Gerald continues my illustrative approach to portraiture, where color and form carry the weight of expression. The layered elements reflects the universal depth, individuality, and quiet brightness that lives within every person. Because my illustrative style removes some of the facial and physical cues we naturally read, the background becomes the emotional language of the portrait. The shapes move like unspoken gestures, holding hints of mood, personality, and energy that might normally be seen in posture or expression. Through Gerald, I explore how presence can still be felt even when realism is stripped back, allowing color, rhythm, and composition to speak for the human experience.