Linda Cala
New York, USA,
My Inspiration
The peony bushes in my backyard are a promise of light in winter, when I picture them under the frozen ground, still very much alive in their dark sleep. This vision carries me through the cold to that miracle day when tender stems break through ice and snow and new life begins again. This peony bloom struck me with its beauty; the way light shined through it and revealed an immeasurable depth of color and texture in its indescribable brilliance. I hoped to capture that fleeting moment of full bloom, when a white peony is transformed into a palette of infinite color with the purest of light at its source. No matter how dark, life is luminous. We all have that bloom in us.
My Design Strategy
My compositional and design strategies were about powerful simplicity. By pulling pastel, 18 x 18" in closer to the flower, the petals create a maze of abstract shapes and patterns that I find intriguing. I first examined the reference image in Photoshop, which allowed me to crop and edit to the desired size and composition. The peony fills the space intentionally so that the viewer feels welcomed into its beauty and softness. I left just enough of the dark background for the viewer’s eyes to weave in and out of the subject matter. I liked the dark, negative space because of how it is juxtaposed with the soft pastel color palette of the flower— an intentional choice that added mystery as well as high impact.
My Working Process
My working process begins by doing a detailed line drawing on Canson Mi Teintes paper in Sky Blue. I use Sky Blue because it’s a neutral that does not interfere with the values of the painting. Once I am happy with my line drawing, I work in smaller sections, breaking all shapes down into simple dark and light patterns. I build up the pastel in multiple directional soft passes to avoid compressing the tooth of the paper. I am striving for a smooth finish with a full range of values. I can see and replicate correct proportion, value and shapes by working in smaller sections. I use Derwent and Carbothello Stabilo pastel pencils because of their ability to smoothly fill the tooth of the paper.
Finalist
Contact Details
Email: calaart@gmail.com