[INTERVIEW] HOF JUNE 2025 @ARALIO555

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Swedish painter Per Ekström was renowned as the “Poet of Light” for his delicate portrayals of the beauty of light in nature.

He focused especially on moments of twilight and sunset, capturing the landscapes shaped by the interplay of light and the natural world.

The soft, restrained colors in his work convey a sense of stillness and mystery, inviting viewers to feel the passage of time, the essence of existence, and the emotional connection between humans and nature.

This June, @aralio555 has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, recognized for artworks that beautifully depict natural landscapes shaped by light.

The artist's feed is filled with breathtaking landscapes.

Through the colors created by the sun, moon, and stars, the subtle shifts of light are delicately captured, with a touch of sparkle added to express the mystery of nature.

Living creatures that breathe within these natural scenes are also depicted, along with unique coloring works infused with personal creative inspiration.

We have to ask the artist how they came to draw these works.

So, let's start the interview with the artist.

Q1. @PENUP

Hello, @aralio555.

On behalf of everyone at the PENUP team, we’d like to congratulate you on being inducted into our Hall of Fame in June 2025.

Please briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your thoughts on selection.

A1. @aralio555

Hi, I’m Ara from South Korea.

I used to run an interior design business, but I’ve moved on and now work in public relations for government offices.

First off, I really want to thank the PENUP team for choosing me for the June Hall of Fame, and also all my friends on PENUP who have always supported me with comments, reposts, and likes.

Honestly, I was caught off guard by all the congratulatory messages a few days ago.

When I found out I’d been picked for the June Hall of Fame, I felt a little shy about it.

There are so many talented artists on PENUP that I never expected to be chosen myself.

Q2. @PENUP

You first post dates back to March 2024.

How did you find out about PENUP, and what inspired you to share your work on PENUP?

A2. @aralio555

I actually found the PENUP app by accident while I was just browsing through apps on my phone.

Once I started coloring the daily templates, I got really into digital painting.

There were so many colors, tools, and features to play with, and I loved how freely I could express myself.

As I kept practicing, I realized I was enjoying digital drawing even more than drawing by hand, and I started coming up with my own ideas and making pieces that felt personal to me.

Every time I posted a drawing, I got feedback from other PENUP users through likes, comments, and reposts.

That kind of interaction made creating art even more fun and kept me motivated.

Q3. @PENUP

You have been creating artworks beautifully expressed through vibrant colors.

What kind of devices and apps do you use to create your artwork?

A3. @aralio555

I’ve always enjoyed drawing with traditional materials like pencils, pastels, and watercolors.

But last spring, I discovered the endless possibilities of digital painting through the PENUP app.

With this new tool, I started exploring different compositions and ways to use color.

Every time my ideas and intentions showed up just the way I wanted in my work, it made me really happy.

Right now, I’m using an S24 Ultra, and since I’m still pretty new to digital painting, I’ve just been using the PENUP app for all my drawings.

Q4. @PENUP

A wide range of artworks filled with light could be seen.

What inspired you to start drawing?

A4. @aralio555

Back in elementary school art class, I remember my teacher praising one of my drawings and hanging it up at the back of the classroom.

Maybe that’s when it all started, but I’ve always loved comics and used to sketch my favorite characters with a pencil.

That’s how I really got into drawing, and later on, I even got to show my work at club exhibitions in Insa-dong.

When it comes to art, I think light and shadow are at the heart of it all.

The way light seeps out of darkness, or the subtle shades and deep shadows, always spark a lot of inspiration and ideas for me.

If you ask me what motivates me to draw these days, I’d say it’s those moments when my mind is full of inspiration and I feel a rush of excitement in my chest.

Those are the times that really make me want to pick up my pen and start creating.

Q5. @PENUP

From sunsets to starlight and moonlight, the way light is portrayed in your work is truly striking.

Can you tell us why you choose to depict light in this way?

If there’s a particular meaning you wish to convey through light in your art, we’d love to hear about it as well.

A5. @aralio555

One day, I was really struck by the beauty of a pink sky I happened to see by chance.

