Spring

[tadams]

MY IMAGE(S):



GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Spring
Year Created: 2002
Medium: Acrylic
Surface: Paper
Dimension: 14x20 inches
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
This is one of a series of Four pictures representing the seasons.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
general comments please which will help me grow and develop
thanks in anticipation

[Helen Zapata]

I like the textures, and the colors. Very much!

The figure is nice, although I'm not sure why she's there. But what bothers me is the fact that she has no head. (just my little quirk) And although the pose is well executed, I think personally I would prefer something a little more dynamic then simply an upside down U. It leaves me wondering "Why" she's there and seems to only detract from the rest of the piece.

Helen

[jnet11]

i concur with charley about the missing head, for me, it is like saying 'this woman's good for nothing but her body'.

i adore the colors and texture, though

did you do leaf prints, or are those actual leaves painted over?

[tadams]

THe leaves are real feng shui skeleton leaves and the image and colours painted on top.

This picture is one of four representing the four seasons and all are without heads the reasoning behind this is that I wanted to avoid all associations with individualisation, as nature and the seasons have many faces, however if one looks at the texture in all of them a sugestion of the head can be made out. although I have to admit not always obvious.

The concept as suggested by Jeanette is not one that had occured to me, and as it has been thought, I feel the need and would like to apologies.

[jnet11]

no apologies neccessary ... just what it 'says' to me

I see your point too, about negating individualism; although I must confess it's not much more appealing

feng shui skeleton leaves? I must know what those are, would you elaborate?

[tadams]

Not sure that I can feally the leaves are aold over here as Feng Shui leaves and consist of only the veins when I saw them I though that they would make an interesting texture upon which to paint on and that proved to be the case but are abrasive and brush hungury.

Shall try and find out more information and shall let you know.

[henrik]

I also have trouble with the symbolism. I see a two legged feamle body with one arm and no head in a position suggesting submission painted over falling(?) leaves juxtaposed with a nursery room rainbow design. The foot and hand are claw like.

I do not associate this with "spring" - more like "you live and then you die - and there ain't much fun in between" - rainbow childhood, birth, yellow - sunshine, life, then autumn - falling leaves - mutilation - dyfunctional body - submission - death.

Disturbing, and quite depressing.

[Keith Russell]

Greetings:

My first question is: how archival are those leaves?

I like the illusionality of the body, but I want more detail--and I agree that she needs a head.

I agree that I don't understand what this pose has to do with 'spring'...

Keith.

[Brooke]

I'm having trouble with her thighs. She seems thin - arms, lower legs, torso. But then she has these huge thighs. To me, they look more masculine, kinda like they are on the wrong body. I think they should be thinner and have more shape. The back leg doesn't appear to have a knee.

However, I love your technique. It draws me in and makes me want to look longer.

[tadams]

Thanks all for your comments, as you will have realsied by now this is my first attempt at this critique business and I have found comments enlightening useful and constructive. It has made me realise art is indeed universal and speaks to us all in different ways.

I am not sure if this helps at all but here is the original brief and what was going through my thought process in it interpretation

Represent the four seasons with the use of a figure.

In Spring I have tried to represent the re-awakening (emergence) of the new life symbolised by the figure, from the long sleep of winter blanketed by the earth streatching excited and yet, scared to finally let go clinging onto the last remembered comfort afraid to make that final transformation the metamorphosis into the fulfilment of summer.

Once again thanks to all who have contributed you are appreciated.

[CynthiaKelly]

While I understand your objective in making the head a mere suggestion, I think you could develop it just a bit more without defining it so much that it created an individual facial image. And why is she wearing high heels?