Expressive Interactions
Neva Sills is the faculty sponsor of this project.
Abstract
I draw animals and other living things in unexpected and engaging interactions. I make unusual combinations, showing the interactions from different viewpoints or from the perspective of one of the subjects within the piece. I intend my work to encourage a variety of interpretations of the emotions the animals give off and the overall meaning of the piece. In the end, my work portrays an open narrative that could be poetic in the way things are arranged. The feeling you get from the interaction between the subjects creates unanswered questions that are left for the viewer to ponder. I begin by referencing pictures I have taken myself and combine an array of photos. In a way, it is like making a collage. As I combine the images, the subjects’ interactions often lead in surprising directions. For example, animals that are not normally expected to be seen together can interact in either a positive or negative way. The whole background is filled with dark black, creating a stillness, which brings more attention and contrast to the animals. This draws the viewer closer to the piece, giving them a better view of the realistic rendering of the fur, texture, and shading of the creatures. The placement and scale of the animals helps create the mood of the interaction. Their eyes help create emotion, so I darken the lines around the eyes and may add some color. Although I purposely begin by choosing a primary emotion for each animal to portray, the viewer can experience the shifting narrative as feelings and reactions change from different viewpoints.
Expressive Interactions
I draw animals and other living things in unexpected and engaging interactions. I make unusual combinations, showing the interactions from different viewpoints or from the perspective of one of the subjects within the piece. I intend my work to encourage a variety of interpretations of the emotions the animals give off and the overall meaning of the piece. In the end, my work portrays an open narrative that could be poetic in the way things are arranged. The feeling you get from the interaction between the subjects creates unanswered questions that are left for the viewer to ponder. I begin by referencing pictures I have taken myself and combine an array of photos. In a way, it is like making a collage. As I combine the images, the subjects’ interactions often lead in surprising directions. For example, animals that are not normally expected to be seen together can interact in either a positive or negative way. The whole background is filled with dark black, creating a stillness, which brings more attention and contrast to the animals. This draws the viewer closer to the piece, giving them a better view of the realistic rendering of the fur, texture, and shading of the creatures. The placement and scale of the animals helps create the mood of the interaction. Their eyes help create emotion, so I darken the lines around the eyes and may add some color. Although I purposely begin by choosing a primary emotion for each animal to portray, the viewer can experience the shifting narrative as feelings and reactions change from different viewpoints.