donate life

I created this piece for the Donate Life competition, where I wanted to focus on candles and the light coming from their flame. One hand takes the old candle, replacing it with a new one, and finally, another lights the candle. 

I started with a paper sketch, then drew my idea down and came up with colors. Colors were big with this piece, because I wanted to give a warm and "fuzzy" sensation. The background gets warmer and warmer in tone as it closes in on the flame, or closer and closer to "a new organ". 

The light-to-dark background is supposed to resemble melting wax, just to tie the whole candle memo. I made one hand taking away the old candle, just like how someone could give a lung, or a heart when donating. The hand lighting of the candle is the hope that you give the person in need of an organ or tissue donation.