The Fire Within

Pencil Crayon and Mixed Media

by Jessica
Grade 12
Ross Sheppard School

Teacher: Peg McPherson

Artist’s Statement

I am Jessica, a Ross Sheppard visual arts student currently in the international baccalaureate program. The piece completed is based on the theme of fire. In completing this project, various mediums were used. Watercolour paper was the paper used and pencil crayons, modeling paste, water soluble graphite and watercolour pencil crayons were the mediums.

Previously, I completed a set of mannequin pictures using pencil crayons and I really loved them. This inspired me to do another piece involving these art mannequins. However this time I wished to try a twist to the mannequin. Since I drew a glass mannequin for the cover of my set last year, I wanted to try doing another one this time. The idea of trying to get a ‘glassy’ effect took some time to think of since I didn’t want the colours to be overpowering or too subtle. At the same time, I also thought of having the fire channeling through the glass mannequin. This provided another challenge! I wanted the fire to look contained and not just like it was stuck between two lines; I wanted the roundness of the mannequin’s body and the excitement and spontaneity of fire. The skeleton of the painting was not originally planned to be in the mannequin. Nor were the colours supposed to be like my mannequins I drew last year. However, that’s how it ended up and I think it works. Originally I was thinking of doing just an empty glass mannequin body, but that didn’t seem to have much depth, therefore I drew the skeleton.

The fire outside the mannequin that engulfs the left side (when viewing) of his body and is channeled through his body (or hers!) was a lot of fun to do. I love the modeling paste. It gives such a unique texture that I can shape and spread anywhere. It makes me just want to touch the painting. Acrylic paint was layered on to the dried modeling paste. Originally the fire was a bit of a dead and drab red fire. I totally forgot what fire looked like! However, after waiting a little bit then layering more yellows and oranges on top of the red fire, it came alive and my fire was complete.

Through out the mannequin’s body, fire is channeled through using water colour pencils. I didn’t like it much because I thought the colours looked a bit dead and not lively enough. At the very end of the mannequin’s flame is a blue heart. I wanted to make a lighter blue heart because the hottest flame is blue, and I wanted to show that when you love someone, it’s like a very hot flame — the hottest flame one can hold in one’s heart.

I learned so much from this project. Different mediums and new mediums were discovered and put to the test. They all passed. Also the effect of glass in a painting/drawing was taken away from this experience. I plan to learn more ways in illustrating the characteristics of glass in future projects. Thank you!