Critiqued Assignment #3: Not Flat / "Altar of Me"

Abstract

This is a digital photograph of Charlotte Sechrist's mixed media artwork. It was submitted as the third critiqued assignment, "Not Flat," on April 4, 2017, in Erin Harmon's Intermediate/Advanced Painting class. The student's artist statement for this work reads: "A veil that is painted a gradient of blue, so that the top remains white while the bottom is navy, conceals a self portrait. The portrait is meticulously painted, and rests on a circular board. However, the veil conceals this portrait to the extent that the viewer can no longer see any details. The remaining portion of the board not concealed by the veil is painted in circles. The circle around the head is gold, referencing a halo. The second circular layer features plants painted in a dark green, almost sage hue. The final circle, at the edge of the board, features pearl like circles painted in a folk art fashion resting upon a blue background. All of this together creates a self reverent self portrait that simultaneously feels holy and mysterious. It gives the impression that the portrait is hiding, or has been hidden. The symbolism offers hints as to why the veil is covering the face, but the viewer is free to come to their own conclusions."