“Acceptance”

After “The Bad Guy” portrait was complete. I saw another art contest that caught my eye. So I began to brain storm…

The Concept/Source

Creating the concept of the portrait was rather challenging. Nothing too crazy, but did not come to me until one late night. Something woke me up, and the idea hit me like a freight train. The fully realized concept was me looking into the mirror; my “true self” was on the other side. So I quickly wrote that down. I also wanted to show the two different worlds of the Western straight world vs. the colorful free LGBT+ world. I separated both sides by the saturation. You see me just coming out of the shower on the black and white side or grayscale. Then on the opposite side, you view who I will or want to become. Thus separating the boring everyday life, and the more exciting and thrilling side of life.

Halfway Point

Once I had this concept and source. I knew it was time to start. I wanted to paint with oils. However oil paints are not my strong suit, but I wanted to do something different. To not only push myself as an artist but also push my art itself. After seeing the final result I knew that I’d achieved my goals.

At this point on the right, I was about halfway done. I had about 12 hours sunk into the piece. Now the contest had a rule that a still life had to be included, so I thought that all the bottles and items on the countertop would work. I did however want the main focus to be mainly on myself. Plus I liked the visual. The balance of Grayscale and Color catches your eye. It also pulls the focus which was my goal.  

The whole process was straightforward, and I enjoyed every step of the way. I had a couple of issues with the slow drying but found a mineral that sped the process up much faster. Painting with oils takes way too long to dry, but it also allows the artist to blend colors. Years ago in high school, I used to hate oil painting for this very reason. I was, and am, a very impatient person. I found my way through it. As I was finished I forgot about a small detail in the door handle, but just as Bob Ross says “That’s a happy accident…”

“Acceptance”

Winsor and Newton Artist Grade Oil Paints, Oil Mediums and Gamsol, Acrylic White Gesso, and Oil Paint Brushes.

I sat looking at the painting for a while. I then decided the handle shouldn’t be there. I mentioned earlier one of my main concepts. Now after finishing it. I believe there’s a second concept that developed after painting. Which was since the door handle wasn’t there, then my “true self” couldn’t be free in this boring Western straight world. Now I don’t want people to think that I forgot about the door handle, and then made all this up. I’m going to be fully transparent, I was going to take the time to paint it on. I then just sat there and said "It doesn’t belong there…” I do accept myself for who I am as a gay man and as an artist, but in my life, some people don’t accept it and fully believe I’m still straight just because I act straight.

At the end of the day, I truly love this piece, it’s one of my first oil paintings ever. Plus this concept of “Acceptance” is very near and dear to my heart. It’s now a part of me. The question is, do you accept it? If not, that’s not my problem.

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“The Spiritual Sir”

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“The Bad Guy”