Back in April, I posted about “My Big Idea” for my final piece I was required to make for my European Tour Study course I took last semester. It has been over a month since the piece was shown in the AFA Gallery in Scranton. I never posted about my finished product yet and thought this would be the perfect time to write about it. Better late than never! I mentioned in “My Big Idea” post, Paris’s graffiti and street art caught my eyes most. I was truly inspired by every image I saw!
The photos below, are the top three that inspired my final piece!
Together these three photos lead me to this:
The Eiffel Tower is the main focus for my painting. Over the course of the trip, I went to the Eiffel Tower three times and this is coming from the girl who had no interest in visiting anything but museums the entire trip! I would have never thought I would fall in love with a tourist attraction but here I am completely in love and memorized! There was something so breathtaking about the Eiffel Tower whether I was there during the day or at night and that is why I wanted to incorporate lights. I wanted the tower to be portrayed in all its glory not only during the day but at night as well. I purchased small LED lights and scattered them across the tower behind my canvas. For my tower image itself, I wanted to portray a simple image. I did not want too much detail because when it came to the graffiti and street art, I saw line. Most of what I saw was done in black and white as well, that is why I made the decision to make the tower black. Underneath the tower is the bottom of a rocket ship. I chose this concept because for me when I think of graffiti and street art there is this imaginative quality, something that could not exist but if it did, it would be unbelievable or mind-blowing.
Around my Eiffel Tower rocket ship, I collaged bits and pieces of my “Heart Less” photo. I chose this photo specifically because it was in black and white and I loved the pattern within the letters. I also chose this photo because of the contradictory since Paris is referred to “the city of love”. In between the bits and pieces of the photo, I incorporated images of Paris from a plastic souvenir bag. I received the bag when I went to buy souvenirs for my family. The shop was right next door to the hotel, I went there maybe three or four times, the people who ran the shop were beyond friendly and kind! I wanted to pay tribute to their hospitality by incorporating pieces of the bag.
As for my color scheme, that came after my visit to the Aquarium Tropical de la Porte Doree. No matter where I visit, I always end up at some sort of aquarium. They are one of my favorite places to visit, I could stare at fish all day! There is something so calming and peaceful watching fish swim across their tanks. Viewing the one fish tank there, I knew in that moment I wanted to use the colors I saw. I just loved the vibrant pinks, greens, and purples! I included pieces of the photo as decorative elements on the rocket ship part of the tower as well.
Overall, I would say I am very happy with this piece. I would say I stepped out of my comfort zones and tried something completely new and out there. At first, I was not sure if I was going to be fully successful but I received great feedback from my family and friends and could not be any more thankful! Not only am I thankful for my finished product but also thankful for my experiences in Paris. I am happy I took that opportunity and do not regret a thing!
