Figurative Painting

Out of all of the artists in the article, I was the most drawn to Jordan Casteel's work. I like that she creates her art through experiences from her own life and what she has witnessed. 

"I am most interested in sharing sensitive, humanistic, and honest stories of my community." - Jordan Casteel 

I like how detail oriented her work is and I can relate to that. The small details like the Nike swoosh on the boys' shoes and the tattoos on the older male's chest really caught my eye. I also really love the style this painting is done in. The figures are quite realistic, but their skin tone is very unnatural and I find this to be very intriguing. The blue skin tone and the expression on their faces gives this piece a somewhat upsetting vibe. The direct eye contact between the figures and the viewer also gives off a sense of disappointment. My favorite part of the piece is the little monster that the boy is holding. I love how Jordan captured the texture of the monster's fur as well as the texture of the carpet. 

I think I'd like to try her approach to painting. When painting with acrylics, I often try to get the colors as blended and smooth as I can. I like how Jordan allows for the brushstrokes to be visible and not completely blended, especially on the values of the skin. I think she has some really beautiful value work in this piece and I want to further play with my use of value and depth.