Up until this summer, I had been dead set on becoming an art therapist, but as I've begun doing more research and practice, I am much more interested in animation. I mean, I love the idea of art therapy, but I think I will be truly happy if I'm doing something that I am extremely passionate about. I really want to make my own cartoon!! Natasha Allegri is my animation-inspiration. If I could work for her even as an intern, I'd die happy.
How crazy is this? I wonder how someone can actually achieve something so beautiful. This piece really speaks to me, maybe it's just the music in the background, but I just love watching this piece come alive.
Silvia Pelissero (online alias: agnescecile) is an Italian watercolor artist (goddess?) who showcases her work, for the most part, online. My favorite thing about her is that she does these speed-paint videos of her work, which gives her piece undeniable character and emotion that may not have been present other than in its creation. She makes me want to become a better artist. I watch her videos whenever I am in a rut, and without fail, I become inspired. Silvia has become a lucky charm for me almost, giving me luck in my artistic journey. Her videos clear my head better than a long walk would, and all of these ideas start to flow in. Would I say her work has influenced mine? Yes. I don't think one could cite a direct correlation between her work and mine, but her style and emotion has definitely become part of who I am and what my art has become. One day, I'd like to think of myself as highly as I regard Ms. Pelissero. She is basically my idol. I know my art teacher, Mr. Garrott, will find the floating faces with dripping watercolor to be cliche, but Silvia had it going on first, hands down. xoxo Siri Finally, the companion piece is complete! The set as a whole is titled Star Crossed Lovers, but individually are entitled Portrait of the Sun and Portrait of the Moon.
For the longest time, I've wanted to tell the story behind the lonely moon, and the affection between the moon and sun. I thought it was a pretty neat story, and this is my third time attempting this idea. For some reason, this worked for me. Technically, I feel like I've excelled. I know for a fact that my proficiency with watercolor has held me back, but these pieces have taught me a lot about the medium. I learned how to do several techniques, and apply them to my work, which I have not been able to achieve in the past. My confidence level has soared recently, and I think it's because of the success of these two pieces. It's hard for me to feel proud of a piece that I do, but I love this one. I really didn't expect much going in, and I believe that is why I like it as much as I do. I also feel as though people will connect to this piece is a different way. I'd like to know what people feel, or what they see when they look at them displayed with each other. What are the subjects thinking? Why does the moon look sad? Is the Sun a man or a woman? All valid questions that I hope people's minds may ponder. Until next time, Siri Side note: The Sun's robe is based on the Ring Nebula. Way too cool. Watercolor is a wonderfully pliable medium. The colors can be bold or faint, and opaque or translucent. I really do enjoy all of the different techniques that make watercolor one of the most versatile mediums. Recently, I've been trying to use watercolor to represent the vast and beautiful nebulae that paint the skies. Whenever I see pictures of outer space, I just get lost. I feel so small and insignificant, but through painting, I feel like I can make a connection. One of my favorite pictures is that of the Rosette Nebula. I love how something as simple as burning gas and dust can create something so wonderful. It's so natural and organic, and I think that's why it's so captivating: this happened all on its own. I felt more than compelled to create this almost awe-inspiring natural feel in my paintings with watercolor, as it's one of the most free-form mediums I know of. I mixed a few colors, primarily some mixed black, purples, red and blues, and did a wet on wet wash, then applied salt and let it dry. The salt pretty much took over and gathered the pigment in a way that I could eve have created on my own, and I loved it. The paper's thirst for the paint was amazing (seeing as it was $15 paper), and the colors were striking upon the page. I added a few more layers of pigment to add different values, and then dry-brushed some stars on top.
Recreating space was very difficult, but I feel a bit more connected, somehow. As if, by mirroring the universe and making it my own, I have thus gained some significance. Existential crisis aside, I feel as though it was quite a successful piece. xoxo Siri |