Language

Series of 3 12x12"

Acrylic on canvas

Here is the audio: 

(If you can't open it, it is of people whispering and gossiping, I emailed it to everyone)

The artwork is acrylic paint on a 12x12" canvas. The lettering was all done by hand.

Overall, I wanted to piece to depict how words are used harmfully and how many people underestimate the power of their words. I painstakingly painted words that people have told me/called me that affected me. Each one took at least ~3 hours of active work. The exactness and the fact that those rude words are painted on canvas (usually meant for more upscale, or elevated art), demonstrates how people cover up or look over their words. Often the people who say bad things but the people who hear them are affected for long periods of time. This aspect is reflected in how it took me so long to paint the words, it demonstrates how we keep remembering and are obsessed with/keep being haunted by the harsh words which people say to us. The audio is supposed the make the audience feel like they are in the moment the words are being said, and make them feel almost paranoid.

I was supposed to also paint another one which says "we're only friends because we're being nice" on a dark green background, but due to the amount of time it took to paint the other 3 I was unable to finish it. I will most probably finish it this coming week or the following week and add it to the collection. I think what is interesting about this piece is that you can keep adding to it. Almost like a diary/log of all the hateful things that people have said.

Here is my process:

First I started by planning the words and deciding how I wanted to write them on the canvas.

 

I then painted the canvas the color I wanted it to be. I decided on using more muted colors so they don't take away from the words.

I then used a pencil or chalk pencil to draw lines (so I write in a straight line) and boxes (so I space the letters correctly. At first, I drew the words and painted inside the lines, but on the second and third painted, I did not draw any guidelines (for the letters themselves) and freehanded the words. I found that they came out much neater and precise this way. I used a chiseled brush and a small stubby brush.