Posts

Image
l Darlene Hayes, In Loving Memory. Pencil and Watercolor. 2019. This piece is part of a series for my late grandmother, Darlene Hayes. For this piece, I chose to depict my grandma, who was suffering from Stage 4 Liver Cancer, sitting in front of colorful, blooming flowers. I wanted to show that even with all the suffering my grandma was going through, she resembled happiness and energy. The flowers were something I chose to add because of the love my grandma had for them. I see my grandma in all things that are beautiful to me, flowers especially. She was my flower that continued to bloom even in bad conditions.  
Image
Adventurer. Acrylic Painting. 2019. For this piece, I created a textured background by layering up different shades of blue. In doing so, it has created a water and wavy effect. This inspired me to create something you would see in the ocean. Instead of doing sea life, I chose to do an old fashioned deep sea diver in his many layers of water-resistant clothing. I chose to do an figure in the more old fashioned scuba suit to show the amount of detail that was seen in these specific suits. I then added a "lifeline" to the divers helmet. This symbolizes our connection to the world, no matter where we are. This piece may take the viewer back in time when these scuba suits were in, and to reflect on the world we live in today.
Image
Blue and Yellow. Thrown Bowl with Red Earthenware Clay. 2018. I wanted this piece to have different variety of color. I chose to use the red clay so I could use the cleat transparent glaze to make it pop. I then decided to add yellow and blue to compliment the red. What stands out to me is the two stripes of blue and yellow right next to eachother.
Image
Just a Slice?. Acrylic Painting. 2018. I was inspired to do something large and different for this piece. I wanted people to look at this painting and get a hungry feeling in their tummies! I used the paint by putting it in a piping bag for frosting and piped it on. This created a thick looking crust on the pizza, frosting on the cake, texture on the cookie, and the juiciness on the watermelon. I used this process over and over till the thickness was at a realistic state. I then went in and added the details such as the grease on the pepperonis, the cracks in the cookie, the shine on the watermelon, and the happy birthday part of the cake. i was very inspired by all pop art artists and the vibrant colors they use. I wanted this piece to be very eye-catching and something people would be drawn to as soon as they walk into the room.
Image
Darlene Whitten age 13. Pencil Drawing. 2018. This drawing is in memory of my late grandmother who passed away on October 13, 2018. She was a cancer patient. My grandmother had her first pass with cancer in 1980 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She went through treatment and the cancer shrunk and she survived. In 2016, she found out she had gallbladder cancer that was spreading quickly. She went into surgery and got her gallbladder removed and was put in regular chemo treatments to kill off the rest of the cancer cells. She was recovering and cancer free until 2017 she found out the cancer had spread to her liver. She had 2 golfball sized tumors growing rapidly in her liver. The cancer won the fight with my precious grandma. To go through 3 different types of cancer in one lifetime is a lot for anyone, and she never gave up. I will always remember my grandma as the strong fighter she was. Rest in peace,  sweet soul.
Image
Flower Power. Watercolor and Sharpie. 2018. For this piece I wanted all the focus to be on one thing instead of many. When I started painting the middle flower, I decided it would be interesting if I added flowers next to it that would be fading in color to add more attention to the center flower. I chose to this on a large scale as well to make it something to you could see from across a room. After I finished the flowers, I used black sharpie and added thick and thin lines going into the center flower to make it look as if the center flower is popping off the page.
Image
Sea  to Sky. Acrylic Paint. 2018.  In this transition painting I wanted the viewer to be able to see the similarities and differences among different life sources. I also wanted to pick two animals that are on opposite ends of the spectrum. With the fish being low in the sea and the bird being high in the sky. I also chose to do the same colors for the bird and the fish to make it more realistic as if they were really morphing into one another. I chose to add in background objects to make it more eye catching and realistic as well. I wanted the scenery in the first panel to break down along with the fish and bird and turn into what would be the tree in the last painting. The point of this piece is to make the viewer's eyes flow from the bottom to top and to sell the resemblance in life forms.