Grace In Bloom
Grace In Bloom was created as a result of a deepening my understanding of how to use non conventional tools in my pastel art making process. I wanted to explore options and push boundaries instead of using a typical surface for a pastel portrait but also using a traditional subject matter like the inspiration of a Degas ballerina. Grace In Bloom is depicted from an imaginary child with a headpiece of flowers which represents the delicate feelings of a young child’s heart. With a world of modern day turmoil I wanted to connect spiritually with the beauty that lies in each of us as small children. As children we view the beauty in the world around us with a sense peace and naivety. As we age we begin to realize the harshness in the world around us. I hope when people view the piece they get a sense of how they may have perceived the world as a young child but also to remember that there is always a softness and beauty all around us if we are willing to look for it. The portrait is created on a 20x20 gallery wrapped canvas surface. In order to be able to apply several layers of pastels the canvas was coated and sanded many times with gesso. The next few layers a ground pastel was applied to create enough grit to hold the soft pastels. I applied a light wash drawing of the image and then used an off brand set of soft pastels to layer colors. The background is purposefully done with faded blended colors so the face and flowers of the child would stand out. Almost like beauty surrounded by distorted background noises of the world. I feel blessed to have created a piece that has a deeper meaning for me than what meets the eye. I wanted the piece to be able to hang without framing because in this world as we grow and experience the world around us nothing in time stays perfectly framed.
Emerging Pastel Artist
20 x 20 x 1.5
Pastel Brand(s) Used
OTHER
Pastel Paper Used
OTHER
