Some of my current projects in progress and preliminary steps;
The Boy Who CriedWhat
Medium: Acrylic on Board Size: 12" x 24" Date: 2014
CellphoneFlowerSnapshots
Medium: Marker & Pencil Crayon on Paper Size: 5" x 7" Date: 2013
In this mini series/study I wanted to draw some of my own photographs taken off of my cell phone of flowers and leaves found within nature. I wanted to show that although I may capture something I see as being beautiful in order to show to others, the images off of my phone will never do them justice nor express the true beauty found while being in the actual physical presents of what is being shown.
During critique, the main criticism was of the harsh black outline of these flowers which "distract" and are "the main focus", whereas I want them to be merely a frame to look through at the focus which is the beauty/colour of the flowers themselves. One way around this in order to salvage the drawings I had done already, was to use Mulberry paper overtop to lighten/lessen the harshness of the outline. Next I will try using an entirely new image of the phone, using thinner lines as well as photocopies/printed multiples (so that they are consistent/mechanical are phones actually are) and see how that looks.
Another version, using computer image of cellphone which makes the design more mechanical vs. organic and will help keep the series consistent rather than the hand drawn version.
Window to the World
Medium: Acrylic on Paper Size: 24" x 32" Date: 2013
In this series I am painting large scale flowers taken from my own photographs. They will be accompanied by an image of a phone which will be printed onto fabric and laid overtop. The cellphone image will have the screen cutout so that the viewer gets a small square glimpse or sneak preview of the flower beneath it. The viewer must then remove and draw back the fabric of the phone imagery in order to reveal the whole floral image beneath. My concept in this case being; only when the phone is removed from in front of you can you truly enjoy the beauty and the world around you to its full potential.
I decided to try concealing my flowers with opaque Mulberry paper. My intention at first was to peak the viewers curiosity and to have them reveal and lift up the paper, but am quite liking the look of them as is, without interaction.
Laughter's Warmth
Medium: Acrylic on Board Size: 12" x 24" Date: 2013
For this painting I wanted to have the subject laughing at something funny they are seeing on their cellphone, all the while, a quite serious matter is at hand behind them. In some peer feedback I have found mixed readings of this work; one to be as I had first described, the person being unaware of the fire, second being that the person is laughing because they have caused the fire. In either case, the cellphone can be read as the problem. In that it either distracts the individual from the danger, or perhaps has some sort of influence on it.
Laughter's Warmth - forest fire detail
Reference Image - Joshua
Ignoranceis Bliss
Medium: Acrylic Paint on Canvass Size: 32" x 48" Date: 2013
In this painting I wanted to show the character being consumed and almost absorbed, swirling into their cell phone while being oblivious to the surrounding beauty and environment around them.
Since the initial idea, the portrait has changed. Last year my focus was warped portraiture which I am still interested in but in this case it seemed more forced into this years concept. Because of that, I decided it is best left out for separate works. Next step will be to carry on the foliage closer to the portrait so that they aren't so separate and to finish the background tones.
Photobooth Self Portrait Reference
All that is left now to do is to add more details in the leaves
Lino cut cellphone for "Window to the World" series