1/3/2018 0 Comments Finished Final ProjectThis is the finished product of my final piece. Over Christmas break, I was able to paint the plants growing at the bottom. These symbolize the growth the refugees have to experience as they are uprooted and planted in unfamiliar soil. Then I added the finishing touches and decided the piece was complete. I was slightly frustrated because originally, my plan was to paint words and symbols in the triangles in the background. But when I started, I realized that the words caused the piece to look far too cluttered. Since the painting is not actually as large as a mural, the added words were just too much. I was a little bummed about this, since I had been hoping to add a lot more to it. Instead, I ended up adding a phrase of Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" near the bottom of the piece. In the end, I think the simplified version looks a lot cleaner and more complete. I also painted the triangles directly above and behind the refugee using yellow, which helped balanced the yellow in the bottom. In the triangle above her head are three small paisleys, which could represent either a crown or the Trinity- God the Son, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit guiding her and watching over her. One thing I would have changed about the piece is to center the subject a little more, since she is over to the right a little too much. This causes the patterns behind her to be slightly uneven, more of the pattern showing on the left side. My main technique throughout the piece was to add water to the acrylic paint in order to blend it more easily. This is how I was able to blend the skin tones on the face so accurately, and I realized through this piece how important it is to find my own technique of how to effectively manipulate certain mediums. However, wish I would have explored a few different mediums with this piece, especially because I am already very familiar with acrylics. It would have been a good experience for me to try and incorporate some spray paint, like Joel Bergner does. Overall, the whole piece is meant to convey the message of hope. Even in the darkest storm, the little bird called Hope does not stop singing. I am incredibly inspired by the work done by Joel Bergner and through this project I have realized that I want to use my art for something that meaningful. His desire to add color and healing to the lives of the refugees is incredible, and after learning about his mission I only found myself feeling more passionate about the subject. This piece is deeply personal to me, and as I look at the girl in the painting with outstretched hands, it seems that she could be either giving or receiving something. I am reminded that while I gave much to the refugees during my missions trip, they also gave to me. Through them, I saw incredible joy and hope despite bleak circumstances. I learned how to show love to people who need it, and my eyes were opened to the different cultures, beliefs, and people in this world. It was beautiful because I realized that the material things of this world will never satisfy, but it is people who will truly matter in the end. This world will pass away, but they will not, and my desire is to spend my time in this life showing people the love of Jesus.
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