Title

Self Portrait (Changing)

Creator

Dielas, Christos

Abstract

In this artwork, I explore identity, personal growth and emotional contrast through bold color combinations and other collage-like painted elements. Using self-photography as a base, I created 2 portraits, 1 calm and introspective, the other playful and social. Reflecting different facets of myself. Through expressive brushstrokes, layered compositions, and contrasting tones, I highlight the tension between introversion and the need to adapt in social places. The use of mismatched colors symbolizes change and the discomfort of growth, but I also picked those specific ones to embrace that I grew out loving them even though I remember disliking orange, green, brown as a teenager, I only liked blue and black. But here we have a combination of both juxtaposing symbolizing again change and adaptation.

Artist Statement

In this artwork I explored how to compose different elements and how to combine unusual and “mismatched” color combinations all together. In the creating process, I took multiple photographs of myself in several positions and lighting phases, my goal was to create the greatest contrast I could. After choosing the picture I liked the most, I sketched a digital draft with elements of collage on my iPad. I rearranged the different segments of the work a couple of times until I produced the final draft. In the creating process I started with mint colored base and I started sketching out with a wide brush and watered down burnt sienna. The main figure is placed in the center of the composition, and it is a realistic depiction of myself looking serious in a “resting” face. I tried to capture the figure as well as I could in terms of proportions, although my brushstrokes remain visible, which is something I adore in a painting, and I try to embrace it. The other main figure of the artwork is positioned on the left of the canvas; it appears tilted, and it looks like it just invaded into the canvas. It is again a portrait of myself, but this time it appears in different circumstances than the previous one. It captures me at a party holding a drink and pointing into the viewer's eye with a hot pink water gun, which my friend had at her place. This is a more “fun” version of myself, which usually appears when I am in a social space with other people. It is literally my weapon; it is like putting on a character, because deep inside I am shy and introverted, and I get easily overstimulated in crowded and loud environments. So, this is a way to refute those feelings. It functions as a shield I use to protect myself. This figure is painted with cool tones blue, purple and a small amount of black. The fist and the water gun appear brighter because they are closer to the viewer in the contrary the face which is further away appears duller along with the other hand which it is not even detailed, and it looks unfinished in that way I achieved showing some level of depth. Both figures are overlined by colored lines different saturations and hues, including fluorescent orange, hot pink, pastel purple, and cobalt blue. I tried to create balance and harmony between artificial and natural color. On the left side of the composition the background is mainly green, but it also has an “opening” on the top showing more brownish warmer and earthly tones, in addition the green brushstrokes remind me of abstract leaves. At the bottom left we find the first small collage element, it is a heart I doodle quite often colored red. Moving to the right half of the painting it noticeably much more darker and flatter, the background is painted with a much more darker and cooler green which almost appears black which creates great contrast with the fluorescent orange elements of the scene. The first noticeable element is the orange face on the top of the composition which is the outline of the tilted figure at the left of the composition, right under it we notice another face painted blue looking more melancholic which also connects to the color choice. At the right of the canvas there is a pattern of 4 eye sets, the first from above is painted with life like colors but it is overlined with orange, it appears like someone pealed a segment of the green background, revealing what is underneath it. Right under it there are another 3 eye sets painted either blue or orange and next to each one of them there is an improvisation of lines of the same color pattern. The last element is an outline of the fist holding the water gun painted orange. The overall meaning of this piece is how I am currently living life and how I experience growing into an adult. By blending “mismatched” colors together I wanted to show how the process of growing and changing might feel, it can be uncomfortable at first. I personally had a hard time accepting that I started liking simple things I did not before such as certain foods, clothes and even colors such as olive green, brown orange, I remember myself only liking blue and black that is why I choose to juxtapose these colors together to showcase change but adaptation as well. I feel that letting myself free composing this piece straight from my heart and what I really like no matter what other expecting to see, helped me to get closer in finding my style. Also, I realized that as I continue working my skills are evolving and this really inspires me and boosts me to move forward and start creating more without fear but with confidence.

Keywords

painting,

identity

introspection

Subject

Visual Arts

Date Available

May 22-23, 2025

Type

painting

Course

AR3025 Painting

Instructor

Halivopoulou, Effie

Session

Visual Arts Exhibition

Location

Arts Center Gallery

Event

Year 2025 | 9th Annual Student Research and Creative Arts Symposium