This oil painting was based off an old sketch or drawing I did back in 2009, in my college days. It was during my studies in Computer Science, which did not go too well with me.
Failing many of the classes and being completely uninterested in the program to the point of not even attending them anymore.
One of the grades was a whooping 8%. The program was not so much the issue as my state of mind and emotional wellbeing. I remember having so much hate and anger, constantly everyday…
So I would often go in the library during my free time and draw whatever I could at that time. I guess I could say that 2009 was when just I started developing my artwork and being serious about it, to try and communicate something that was hard to express verbally.
I remember being very inspired by some of the artwork by Theodor Kittelsen and I still am.
That was after discovering some of the albums by Buzum, which I was heavily into back then. Especially some of the more ambient music.
And for a long time, I was drawing inspiration from music. I wish it was the case today, it would be much easier for me to find a subject.
Either way, I wanted to paint this image just as a sort of tribute to those times I was in, as an 18 year old. And maybe revisit some of the ideas and feelings that I had back then.
Hope you enjoy.
-Zaki