I don’t often draw landscapes, but I have enjoyed them here and there. Typically, I lean towards cityscape scenes because that’s what I’m more familiar with but I guess that’s not entirely true. I grew up in the mountains in Northeast Pennsylvania and although I didn’t hike as much as I could’ve, driving home through the mountains of Delaware Water Gap was always a reminder that home was close and the city was behind me. At least for a little while..

When I moved from the States to Busan, South Korea (a very mountainous place!) I would take the cable car up Geumjeong mountain with friends and eat duck and drink maekgeoli and the idea of life amongst mountains warmed my heart in a new way. A friend pointed out how the image of fading grey and purple mountain ranges felt so Korean to him and I think about this a lot. My Pennsylvania mountains didn’t feel this way. They were both special but completely different.

When I came across the "The Great Outdoors" challenge by @theydrawandtravel and @uppercasemag, I knew I wanted to illustrate a mountain scene. Mountains might not feel like me as an artist to an outsider, but they give me a feeling of home. I miss mountains but remembering them doesn’t make me sad. ⛰️❤️