities. Several responses focused on the moments that we don’t have control of; such as running into your neighborhood cat as you walk to the store. Other responses talked about the moments when we consciously make the decision to prioritize ourselves; such as indulging in our favorite hobby. In one illustration, I portray a moment we don’t control but rather anticipate; when you come home to see your pet waiting excitedly for you in the window. Another illustration, drawn from personal experiences, depicts a girl coming across the neighborhood cat on her walk. The last two illustrations depict moments that we create for ourselves; such as indulging in some baked goods; and finally settling down with a good book and a warm drink in the early morning when the air is still crisp. I want the audience to look at these illustrations and be reminded of the little moments that they may plan or come across in their daily lives.
I used traditional mixed media for this illustration series. I explored various color schemes as well as wet and dry media options before settling on a mixture of watercolor and pencil crayon on hot-pressed watercolor paper. I used to think that pencil crayons were often an overlooked media because they’re usually viewed as something only children would use. However, through my time exploring the world of children’s illustration, I’ve come to enjoy this traditional medium and all the different effects I can achieve with it. Now I view colored pencils as a warm and comforting media which is just the type of mood I aim to present in this series.