Obi Wan Kenobi

Sometimes a lightsaber is all it takes. This one started out as an adorably tongue-in-cheek little figure. His airy, slightly masculine color palette gives him a softness, while his expression has an almost innocent quality. He seems perfectly harmless, sweet, curious, maybe just a little unsure of himself.

And then I gave him a lightsaber. Suddenly: Obi-Wan Kenobi.

It’s funny how quickly a single object can completely change the character of a figure. Before the lightsaber, I was looking at a somewhat sweet and slightly awkward personality. Afterward, he seemed to have acquired decades of wisdom, a deep sense of responsibility, and the calm confidence of someone who has seen some things.

The transformation is part of what makes this painting fun for me. The figure itself didn't really change. The story around him did.

There is something wonderfully absurd about assigning such a monumental personality to a tiny wax-string figure. But that is also what I love about creating these characters. A gesture, a color combination, a prop, or even a particular tilt of the head can suddenly suggest an entire backstory.

And Obi-Wan brings a very specific kind of energy with him: wise, calm, patient, mentoring. He has the air of someone who already knows the answer but is willing to let you figure it out yourself. Which is quite a transformation for a little guy who started out looking so innocent. Apparently, all he needed was a lightsaber and a serious change in attitude.