My first attempt at steampunk. Just wanted to try something a little different than just a face or figure. It was fun, so I might try it again.
About the Process
Arches 300 lb. cold press.
- Quinacridone gold
- Quinacridone dark gold
- Quinacridone purple
- Scarlet Lake
- Prussian
Full sheet. 22″ wide x 30″ high.
I know, right? Very blurry and dark. Not a lot of details, so I had to use a lot of imagination to finish her.
I had to do an artist statement with this one, in order to enter it into a competition. (I really hate writing these.) But here it is:
I’ve always been fascinated with the visual imagery and rich colors of the steampunk genre. During a trip to Europe late last year, I took a photograph of this beautiful young lady in her Victorian dress, and immediately began to envision a new setting for her.
The limited palette of dark reds and purples, golds and blues were purposely selected to evoke the richness of the era. By first placing her against a richly patterned motif reminiscent of 19th century wallpaper, and then creating borders that echoed the embellishments adorning the dress bodice and linear features of her skirt, I further emphasized the antique and fantastical aesthetics that embody the genre.