FINAL PROJECT
acrylic on canvas
Rabia Friedman
When we were given the assignment to paint three individuals and incorporate them into
one or multiple pieces, I was at a loss for what I was going to do. In my head I envisioned a
piece that would have all three faces in one painting. It took me a while to figure out how I
would further this idea. I began the assignment by simply sketching the model’s faces. At this
point I kept thinking about how little I knew about each individual. They were exposed in the
most venerable way and yet I have no idea what kind of person they are. In order to connect the three individuals I needed to connect their storylines somehow. Suddenly while sketching on
the second day of class I realized that all humans are somehow connected. Regardless of the
different lives we lead, we come from the same stuff and our lives intertwined in mysterious
ways. It is a difficult task to try and map out our interconnectedness. One way to show this
disjoint was to paint a nebula.
One quote that speaks to the idea that humans are part of an unexplainable universe
comes from author Eckhart Tolle; “You are the universe expressing itself as a human for a little
while.” Many people including myself love the idea that human life is more than surface
appearances. Somehow life transcends from its human form. We are bodies and we are souls.
Many philosophers have addressed this in what they call dualism and monism addressing the
mind and the body as two separate things or as one thing. In my nebula painting I wanted show
that the individual is part of the universe. My painting shows the faces of the individuals are
representation of their whole self (mind and body) being transcended to space. By painting
space I wanted to represent the vastness of the universe. Like the vastness of the universe our
human experience is both unexplainable and awe provoking.
Sorry about the pic, Rabia. Will retake tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't expecting this. Your painting came out so nice and the concept is so neat. You did a great job of blending the faces together. It all came together nicely. Those larger stars a little bit distracting to me. Maybe those should have been done in a smaller brush. Overall, its a great piece and the colors are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI was really confused in the beginning how all the figures were going to work out as a whole when you had told me your concept and began to sketch it out, but now it's evident to me and it came out even better then I imagined. I really love the fact that you decided to splatter the paint throughout the whole piece to give it a starry effect and have fun with it. I really love the concept and think the colors came out beautifully blending from one area to another.
ReplyDeleteIt was apparent for me when viewing this piece that they were apart of something greater. I think what cornelia said about the paint splatter with certain lighting effects is a valuable comment. Most just don't think about it... except a teacher haha. Any who i find this piece to be very strong within the message that you are sending. It is not to deeply routed so that the viewer cannot see what the general pint may be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cheyne, both on the concept and how the viewer sees the painting and about the white paint. This painting is beautiful, I love how the faces fade into the universe. I love that it can be decorative art without the artist statement and meaningful art with the statement. I wonder if you could apply an oil glaze that is colored just enough to change the specs of the white paint. But as Cornelia said it's only in certain light that the shade of the painting changes.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the way this turned out and you chose an interesting way to incorporate all the figures into one image. That being said, I wish there was a bit more distinction between each face because they start to look like the same face after a while and not three different people. I really enjoy that bright spot in the middle of the painting which flows from one face to the other.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of our space drawings with Abbot. I feel like you did a great job blending them into the background. The use of color and light really creates a pleasing composition that highlights the faces without making them too overt. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI was really interested to see this piece progress. I was confused and worried at some points in the process thinking "How is this going to come together?!" When I saw this piece on the last Wednesday, I was really surprised and glad it came out the way it did. You did a great job with blending the faces and the colors. I think you did a great job with transitioning the faces into one another with no clear divisions. I am glad I've had you in both painting I and II and am able to see your progression. I hope to see you in painting III.
ReplyDeleteRabbs, your space lords came out great. This is a good example of what your painting style looks like when you take your work and really delve into it, really go at it. How much you blended your paint, how far you took it makes what you made before almost seem like it came from a different artist. The color helps along your painting where your composition and movement lack, be drawing the eye away from strange proportions.
ReplyDeletethis is the best project ive ever seen you do! the colors of space with the portraits looks really great the transitions are very well done
ReplyDelete