Whale in Woods
I want to create a contrast in my painting. In this series of paintings, I am painting a sea animal on the land. Killer whale is an orca, it is a sea animal, it obviously cannot survive on the land. The main theme of the series of painting is to put something not from the place into the place.
Whale in Woods I, Oil on Wood
For this series of painting, Whale in woods, there are two main elements, the killer whale, orca and the forest. Whale in Woods I is the first painting of the series.
In the process of making the painting, I encountered a problem. For the painting, Whale in Woods I, it is my first time to try oil painting on wooden board. It felt totally different compared to painting on canvas. When I first tried oil painting, I painted on canvas, yet until I found wooden board, I gave it a try. The wood absorbed oil and paints much more than the canvas, at the same time it is drying much quicker. And that made it harder to blend the colours and create a gradient effect. Apart from that, since it is absorbing much oil and paints, it makes the colours appear not opaque. Continue with the painting, I gradually get used to the effect.
Whale in Woods I
I love the effect of how the wood soaks in the oil and paints. It has similar effects to digital art. Finding references of digital art, I love reading "The Art Books since 1949 ABRAMS". ABRAMS specializes in publishing art and illustrated books. The books contain beautiful and stunning visual art, sketches, graphic design, and photography. And most importantly how a movie is developed. I mostly took references to fantasy movie art, like 'The Art of Avatar'. I took lots of reference from the illustration of the scenery in the movies.
Working on the second paintings, Whale in Woods II, I added more oil than normally I would do. It created a similar effect like you are painting watercolour. In the beginning of painting oil paint on wood, I found it difficult to paint on the wood surface because there is a layer of white paint underneath which is matte. It was difficult for the oil paints to glide onto the surface and gave a solid appearance. I gradually built up more layers of paint. I found out that it appears better with great contrast. In both the first painting and the second one, I set the source of light behind the forest at the top right-hand corner, it created a great an in-depth view successfully.
Whale in Woods II
Whale in Woods II, Oil on Wood
Whale in Woods III
Whale in Woods III, Oil on Canvas
In this series of practice, I use killer whale orca as my self-portrait. Killer whales are independent animal. They usually appear with one or two at the same time. They look like independent but also seem to be lonely. I use orca as my self-portrait because I think I am an independent person too and I don't like being with a group of friends or people. Killer whales live in the sea but in my artwork, I put them in the forest. I see this killer whale being in the forest as me, being very confused and helpless. The killer whale is living in the wrong place and also being forced to be in the wrong place. I feel like I am being forced to live in this society, not belonging to this stressful city.
The whole series of art is a metaphor. To metaphorize life as forest, life as a trail in the forest. There isn't any re-built road in the forest, we walk our own path. A dark fantasy forest is full of imaginations. It is packed with adventures and unknowns as what life is about. If I need to put the three paintings in order, I would say, I, III, II. In the first painting, it is the first stage of me searching in my mysterious future in my life. The bright light in the top right-hand corner creates an effect of outside the forest with the whale start going into the forest and explore. In the third painting, I have the whale in the middle of the whole scene. There are parts of the robotic structure exposed from the inside of the whale's body. I want to emphasize the action of being controlled. And it is stuck in the floating mountains, which represents being confused, struggling in the middle of life. Finally for the second painting, although there is water for the whale, it is not the right water, not sea water. I found my way and hope, but I still worry about my future, still being frustrated.
I took references from artist Mads Peitersen, Dylan Cole; movie: Avatar.