I decided to paint my child’s face to look like a black and white photograph. Black and white photographs are of the period when I was growing up and it seems to be the medium of choice when portraying a poignant message.
Famine in Ethiopia : (1983-1985)
Image available at:
https://2020famineinethiopia.wordpress.com/
Life Magazine: Starving Children of the War in Biafra: (1967-1970)
Image available at: http://emeagwali.com/photos/biafra/template.html
Sexual Abuse Lawsuit News: Sexual Child Abuse: (2015)
Image available at:
http://fightforsexualabusevictims.com/child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-news
Every few weeks, it seems, there is yet another report involving sexual child abuse.
Bearing in mind Robin’s mantra of painting from dark to light, I chose the darkest skin tone on the online image and painted the whole canvas except for unpainted sections for the eyes nose and mouth.
Tricia Cottrell: Eyes: (2015)
Media: Acrylic on Canvas
Dimensions: 199.5cm x 258.75cm
Location: Artists Collection
Photograph: Tricia Cottrell (2015)
I had just finished painting the canvas when, to my astonishment, David suggested that I leave it as it was, commenting that “less is more.” The following day I had several more of the same comments. My own feeling was that if I had intended to leave the painting there I would have been a bit more careful with my brushstrokes which I felt were rather untidy. It was suggested that I leave it for a while and then go back to it and consider it again. This is exactly what I did and continued with the word stitching on my sheet canvas.
