INNOCENCE

This portrait is my interpretation of innocence, purity, gentleness, beauty and humility.

I chose Mary for this story, but little did I know at the start where it would lead me. Initially I thought that this close-up portrait would be one of the easiest to paint since nine months before that I had the first painting of Mary “Mother’s Love” completed almost effortlessly.

 After a week of painting I began changing most features in order to achieve the most perfect interpretation of the close-up. And for the next three months, each day I was sculpting the face with layers and layers of acrylics.

 One morning as my studio lamps were lighting the portrait I almost fell off the chair. I quickly called my family into my studio to make sure that what I was viewing on the linen was not my imagination.

 Everyone did see what I was seeing: from the front Mary looked young, happy and uncommonly beautiful, however, by looking at her from the side she appeared much older, and tears with wrinkles covered her whole face.
Unintentionally, I created a holographic image because of the multiple layers of paint. I don’t know why this happened. Maybe for a manifestation of two different times in her life.

~ Akiane ~