Millennial Memories was inspired by a single physical photograph: a candid of my mother getting ready in our 90s-era bathroom. The image reveals a packed shelf stacked with towels and many, many hair products so familiar, you can almost smell them.
 
From afar, the painting reads as mostly blue with hints of pink, which gives it a cool, nostalgic feel.
My mom is depicted with realistic features and proportions, but with painterly brushwork that keeps it from being hyper-realistic. Similarly, the bottles and towels focus more on form and color than intricate detail. As such, it leans toward a semi-realistic style.
 
This painting feels like a distant memory, as I’ve since moved out of my childhood home and can no longer witness those everyday moments of her getting ready.