Senior Portraits

Artist Statement

It is interesting how someone presents themselves with the knowledge that a camera is present in comparison to it being a candid shot. Each individual wants to be shown in a positive light. However, by being aware of the camera, people use poses and facial expressions that are flattering to them. Additionally, their hand gestures could be interpreted as awkward and self-aware. Fitting into the age of contemporary art, I integrated both the realistic subjects and non-figurative backgrounds. Each individual in the series is a student at GW and through the connections I have formed with my sitters, they impacted and touched me in different ways. Due to the effects of the unprecedented COVID-19, the momentum and environment to complete my artworks drastically changed. Instead of finishing my paintings in a large, communal space with other student’s studios and the support of peers and professors in person, I transitioned to an isolated floor in my house in order to continue my work and online learning. Since the order of shelter in place was communicated, I only interacted with my classmates and professor through video chat to receive feedback and suggestions. The six paintings on canvas are 72in.x 40in in scale. The final images I chose were projected directly onto the canvas and traced in graphite. I want to impact the viewer not only with scale, but with style and a sense of naturalism