Sorry for the poor quality photo, everyone - glossy paint can be hard to photograph under fluorescent lights. ;p

This is the second of the two paintings I was assigned to do for my final in my Painting II class. We were asked to paint representations of a personal ritual, and while many individuals chose more traditional themes (preparing for the day, sleep and dreams, etc.), I went a little.. er, off the beaten path. The description behind this image is under the copyright info, if you wish to know my intentions behind the various imagery.

Yuck, what a huge mess of a painting! In the final critique, the teacher said that it does not quite flow compositionally, and I completely agree, though this one seems a bit more finished. I personally feel 'done' with it, though, so I do not think it will be rendered any more than it is now - this whole theme I have here could be done over in various paintings for years and still not say what I want it to in the most clear and efficient manner. : ) This is definitely something that could rather be explored over a long span of time.

First painting (Social Anxiety): http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6980837/

Acrylics (some areas like the close-up heart painted with gel retarder as well), 18 x 24 canvas.

Art by S.Dziezyk/LeccathuFurvicael 2011. Do not redistribute, copy, alter, etc., any portion of this image without permission from me, the artist.

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Artist's Definition

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I chose the ritual of engaging in social experiences/with others and the self-doubt and analysis that I partake of either during the process or after the process of being in public spaces with the potential for interaction with those who find me interesting. This painting looks at the inner psyche in consideration of social interaction, my more thoughtful, observant side compared to the outward aspects of social interaction (seen here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6980837/ ). This is more like a scenario when I am alone and thinking over my own behavior patterns, and whether or not to change them.

The individual examining the heart is pretty straight forward and is more of a literal interpretation of 'examining one's core', while the dragon in the background stands guard (my mental 'defenses' and detached aspects of my self) and watches for activity in the outer world (shown by the window, the plane between my inner self and the world around me), where two shadowed figures try to look in (potentially friends, or those who want to know more about what goes on in my head).

In the lower left corner, a close-up view of the heart in question, which is found to be plated with metal - a literal interpretation of my own guarded self, though if this were a few years ago I would have plated the entire heart, perhaps.

A subtle detail is the one finger slowly lifting one of the metal plates, pondering whether or not to remove it entirely.

Yay for killing the reader's interpretations by over-explaining things! XP