Seasons

Thoughts

This piece was born from a sense of calm—a moment of stillness I wanted to preserve. It was also the beginning of the summer holidays, so that makes sense! The woman's expression is composed, her face marked by flowing shapes and colour. I didn’t fully understand those swirls when I painted them, only that they needed to be there. In hindsight, they feel like the first signs of something shifting.

Around her, the flowers bloom in rich colour, but their thorns reveal tension beneath the surface. The arrangement isn’t harmonious—it’s vibrant, yet uneven. This is a precarious peace. A season of beauty, but also of uncertainty. There are many different flowers that would have bloomed at different times. This moment of stillness might be a chance to reflect and tend to the flora in her mind. Most teachers will be able to relate to pushing all problems or other life things that require attention until after the school year ends. The calm isn't real everything else is just waiting gathering weeds.

Considering that I painted Ni Vida, Ni Muerte next - I see Seasons as the moment just before transformation begins in earnest. It captures the stillness before the unraveling, the grace before surrender.

Process

I found some canvas boards for sale very cheap, so I thought I could give this material a try. Usually, I shy away from canvas as it's so much more exposed - a sketchbook is easier to shut away. This one "goes with" my other piece, Ni Vida, Ni Muerte. 

I began by sketching in the main elements, then using Posca markers to block in colour. I was looking to achieve some more subtle shading and rendering on the main face but this is difficult to achieve with limited colours. I like that it almost looks like a heat signature. I debated what to do with her cheek/jaw line but eventually add more hair to break up whis space.

When the colour was done, I realised I didn't like the lack of contrast. It meant the different areas of the piece were harder to pick out. I used Copic markers, specifically the toners, to add darker areas and a gradient in the background. The markers reduce the saturation of the colour helping the areas that I wanted to pop stand out.