"Baptism"
oil on canvas
1. Define which techniques you tried and mastered? Struggled?
This was my second attempt at oil paintings and already I feel it going better than my first try. Before, I used too much turpentine and linseed oil. Initially I made the same mistake with this painting, but used that as an under painting and then went over it with a thicker layer of paint. I also think that my skin tones and shadows have improved, however I still struggle with mixing the right colors as I lack patience.
2. How did you draw inspiration from other artists techniques or aesthetics in your work? In what ways did you derive meaning or gain historical perspectives from their work? Why these artists?
My inspiration came from the video game BioShock Infinite in which there is a scene where a priest forces the player into water while they thrash around and gasps for air under the pretense of baptism. Visually, I was inspired by the famous Nirvana album cover where a baby swims underwater behind a dollar bill. I interpreted the scene from BioShock as similar to my theme so far, basically a negative outlook on religion. The game is focused on exposing the failures of institutional religion. Integral to the story is the critique of symbolic baptism. Not only, the story insists, is it entirely ineffectual at actually wiping away past guilt, it actually redirects the negative energy into something far more terrifying. Sans baptism, the player is a drunk. With it, he becomes a monster.
3. Describe the evolution of your piece. Decisions made. Compositional elements.
At first I was hesitant to paint a baby, fearing that it would make people uncomfortable or cause more controversy than if I painted a grown man. But the baby changes the meaning of my piece entirely. If I painted a man, then my message would be similar to that of BioShock, but in choosing a baby the meaning then becomes something I was alarmed about in my personal life. My sister and I were not baptized, but our 2 year old brother was. We were not raised Catholic, he will be. We were both disturbed by this, that he was forced into something without understanding.
All of my paintings so far have been centered. I wasn't so much focused on composition as I was just painting a portrait. This time, I chose to have the subject off center to make it more interesting to look at.
4. If you could consider doing something over, explain why you would do this and what you would do next time?
I would work more carefully and patiently. Often times I rush through it and I end up going back through it again and again because I was lazy before.
5. Elaborate on how this piece links with your other pieces? What is the common thread?
It links by portraying the catholic church and organized religion in a negative light, as well as being inspired by literature/stories.