Work in Progress - THE BEACON

NOTE : This concept is the subject of the April Idea Development video for $5 patrons and up, which include commentary on my thought process and decision making.

You can watch the video here : https://www.patreon.com/posts/82102231

This concept riffs on 2 of my favourite themes ; fire, and hollow people. 

It is a variation on my Kindling painting from 2019 (below), a piece I have had a soft spot for since I created it.  

I then created this small series of Daily Doodles (below), centered around a flower of fire.

The idea of a "flower Of fire" turned into a "flower ON fire" in my Ardent painting (below) :

And rather than the person catching fire, they are now melting.

All of this culminated in me exploring this new piece, The Beacon, in my video of the month. 

(Timelapses of me creating the 4 above images are included in the video)

I am planning to paint this piece very soon, as I am part of a show at Beinart Gallery later this year and would like it to be the piece for that show.

I talk more in depth about this in the video, but the more I explore the meaning behind this image, the more it becomes apparent that it is about friendship for me.
The flower I chose to paint is peonies, which can symbolise romantic and non-romantic relationships.
I struggle a lot with feeling worthy of my friends' affections, and I shy away from taking the space I should take in my relationships. I let myself effectively melt away so that I give as much room to my loved ones as I can, which in turn negatively impacts the depth of my relationships with them.

I think this piece is me exploring those emotions and behaviours, and trying to come to terms with the detrimental habits I have implemented in my life throughout years of people-pleasing and confrontation avoidance.

I look forward to painting it, it will be a challenge, but a cathartic one I think. 

Thank you for reading!

I would love to hear what you think of this piece and how it makes you feel.

I hope you are well, 

All my love,
M