Sorcery
Latisha W.
Acrylic Paint, Gouache
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In my piece “Sorcery”, I’m exploring the ways children perceive the world through the merging of reality and fantasy. Through the use of a mirror, I wanted to depict the imagination of children in a seemingly mundane environment, as they tend to find beauty in things that may seem insignificant. Instead of viewing it as a simple bathroom, the child has turned it into a place for experimentation and enchantment with their daydreams. I further emphasized this with the contrast of the warm, saturated scene in the mirror with the more dull and monochrome aspects of reality. I utilized acrylic paint and gouache to not only bring out the bright and saturated colors of fantasy, but also intentionally used looser brushstrokes to represent the simplicity of childhood. In addition to depicting childhood experiences, I also want the viewer to engage with the work in a child-like way. Inspired by books such as I Spy, I intentionally hid specific objects around in my work for the viewer to search for. In this work, there are a total of six ducks for the viewer to find. I hope the audience has as much fun engaging with the work as I did with creating it.
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Art and creativity helps me connect with my childhood self, as I am able to freely express my emotions and create my work with a sense of playfulness and curiosity. It brings me into a world full of joy and grabs my attention for hours on end.