BLOGPOST FOR SI#2: EXTRA! EXTRA!

Temptation of Saint Anthony

183 cm x 121 cm 

72" x 48" 

2018

Urethane and acrylic binders, pigments in dispersal water, dry iridescent pigments and resin on panel.

sold

Singer

2022

83.5 mb

6848 x 8172

300 dpi png

Seed Bank

152 cm x 91 cm

60" x 36"

2020 - 2022

urethane and acrylic binders, pigments in dispersal water, dry iridescent pigments and resin on panel

Bruce Riley creates psychedelic, abstract paintings that resemble cellular structures. This is shown by the free flowing, unrestricted shape of the colors he paints, alongside spheres. He uses very vibrant colors in order to push forward this psychedelic and wondrous feel to his pieces. It creates a contrast between what is real (cellular structures) vs. what is not (the vibrancy of the colors)

His work could inform my next project because for my next project, the central idea is being groomed on the internet. Grooming is when an older individual on the internet preys on a young, impressionable child on the internet. I wanted to represent this through a computer virus - most people gain viruses because they click on a program they assume to be benevolent, until it attacks their entire software. Most computer viruses work by tracking and keeping confidential information of the people it attacks. This is similar to grooming because a child encounters an adult on the internet, expecting them to be a source of comfort and solace due to age. The groomer takes advantage of this and ends up most likely keeping sensitive information against the child for blackmail. I want to show this computer virus metaphor in an abstract way instead of the literal malware. In order to do this, I wanted to represent it through mold abstract artwork I found - the spores attach onto a victim and it spreads all throughout. Bruce Riley’s work is the most representative due to its resemblance to cellular structures, how abstract it is, and how free flowing it is. I want to replicate this style to make the mold art I want to create.

Here are some attempts I made to replicate Riley's art style with an eyedropper! I used the eyedropper to create spherical shapes with watercolor. Afterwards, I had to learn the perfect consistency to create the form of a figure after I made the background.

It was difficult at first - my paper often got too wet and bended after I tried to draw the figure. However, I learned to wait for the background to dry a bit so that I could draw the person.

First attempt! I loved the colors but not so much the water pooling at the end, affecting the left half of the piece.

Second attempt. LOVED the vibrancy and fusion of colors in this one. However, I don't like the pooling of the colors into black.

Third attempt. This time I tried to draw a figure. I wanted more variety of colors in the background.

Fourth and favorite attempt! Really started to flesh out circular shapes for the cellular resemblance.