Mirrored - Arnulfo Hernandez

Arnulfo Hernandez -

The two strongest art themes in my exhibition are contrast and harmony. In my art, I incorporate contrast in textures, color types, and by physically separating one part of the piece from the canvas. Starting this body of work I knew I wanted to make abstract art because I love how I can create contrast and harmony with shapes and colors.

The main piece in my body of work is “Primary”. This piece is a recreation of a work I made last year however that piece was created pretty fast and as a result, the lines were not as defined and were a bit sloppy. I still loved the piece because I liked how it made the viewer feel a sense of harmony. I also like how much contrast is in the piece because I used primary colors which all have a lot of contrast within them. The viewer’s eyes are not drawn to a certain part of the piece but are instead left to wander the piece and appreciate different parts of it separately. The two squares in the corners refocus the viewer’s attention into the center however because there is no focal point, the viewer’s attention begins to wander again. The sense of harmony is created with the shapes of similar sizes. Each color has one shape that is similar to it. There are the same amount of shapes for each color which helps create this effect. The black border around the piece helps make the piece more establishing and prominent within my works.

This year I wanted to make my works play with the feeling of imperfection. Many of my works have imperfections like tears or stuff meant to look like stains however these parts of my pieces give them a sense of completion. This central piece is what could be called the goal however we always end up with imperfections in what we do and most of the time it ends up making what we do better.

It is for this reason that “Primary” is the central piece in my exhibition. The way my exhibition is laid outputs emphasis on the central piece when you’re close to it however because of its size, the six surrounding pieces overpower it. This could be symbolic of how our work with imperfection often stands out from the rest and many times it can be better than your perfect work. The way the works are laid out also has a sense of balance and contrast to them. There are two works with neon colors and two works with a muted color palette. These are put on opposite sides of the central piece in my exhibition.

In my own opinion, “Melt” is the strongest piece in my exhibition. “Melt has the most contrasting layers out of all of my works. The color palette I used had a mix of neon colors and muted colors. The outside of the painting, the melting portion, is made up of neon colors on the top and the bottom and in the middle to balance it out and give some cohesiveness I added a color that is vibrant but not as muted. In the middle, I used a muted color palette and black and white to create contrast within the middle. The black and white stripes draw the viewer’s attention to the center of the piece. It also contrasts the baby blue background because it’s a very prominent and vibrant color combination. When this part of the piece is put with the rest of the melting piece even more contrast is created. The textures contrast each other because the outside of the piece has a lot of curves and the center of the piece has very clean straight lines.

In my work, I try to see in what ways I can manipulate the canvas and the colors to create varying textures and effects to create a lot of contrast but maintain the element of harmony and balance.

Primary, acrylic on canvas

This piece has a high level of contrast. The contrast is created through the use of primary colors and geometric shapes. The lines creating the shapes are very defined and prominent separating each color into its own area. The colors are primary which creates more contrast in the piece. The shades of color used are also variating creating even more contrast between the colors. The two squares have been cut diagonally to draw the viewer’s attention inward as there is no focal point to this piece.

Melting, acrylic on canvas, 35.5cm X 35.5cm

This piece creates contrast through the use of colors and by physically separating one portion of the piece from the rest. The color palette used for the outside piece is very neon and vibrant. This contrasts the inside color palette which is very muted and soft. The outside piece also uses very organic and flowing lines while the center uses very rigid, sharp, and geometric lines. The centerpiece is physically separated from the piece which makes it jump out at the viewer.

Scratches, acrylic on canvas, 35.5cm X 35.5cm

This piece creates a contrast between the colors, differing textures, and feelings in the brushstrokes. The colors used for the background are semi vibrant but mostly light. Although the brushstrokes are black, they are still very prominent because the colors in the background are light. There is more contrast created in the calmness of the background created by the colors and cleanliness and the aggressive and disorganized fashion of the black brushstrokes.

Dunes in the Desert, acrylic on canvas, 35.5cm X 35.5cm

This piece depicts a pristine desert landscape. The vast dunes make the viewer feel lost and alone. The sun in the piece is very fiery and vibrant contrasting the dead feeling a desert has. This piece has no main focal point which makes the viewer feel even more lost and with a desire to search for something to keep their attention.

Puddle of Water, acrylic on canvas, 35.5cm X 35.5cm

This piece creates contrast by using lighter shades within the spot in the center. The shapes in the painting are very geometric however the spots are very organic and loose. The focal point of the piece is the center spot. The half of the shape not contained within the spot is made of colors that are vibrant but still a darker shade than the rest of the shape which still draws the viewer’s attention outward. The contrasting shapes create a relaxing feeling for the viewer.

Shattered, acrylic on canvas, 35.5cm X 35.5cm

This piece creates contrast in the shapes used and emphasizes the background by using bright colors. The outside shapes are geometric which contrasts with the inside shapes which are very organic. This color palette is relatively muted however what’s meant to stand out in the piece are the cuts that bring out the piece’s inner design.

Still Water, acrylic on canvas, 35.5cm X 35.5cm

The scenery in this piece is serene and calm with some elements of contrast. The blue used is very dark however there are lighter spots giving the piece a sense of movement. The grey sky is very dark and solid. These contrasting textures build on the contrast of the moon which is a vibrant reddish-orange. The tear in this piece is highlighted by the reddish-orange filling it in. The moon and the tear are the most prominent parts of this piece due to their contrast with the muted background.