Water Dragons (2023) Malerei von Velta Emīlija Platupe

“Water Dragons” were made, using splashes of hibiscus tea and henna, exploring the possibilities of natural pigments and combining them with watercolor and ink. Once again I used the image of my first model in the hospital. He rides and rests with friendly water creatures.
The occurrence of model - artist relationship can be linked to an ancient tantric practice of eye gazing1, which can be adjusted as respectful attentiveness, benevolent contemplation of other person. The artist respects and distinguishes emotional and physical traits with admiration and care while depicting it. It can help at moments when the model feels insecure or depressed about his/her appearance. It serves as a tangible proof of person's outer and inner beauty because it is perceived and captured on paper. The long and painstaking painting process itself serves as proof of worthiness of a model: children and teenagers in their darkest hours receive an evidence of their value and beauty as human beings. “Do you see what I see?” I ask, while the model ponders at the drawing. Their beauty goes beyond lost hair and changed appearances.
Sketches are made in watercolor and pastel techniques, in in 1 – 3 sittings, each sitting can last 10 – 60 minutes, depending on model's mood and state of health. Later I recreate these sketches in elaborate, monumental watercolors. I have chosen to adapt children's personalities as angels walking on the earth. As atavistic as a notion of angel may seem in the modern world, I and my models are living in the year of war, our bordering country is an unprecedented war aggressor and our artistic meeting takes place in a hospital: a barbarian target for many a missiles only a thousand kilometers away. Since there is enough suffering on the planet already if we can conceive any idea of irrational, divine, otherworldly appeasement then it is our right to use it, as artists, models and spectators.
.It is painted on 300 g/m² Arches watercolor paper and not framed.

Verwandte Themen

BoyPortraitContemporary PortraitWaterDragon