I wanted to send a positive message, especially to highschoolers. Teens are stressed, and that stress tends to invade and control their lives. We need someone to remind us that there is more to life, and that’s what my goal was. I wrote an original poem to illustrate in eight pieces. The first four relate to what teens experience, the pressure and stress of high school. Starting with the fifth piece, it gets more positive.
I painted all of them in a limited palette of yellow orchre, lemon yellow, French ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, and white in oil paint. I put the poem lyrics on the paintings by writing in pen on tea-stained pieces of paper in the earlier pieces or on white paper in the last two pieces. The paper lightens as the message does. Some of the pieces are a more literal interpretation of the lyrics, others more open.
I wanted people to be able to see themselves somewhere. I hope this portfolio helps them remember the positives in life.
