Ever since I was young, I have had a problem with color. Not that I can’t see it. My vision prevents me from seeing detail, not color. I grew up in a very bland family though. We didn’t choose clothing by appearance but by function and durability. So, sure, I grew up wearing a lot of blue denim, non-white clothing, but really just a lot of greys, blues and black.
Perhaps because of that it’s no surprise that I also like those colors. However, as I ventured out into the world I met more and more people who wore different colors either from stylistic choices, ethnicity, or creed. For a long time though I still very much wore the same color palette.
To call it what it was, I dressed very much boring.
Over time though I realized that color was one of the best, cheapest, and most portable ways to express your true personality and individualism. Color is an amazing tool for expression and can even be used to manipulate people for good, or bad. It’s pwerful.
I’m always at war with myself. I still have a rather bland, utilitarian perspective but I do try and use color more. This is what I was thinking of when I started this painting. Then, as I worked, I started thinking of a friend of mine in Malaysia who’s avatar is extremely colorful and very distinctive. Sure, I could adopt a color palette similar to theirs and it would be neat but it wouldn’t be me. So, I try to work more color into my life but it is a struggle.
This internal conflict is why this painting is the way it is. I intentionally did not use any black any white that is in the painting is showing through from the canvas itself, I did not apply it in an attempt to avoid the extremes.
Anything else you see in the painting, well, I am just going to keep you guessing. I did this painting to be colorful and expressive, that doesn’t mean that it can’t also be mysterious.
