I created this new piece, “The What If Plant” for the What If? Art and Design exhibition.

This show is a curated collaboration between the University of Oregon and TEDxPortland. In keeping with the mission of TED, the exhibition showcases work that mines the territory between art, design, technology and science in popular culture.

The artwork will be generously donated and auctioned online at The Portland Mercury for TEDxPortland to benefit the Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP) starting April 4.

Opening reception: Thursday, April 4th, 6-9pm at The White Box Gallery

http://whitebox.uoregon.edu/

https://www.facebook.com/events/494080880658307/

The theme of this years TedxPortland talks are, “What If?” so I wanted to create a piece that commented on the idea of changing your perception.

The “What If Plant” is about recalibrating your reality. When you get locked into a singular view of the world you get stuck in routines and you loose sight of different viewpoints and possibilities. A subtle shift in your outlook can lead to problem solving, discovery and enlightenment.

I chose the symbol of the plant to represent growth and rendered the leaves to look like closed eyes. They represent routine and monotony and the idea that you can’t keep doing the same thing and expect to achieve different results. The single, bright green colored leaf with the open eye represents how that subtle shift in your perception can lead to great things.

Process:

• I began drawing a bunch of rough thumbnail sketches until I had decided on an image and composition I wanted to take to final.
• I prepped a birch panel with several layers of gesso. Once it was dry I created an inky wash for my background.
•  I traced my drawing on two pieces of vellum and covered the back of the drawing with charcoal in order to transfer my image to the wood panel.
• With acrylic paint I painted in the flat blocks of color on the pot and plant and then later came back with black acrylic ink for the fine line work.
• I finished off the piece by painting the sides black and white.
• Scanned it before I coated it with varnish.
• All done and onto the next one!