The Story behind the Artwork
This painting draws on the philosophy of yin and yang where light is understood through darkness. This is echoed in the splatters and interruptions of the yellow paint within the black, reinforcing that each element contains and defines the other. Within this, the work reflects the unknown when it comes to decision making, and once you have made a decision, meaning is found when you stick with your choice and choose to make it the right choice.
There is an instinctive interplay between the colours creating a dialogue of light and dark. The painting develops through continuous negotiation and blending, which each brushstroke responding to the last.
It was created through accumulation of confident decisions that are discovered and emerging through the process itself. In this way, the act of painting begins to mirror the act of choosing – moving forward without certainty, allowing one step to shape the next.
Visual elements
The figure is constructed through layering, interruption and reworking of the paint. The composition retains evidence of each decision that was made while painting, allowing earlier marks to remain present within the final piece.
The figure is only partially revealed, reflecting the tension of being mid-decision. It becomes about moving forward without seeing the whole picture. Taking the first step without getting overwhelmed by the whole staircase. In this sense the work reflects the instability of decision making, where you are continually negotiating with yourself, whether to make the jump or to stay in your comfort zone.
Meaning and intent
At its core, this painting explores the act of making a decision and choosing to stand by it.
We often wait for certainty before moving forward, but making the right choice usually has to be something we build through committing to that choice and putting effort into the choice.
The work connects to the act of decision making as a process of committing without complete clarity.
A decision becomes right because we choose to trust it, carry it forward, even when doubt remains.
If this piece acts as a reminder for you to stay with your decisions long enough to shape them into something meaningful, lets discuss bringing it into your home.
