Ripe
Evangeline F.
Acrylic on paper
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This piece was inspired by the idea of receiving opportunities only when you're ready for them. I incorporated the bananas to symbolize the idea of something being "ripe", that you've either worked hard enough that something is ready for you or its just landed in your lap. I painted the man in the center in an illustrative, art deco style with a determined look on his face. I wanted to portray him in this style because of the quintessential American-ness that I feel the art deco style has. In western and American culture, there is often an attitude that with enough work you can do anything, and I wanted to both contradict that idea and agree with it in this piece. The man's determination represents the part of life that is dependent on work, ambition, and drive, and the ripe bananas surrounding him provide the condition that no matter how hard you work, sometimes things only happen when they're supposed to. I chose to have red in the background because of the intensity it gives the painting. The hand behind him is meant to be a hand reaching up to the sky, potentially in a plea or in thanks.
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Creativity, to me, is an approach to life that prioritizes creation. Whether that creation is music, visual art, or dance, creativity is moving through life gathering inspiration that can result in something entirely new. Creativity is the fierce and untameable drive to give life to an idea.
