Grade 12 - 2011 Woo Soon

Throughout my studies in Visual Arts my main interest has relied on the theme, death. I have used oil paints as my media of choice. At first I was not confident with oils due to lack of experience but I have always responded to rich color and textures, and these are most possible with oils. My third studio piece, “Oppressed” was my first attempt with oil on canvas, and it was a failure; I lacked experience, and poor quality of brushwork and color. Nevertheless, I developed my skills over the two year course and feel really satisfied with what I have been able to achieve.

At the beginning of the course, I researched five different artists from different cultures and analyzed two art works for each one. I also experimented with a variety of media, including oil paint, acrylic paint, etching and lino-cut. When it came to the decision of theme, there were plenty of ideas, but the final ones were, facing death/death and changing/transforming.

The topic of death was something interesting for me because we humans are all mortal and it is something that everyone has to face at some time, even though most people do not choose to think of this too often. Looking at death from different perspectives and cultures was the first step I took for this theme, and how different cultures tackle the subject death.

Researching ‘Ophelia’ (1850), by John Millais, is where I really became inspired by my theme, and  interested in death as a topic. I have enjoyed exploring the possibilities of the medium of oil paint. I like the idea that you can take a scene from a story and make it into a painting. I also like that way that despite planning, that paintings evolve almost on their own, with the painter as a facilitating onlooker.