Portal

If you came upon a portal to another dimension, where could it take you? What imagery would beckon you to enter?

I asked myself these questions while completing a painting last year. My friend Scott co-wrote a film and asked for my support in the art department. I was tasked with creating a painting - a portal - of mirrors with a view of the San Francisco Bay. This was a new muscle of creativity that I was exploring guided by the ideas of my friend and my own reflections.

One thing that made this project intimidating was that it is my first commission. Trying to capture someone else’s vision while staying true to my own expression was difficult. Not to mention that the art piece would be on camera!

I tried to personalize the idea of the portal as much as possible in order to eliminate any fear or anxiety over achieving perfection. Luckily, Scott was very welcoming of my ideas and direction, which made me feel relaxed.

The videos I recorded while painting are from August 13 to September 20, 2021. I used water based oils, with which I am familiar, and prepped my canvas, which is something with which I am not familiar. I did trial sketches and a test painting which I shared with Scott before I began.

Once I was ready, I tried to focus on the act of painting and do it in short bursts. It was hard to paint with a deadline. I probably would have worked on it longer with no finish! By the end, I felt confident in the image I was able to produce and that I was able to complete it in time for the shoot.