When did you first start making art?
I’ve loved art since I was a little kid. My mom is a designer, and she really inspired me to follow this path.
What inspired this drawing?
I was grocery shopping, and while using the self-checkout, I started thinking about the barcodes. We use them so often, but nobody thinks about how they influence us. It’s about restrictions: I feel like my generation really knows how to use barcodes and QR codes, but other people, like my parents, have a lot of trouble, which restricts their use of technology.
What was your working process?
First, I sketched my room. Then I added the lines. I was just free drawing at that point; I didn’t know which lines would be thick and which would be thin. I used different thicknesses of pens and some Sharpies. I also purposefully used some worn-out pens to give the feeling that barcodes aren’t perfect and that some of them can have errors. Then I traced it onto thin drawing paper and penned it in. I worked on it for about three months.
What challenges did you encounter?
The biggest challenge was deciding where things would be and the directions of the different lines, which is really important. I had to think about how the lines and perspective could work together. Otherwise it would look odd.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists like yourself?
Take your time and really think everything through. It will make whatever you’re doing easier, whether it’s studying, art, or another hobby. Take all the time you need.