“Culture”
Paper collage with acrylic paint on canvas 50.8cm x 61cm My focus for this project was to use environmental texts under or behind large fast food signs. The pop-art movement of the 1960’s in the United States inspired me to use harsh and contrasting colors. The size of the signs taking up the top right corner of the canvas is to signify how impactful fast food companies are to the environment. The acrylic paint over the text makes the text harder to read and not the primary focus of the work because large companies are not prioritizing the Earth. |
“Lake”
Oil pastel and soft pastel on paper 41.6cm x 50.8cm I took a photo of a landscape with a farmhouse to create a large foreground with a detailed background. I took an artistic risk by trying to recreate water using oil pastels and found success by layering colors over a layer of gray. The darker reflection of the structures on the water symbolizes the sinister effects of climate change seen in my surroundings specifically flooding. The bright yellow sunlight on the left of my landscape is a ray of optimism and hope for the climate crisis to cease. |
"Sloth”
Watercolor on paper 23cm x 30.5cm This representation of sin illustrates the feeling of being weighed down by laziness. The background is unrealistic, like an abyss, inspired by the background of Salvador Dalí’s “The Persistence of Memory” (1931). The gradient of the background inspired me to create a visual barrier between sloth and productivity for which the figure cannot break through. Finally, the unidentified figure has vein-like strands coming from the body to show how sloth can be infectious, poisoning its surroundings. |
“Lust”
Acrylic paint on canvas 30.5cm x 30.5cm In today’s society, the slimmer female body is extremely sexualized and lusted over. With the internet, obtaining pornographic imagery has become easier than ever. Because of this, I wanted to illustrate a woman who fits today’s beauty standards with a slimmer waist, small and thin arms, large lips, and curvy bottom. Pink and red are closely associated with lust and I used a dark blue to contrast against the warmer hues of the body. |
“Pride”
50.8cm x 41.6cm Paper on foam board The peacock is an astonishing animal which is notorious for its prideful trait because of their magnificent tail.This characteristic alone inspired me to use the peacock for pride. The color purple has been historically associated with pride which can be seen through royalty wearing purple robes or crests. I decided the best way to represent pride and illustrate the peacock using the quilling technique. Quilling allows complex patterns with the third dimension adding more texture to the piece. |
“Assassin’s Greed”
61cm x 30cm Oil pastel on paper Greed throughout history has always been a constant strive to have more than anyone else in terms of wealth and possessions. The symbolism of orange triangles on the schenti, the sun, and the firearms represent power which is a large factor in greed.The snake on the right arm, eye mask, and the falling broken heart are used to symbolize betrayal because deceiving those who are close is a sign of greed. Finally, the dollars, coins, and precious stones symbolize the wealth of the greedy. |