The hottest day of the third heatwave of 2024, 30 degrees out and 26 indoors. I've started work on painting, continuing work on 'She Just Looks Empty' from last year. Here's the original idea sketch:
I want to stick, as ever, to the original feeling and idea, but there are many influences and enhancements to the core mood of isolation, alienation. The little figures, initially simply gazing upon the broken 'building' figure, are now a couple, perhaps married life, or strife, a breaking point, but always a contrast, separate from the main figure like a memory or idea. Here is the underdrawing:
The top right has an orange (in my mind's eye) glow, here a toy rabbit; a symbol of non-human companionship, or a symbol of (social) fear.
I've prepared the canvas, and a copy for a colour study, and I made a lighting model from cardboard too.
It makes more sense to paint a few colour studies in one session rather than just one painting, so I may plan more works before proceeding. As far as goals go, there is no target (no competition or exhibition) for this painting.
