Painting 2

Olivia Lopez "Blossom Your Battleground"

16in x 20in , Acrylic and Book Pages, 2024

My idea was to create something that captured the beauty and the courage of all women. But it was also to shine light on some of the discrimination that women faced in the past that maybe still happen today. I got the inspiration from a lot of different factors. Others art, the books I used for pages, and just my own ideas in my head. 

So I just worked day by day, I didn't have a timeline for when I wanted to finish things or even when it was done. I just kept adding and adding things until I felt that it was done and I couldn't make it better. I did the background and all the painting first then layered the pages on top of that around the edges. After that was done I decided to put gloss overtop instead of keeping it matte. After adding the gloss it still felt like something was missing so I did a slight trim of sliver metallic paint around the book pages where they meet the painting and then added my signature and it was done. 

The art is supposed to relate to all of the issues that women of all different sizes, colors, and background face and what they faced back then with racial discrimination and sexism. The book pages I used are from a women's history book and they are all about women of color, female health, and just overall things that women have had to overcome in the past and still have to overcome today. 

I'd say the most difficult part of this painting was finding out where I wanted to place everything and what I even wanted to put into this painting. I had to really keep the flow just going so that I didn't get stuck on one pice of the painting. If I could restart or change anything I would fix placements of the pages and just center the woman a little more and maybe change some colors around. 

I wanted this art piece to have a surreal and kind of abstract feeling. It isn't very abstract but does have a lot going on which was another thing that I wanted for this painting. I am very happy with it, I love the flowers and how they add a very bright pop of color all over instead of it being dull and lifeless. Overall I think it turned out great and I really love it.