Ever since then, I’ve gotten into the habit of watching how the sky and clouds change.

I want to capture the wonder and beauty of nature on canvas, and share the feelings I had in those special moments with others.

Q6. @PENUP

There were also works featuring landscapes like forests and seas.

Could you share what inspires you to paint landscapes?

A6. @aralio555

I love hiking and traveling, and I’m always drawn to the pure charm and warmth of nature, so I find myself heading out on trips pretty often.

These experiences inspire me deeply, and they make me want to express the beautiful landscapes of mountains and the sea in my own way, just as I feel them.

Q7. @PENUP

There were also portraits that seemed to tell various stories.

Could you share what draws you to paint people?

A7. @aralio555

Like I mentioned earlier, I really enjoy drawing with traditional materials.

The piece on the left is actually a remix of a work by a Spanish artist.

I wanted to capture the emotions you can feel just from seeing someone from behind.

Portraits have always been my main focus.

I often find myself drawn to them because you can sense a person’s life and journey in their face.

Think about works like Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Munch’s The Scream, or Vincent van Gogh’s self-portraits.

There’s also a unique feeling you get from someone’s back, the way they walk, or their gestures, and I love using those as inspiration for my own art.

Q8. @PENUP

There were also works created using coloring templates.

Could you tell us what kinds of coloring templates you usually use?

A8. @aralio555

I got really into coloring the daily templates that PENUP updates every morning at 9.

Over the past year, I’ve kept at it and really enjoyed painting regularly.

When it comes to the coloring templates, I usually go for ones featuring nature or people.

Mountains and the sea are especially fun because you can express them so freely with all kinds of colors.

For portraits, I liked painting based on the inspiration I got from a person’s pose or expression in that moment, which made the process even more interesting and enjoyable.

Q9. @PENUP

Your beautiful coloring works showcase brilliant imagination and ideas.

Could you share how you come up with such creative concepts?

And what themes would you like to draw or paint in the future?

A9. @aralio555

When I look at the templates provided by PENUP, I try to capture whatever inspiration comes to me in that moment.

I also search for references that fit my ideas, and use them to add more effective touches and make my coloring even more impactful.

Lately, I’ve been taking it a bit easy with my art because of some eye health issues, but I still think coloring is a fantastic feature that anyone who loves drawing can easily enjoy.

As for themes I’d like to try in the future, I’m always drawn to the ever-changing clouds and sky, the wonders of nature, people, animals, and even plants.

I keep these interests in the back of my mind, almost like an ongoing assignment, and I’m always thinking about how I might bring them to life.

Sometimes I want to use soft techniques, like the delicate gesture of a woman’s hand, and other times I want to go bold and intense, like a raging storm.

I want to experiment with different styles and colors, and express myself more freely, without being held back by fixed ideas.

Q10. @PENUP

Last question.

Please let us know if there is anything you would like to see improved while using PENUP, or if there is anything you would like to say.

A10. @aralio555

When I first started using PENUP, I was genuinely amazed and full of respect for the work I saw from other users.

There are plenty of beginners, of course, but some of the pieces that caught my eye were just incredible.

I couldn’t help but wonder how people created such amazing art.

So, there are two things I’d like to ask of the PENUP team.

First, I think it would be really helpful if you could make step-by-step video tutorials on how to use the PENUP tools and layers, so even beginners can understand them easily.

Second, I hope you can help make sure that no one’s work gets copied or used without the original artist’s permission.

And finally, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all my friends on PENUP who have liked my work, connected with me, and cheered me on along the way.

What did you think of our interview with @aralio555?

Per Ekström is said to have created a new painting style through his unique way of expression, greatly influencing future generations.

Similarly, the artist has been blending original inspiration into various coloring templates, steadily building a world of their own through their work.

For everyone reading this, how about adding your own imagination to coloring templates?

From diverse natural scenes to fantastical ideas, expressing your inspiration through art can be a joyful experience.

We wish for PENUP to be filled with beautiful inspiration through everyone’s artwork.

Thank you.