Concept Refresh: Unwind
Unwind, 2024 : Refresh
I don’t often revisit old concepts but I really enjoyed doing it with Unwind. Here’s why:
Seeing growth as an artist
It is fascinating to see how much I’ve grown as an artist in the year since I first approached the concept. With Unwind my initial approach was quite minimal and I don't think quite as strong in terms of depth and texture. With the newer approach, I played with color, being maximal, expressive in terms of texture, perspective, composition, and environment.
Fun Fact: I made mistakes with the figure (see first attempt) but I went back in to fix it with a lot more confidence (and referencing.)
Embracing the iterative process
Not getting lost in the art and using references is something I am constantly working on. As a “true artist” I should just be able to envision it and put it to my tablet or paper without referencing. Right? Often when it’s a personal project, I go from sketch to final thinking “Hey, I’ve got this!” and then realise things look wonky. This attempt was a reminder that it's okay to not have it figured out! Illustration is an iterative process, taking your time and making changes is all part of the journey.
Building confidence through play
I love seeing other artists play with perspective, shadow & light. But I sometimes hesitate to dive into it myself. Back in school, my done is better than perfect approach with assignments left room for improvement. Now, revisiting old concepts feels like playtime! I am more comfortable exploring new perspectives because I’ve already taken the safer route before. The best part? The playful exploration builds my confidence!
Refining techniques
It is also a great time to experiment with or refine techniques. I am currently illustrating a children’s book where I have to draw a lot of bubbles and environments. In my pursuit to create more work (hi pressure to perform faster for social media! how are you today?), I sometimes skip adding context or depth in my pieces. Reworking this concept gave me a way to practice interactions between water and light, and venture back into building environment in a small way.
I 100% want to take a plunge in this beautifully painted pool!
Have you ever revisited old concepts? What were your thoughts or learnings?
