Identity Study from this Summer

Identity Study 18x24 Oil on Canvas

I saw that I hadn’t posted this one yet from the Summer.

Here is the technical information: I painted this one in a classical style of setting down a ground, grisaille and then two layers of color. I find that this method allows for a lot of dimension in the form. The first layer of color was in my regular red, yellow and purple palette and then I put a cooler palette on top to finish.

Conceptual information: The photo reference I used was from West Africa in the 1940′s. I was intrigued by her scarification which is an identifying feature in some West African cultures. I met people when I was studying in Ghana that had identifying scars. The people I talked to had scars that indicated what profession their family did. It’s interesting to me that it is an artificial indicator on top of natural features. One idea to take this a step further would be to create my own system of scarification that I would put on figures in paintings to indicate my own agenda.

The second thing about this painting is that even though the photo was taken in the 1940′s it looks like a modern day digital ‘self-portrait’. As if this woman was posting her facebook photo. The concept of the self portrait speaks to cultures of narcissism  and statements of, “I am here, and you are here to see me.”

I thought it was about time to post some more of my work. I’m currently working on some figure study paintings I will post shortly!