Painting 2

Emily Miller "Chained to Entertainment"

"9,12", Acrylic Paint, 2021

This is a painting of a person with a TV for a head with chains around their body. I got this idea because I really like TV and I thought painting an old static-y one would be cool but I knew I needed more to show that this symbolizes me so I added a neck coming out of the TV. First I sketched this and then I put it on canvas paper but with less detail. I drew the main basic shapes. Then I started painting the background. I got the idea for that while I was trying to go to sleep because I remembered it was just going to be blank and I didn't like that because this is supposed to be a lively painting so I added a lively background. Next, I painted the TVs inside first and worked my way to the outside. Afterward, I painted the back and tried adding shading I failed but Mrs. Dunleavey suggested an idea of adding chains to the neck which I thought would fit the symbolism and help cover up my mistakes so I did it. Then I added touch-ups and finished it. This artwork is my identity painting. It is supposed to symbolize how TV is a big part of my life. I love TV and I want to do so much with film as a career when I'm older. Sometimes it's a problem how much TV I watch because it used to get in the way of school and my social life but it's okay because TVs are great. The chains are supposed to represent how I'm always stuck with TV but there isn't a struggle in the painting because I'm okay with being chained and stuck with TV. The most difficult part was the Neck. I couldn't paint the skin tones right and the paint was drying way too fast to blend. I fixed it by just painting fast and blending with my finger then by adding chains overtop of it to take the focus off. If I could start over I would definitely make this on an actual canvas instead of canvas paper. I believe this is more of a surreal style of art. It's a lot more of just a me style though because of the way I make things look realistic but then at the same time not picture perfect. I love the way the TV static turned out.