Photography + Painting
This quarter has been so prolific, eye-opening, and a leap to my artworks. I’ve been always telling my friends that I just want to draw and paint on my photographs. I always felt that 2% lacking from my photographs, as not complete. These are just the first works of 20 paintings that I am finishing up soon, and the first 8 were done in two days with similar color palette. Being not bound to any medium is my freedom apart from photography- Photography is free in the means of going anywhere with the camera, but that is sometimes too physical to me. Being free with my tips of my hands in my studio table, in a small space but unlimited in my imagination, feels more free to me.
I did go back and forth between just painting figures and adding photography and collage- whilst praying, I had a genuine feedback from my painting professor to look back on my paintings emerged with my portrait photography. He said they had more “vitality.” Right after I got home the next day I poured all the inspirations, advice, thoughts I had for the last few days that had accumulated. I just love that pouring out point after some days past without creating, as I realize I spent those days just absorbing everything that surrounds me. It’s kind of like re-fueling and driving, and that comes naturally to me when it comes to art. Yes, I think I used to be obsessed with “I need to create every day every day-” but that naturally faded away as I realized I do work everyday, but in terms of progress. I do not need to finish anything, but as long as I moved one step towards a new exploration of medium and style, I am content.
Self-Denial
This is my first work ever, and it is still my favorite above all rest 20. The diagonal composition came so naturally as I painted over the collaged paper and photographs, and it has been my go to composition these days. Everything was unplanned, without any sketch. I just love that moment where the Holy Spirit really emerges into the surface and shapes, lines, and strokes appear from my fingertips. I felt that a lot on this one, and since this one it took a while for me to really try to mimic this because I just couldn’t! I guess I have to call it as a happy mistake also a guidance of the spirit.
The Sunday of the week I created this the sermon was about self denial. I don’t know why listening to the sermon it reminded me of this work. What a perfect title. Breaking and vanishing away from my own selfish desires but going towards a more whole, perfect shape of me in Jesus.
The Lantern
I did try the right composition but I am not really fond of it. Other than that, playing with overlaps of color and texture was so rich on this one. I love when things turn out so differently as I put layer on layer. Trust me I don’t look like that but I love being out of boundaries.. (laugh) Also this was the first one to use my fabric that I bought from Estes park, Colorado, for like $3. Adding my memories, vintage traces, is just a joy. I still have not figured out to push that more into my works, I’ll keep exploring.