20-Something Series

Concept:

This body of work shares conflict of all the joys and pains felt in the twenties stage life, mainly in response to the often overromanticized version we see in media. To reach past the boundaries of my own experience, I incorporated an element of collaboration to better understand the highs and lows many of us face during this coming of age journey. I created a questionnaire asking for experiences, monumental take backs, as well as photos from their 20s. Some of questions included: “What is a common lie/truth you hear regarding what it’s like to be in your 20’s?”, “What is a movie or book that best represents your 20s?”, and “What advice would you go back and give yourself?” Many experiences and emotions shared were repeated, showing me the prominent feelings to portray. In demonstrating these experiences, my hope is that they challenge the viewer to connect to these works through empathy and understanding, and seeing a pattern between their journey and those on the canvases.

Technique and Creation:

Picking up from where I left off from the Study Abroad Series and through a lot of new experimentation, I pushed the materials further creating larger pieces and leaning into a messy and layered look. Pushing myself to lean into process based work instead of the usual planning I do, I was able to allow the paintings to develop organically and feel less restricted. Starting with a general experience or emotion I wanted to capture, I would collect some photos and create a color palette that expressed them. On loose canvas I laid down acrylics and water, allowing different levels of transparency and textures form. When dry, I looked for shapes that I could use to form a subject from one of the selected photos. Using oils I started incorporating the figures using gestural marks.

Originally inspired by vintage movies that show the titles and credits on the screen in bold and nostalgic designs, I knew I wanted to incorporate words somehow. Pulling from the questionnaire, I hand wrote various phrases and comments in water soluble inks, soft pastels, and graphite. The various levels of legibility from the interaction with these materials and water adds to the feeling of blurred memories. The handwriting feels intimate and adds another human element, feeling like we are looking into the inner dialogue of the subject.

Wanting to keep an organic and messy feel, I decided not the stretch the canvases but sewed them onto transparent fabric which was stretched, giving them greater presence. Pushing the layered diary aspect further, I printed shared photos on sheer fabric, hand sewing them onto the canvases.

Thank you to the faculty, especially my mentor, at Meredith College who gave me encouragement and invaluable critiques along the way that pushed me to think differently create something way cooler than I originally imagined. And a big thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my questionnaire and share their wonderful pictures.