I was contacted by a student named Roy who was writing an art analysis paper for a class. The assignment was apparently to choose the work they found most compelling from the student exhibition and write an analysis of it. Roy told me he had chosen one of my pieces, The Enlightenment, and wanted to know if there was any other information about it that he should know. I told him it was based on a photo and sent him a link to the photo, and asked him to send me the analysis when he was done. He did and he gave me his permission to post it. I found it very interesting to see how someone else views my work. I’ve only edited it to remove my last name (and in one place to replace my last name with my first name) for my own privacy.
Art Analysis – Katherine ——’s The Enlightenment
by Roy McClymont
In my opinion, the piece of art that stood out the most in the very impressive 24th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition at Kennesaw State University was Katherine ——’s painting – The Enlightenment. At a fleeting glance, this simply composed piece of oil on canvas appears to be nothing more than a portrait depicting a young boy holding a candle housed in a glass jar. However, upon further detailed scrutiny and analysis, this painting comes to life and reveals a depth of the imagination that far exceeds its apparent uncomplicated composition1.
One of the most striking features of this painting is the use of light, or lack of it in certain places. The negative space that envelopes the painting stimulates some anxiety to the observer as to what else is in the vicinity. However, the use of light as a focal point draws the viewer’s eyes across the canvas at the artist’s discretion in a calming and safe manner. The best analogy I can give for this phenomenon is the feeling you have as a child in a dark room – you instantly feel safer when you have a little light, no matter how meager or intense it may be. This stark black background that [Katherine] has constructed is contrasted with light that breaches a few areas to highlight some of the boy’s body parts. The strong but softly implied white light that the candle emits gently illuminates the boy’s hand, chest and face up to his hairline, leaving the viewer to contemplate or imagine many things from the colour of his hair to the thoughts that are penetrating his mind.
Although the painting has lifelike characteristics, many of the boundaries and outlines of the body are not precise. I cannot explain why this in fact works better for me than a flawless piece would, but the attention to detail in projecting the reflection of the candle in the boy’s eyes is the construct of an artist with considerable skill. Such subtleties gave me the impression that the artist was in full control of the piece, leaving the observer to ponder where their own gaze should be focused. Should it be directed on the boy’s face as his gaze is are firmly locked on the candle, or should it be on the candle that reveals the boy’s identity? This then leads to a question of the title – who or what is being enlightened; the boy by the candle or the candle by the boy?2 If the intent of the artist is to leave the observer with more questions about the piece than they had after their first glimpse, then it is job well done.
The title of the piece throws further internal debate into the mix. The Enlightenment both in title and construct suggests that the boy has learned something. The beauty of this title and the pensive look of the subject is that anyone can have an interpretation of what the boy is actually thinking about. I myself could give a thousand or more thoughts, but instead I will leave you with one. Is there more beyond the painting than we the viewer can see?
Note:
I managed to get in touch with the artist via email and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the painting was actually composed from a photograph. After seeing the photograph, I can safely say that the artist did a fantastic job in bringing the photo to life. In fact, I would go as far as saying that the painting is more life like than the photograph itself – it is very haunting to me indeed.
1 As an appreciator of art with very basic artistic skills, by no means do I believe or imply that creating such a painting is uncomplicated, but rather the medium and method used for composition is not complicated.
2 Without the candle there is no boy in the painting, but if there is no boy for the candle to light, then the painting is nothing but part of a dark abyss being lit by a solitary piece of light.
— 07:41:39 PM
[1071]
