Draw to Survive

Around the start of the new year Young, known better by her social media handle Storm3326, took a leap of faith quitting her day job as a cashier in Korea to pursue her true passion: creating Formula 1-inspired drawings as a full-time internet artist. 

On the phone, she is reserved and exceedingly humble; however, on the page, her art is lively and confident. Despite primarily working in Adobe Photoshop with a Wacom Intuos Pro digital tablet, Storm’s brush collection of choice emulates real oil pastel strokes, and she harnesses a palette of bright, vibrant colors to imbue her work with warmth and personality. This approach pairs perfectly with her intimate choice of subjects, which range from Lewis Hamilton’s dog Roscoe to the rarely-discussed relationship between teammates Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. The softness and humanity in her work offer a refreshing contrast to hyperrealistic art that is often more dominant in relation to the sport.

Far from a lifelong Formula 1 fan, Storm’s interest in the sport traces back to 2019 when she, along with a few friends from Korea, discovered the hit Netflix show “Drive to Survive.” The result was an instant connection to the sport, a sensation Storm likens to “watching a movie or reading a book that inspires a new kind of feeling.” She tells us she was moved to tears while drawing Lewis Hamilton at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen edged out Hamilton for the 2021 World Championship.

Despite being one of the many new entrants to the world of Formula 1, Storm has struck a nerve with the growing fanbase. She says she never set out with the goal of achieving public recognition, but she’s amassed a loyal following over the last half-decade of posting to Tumblr, Twitter, and now Instagram. 

“Draw to Survive” is an ode to the creative ways global fans are engaging with the sport and a testament to the relevancy of internet artists, whose work, disseminated through social media and other online mediums, is helping to shape global cultural conversations and introduce new fans to Formula 1.