Study of Dokebi Light 2015

Soey Milk made this drawing, ‘Study of Dokebi Light’, with graphite and watercolor. Her process is all about layering and the build-up of marks, using these to describe a scene that feels both familiar and otherworldly. I’m really drawn to the way she uses the graphite, creating these delicate, almost translucent textures. There's a softness to the lines, which contrasts with the starkness of the composition. Then you have these splashes of red watercolor that disrupt the monochrome, adding a layer of emotional intensity. Look at the way the red bleeds into the paper, creating these unpredictable, organic shapes. It reminds me of Helen Frankenthaler's soak-stain paintings, but with a figurative twist. Ultimately, Milk’s drawing invites you to slow down and really look, to appreciate the subtle nuances of her mark-making and the way she uses color to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, a dialogue between artists across time and space.