I started the production of outcome 1 by creating an underpainting from my collage plan. I used watered-down acrylic painting to map out the colours and shapes. I decided that the composition felt flat so I added an alleyway, with a view to the sea for some depth.
I made the houses more solid with layers of different colours, using broad brushstrokes. I experimented with colour and used greens and purples to make the buildings more lively.
I added details like railings and a drain to make the scene more realistic, whilst leaving parts of the houses unfinished. Instead, I concentrated the detail in the view of the idyllic seaside town. This demonstrates how people are currently more focused on remembering/looking forward to visiting those places again after the pandemic. I made the windows lively because everyone is stuck inside, but left them expressive to show how people are less focused on their current situation than escapist thoughts. I added a link to the prayer flags from my research, making them look discarded and forgotten. This is to show that the hope and prosperity that they signify feels out of place at the moment.
The painting links to my mantra about how people act when faced with thoughts of mortality. In my research, I found that people use escapism to avoid thinking about such big topics, especially when they are surrounded by news of death and illness. The prayer flags are alternative postcards because they are supposed to send messages of hope.
The unfinished feel is different to the work I usually do, and I find the different levels of detail effective because it draws the eyes to a focal point of the painting. I also enjoyed using subtle symbols to portray my messages, which is something I will try to take into future work.
Comments