There's a very Brazilian saying, but one that I imagine has counterparts around the world, which goes, 'making a storm in a teacup.' There's also a more general one that states, 'he who exaggerates in argument loses reason.' It was from these two phrases that the idea came to mind to visually represent an attitude that can occur at any moment and with anyone. This action would be characterized by being exaggerated, hasty, without much thought, thoughtless, and sometimes based on brutality.
Among the various tools that my father owns, there is an old and heavy monkey wrench, with that classic look of a plumber's tool. With this image in mind, I thought about the possibility of someone choosing this tool – robust, coarse, and intended for blunt impacts – to loosen a small and delicate nut.
Thus, the idea was born to be illustrated, where perhaps the viewer perceives the message behind the poor choice of a tool for the job to be done.
But I didn't want to create a digital artwork; I wanted one with traditional techniques, but I also wanted something that would require some effort during its execution: colored pencils were the perfect choice.
While a solid brushstroke of red color with a wide brush using gouache takes a second to be done, the same area to be colored with colored pencils can take about three minutes. It's a technique that demands attention, dedication, focus, and patience.
A very cool thing about using colored pencils is the use of different brands to enhance the representation of intensity and contrast of the colors to be used.
I believe that a very incisive way to visually present this would be through the association of text reinforcing the visual appeal, such as a phrase that alerts to the care to avoid exaggerations during the day.
