Marley Chambers

Soledad High School

Junior

My artwork is a representation of unconditional love and respect. These two principles are what I find the most important in any relationship. My nephews, nieces, and my family are among those people that I practice this on. In my artwork, my nephew is hugged by a blanket of gold all while my mother and I stand in front of him protecting him from any harm. The choice behind my use of gold stems from the value I place on my relationships, the bond I have with my mother, my nephew, and even myself.

Acrylic paint has always been one of my favorite mediums. I get to be expressive with my painting and I get to practice interesting techniques. For example: The gold accents on the shoulders of me and my mother are made up of gold flakes and acrylic gold. The gold that surrounds my nephew is made up of texture from a metal palette knife. And finally, I paint in layers, meaning that I wait for sections to dry before going over them again.

I tend to be hasty and rush into my projects. I made a few thumbnails of my final artwork, then quickly transferred the final sketch to start right away. Making this artwork was quite difficult in the beginning. Even though I've gone through ups and downs throughout the process, I believe that what I wanted to represent shines through.