Shoes, Oil On Paper
by Bryce Darrow
About the Artist
My name is Bryce Darrow and I am currently a Junior at Laguna College of Art + Design. The chair of Fine Art Hope Railey informed me that Quirk was now offering to accept National submissions. I am so grateful for this opportunity. Painting is more than my passion, it is my life and I am honored to share what I have made with you.
Interview With The Artist
What inspired you to create this piece? At the time I was painting "Shoes" I was doing a series of 1 to 2 day paintings. The paintings were based on normal things I would see going through my daily life. I try to paint normal things in an interesting and new way, I hope I can provide the viewer with a new appreciation for those things.
How did the color scheme and layout play a role in creating this art piece? I think that the color scheme I chose plays into the nostalgic feeling that the painting has. I was trying to convey the shoes as worn out and well-used. I think that the composition is simple and inviting. I like that as a whole almost resembles a "W" shape which I think makes the painting welcoming and easy to look at.
How does this artwork represent your background? This painting represents my background because I've been painting shoes for quite a long time. There is a long tradition of painting shoes in the fine art community. I think that shoes tell the story of what you've been up to and where you've been. Shoes don't lie and that is what I find endearing about them.
Why showcase this piece in a painting rather than a photograph? For me personally, I don't like that the camera does all the interpretation. I think the interpretation is up to me as the artist. I like being present in the moment and the high risk/high reward that goes with it. I think this is what I truly enjoy about painting, it is the ultimate payoff for me.
How does the lighting in your painting contribute to your art piece/story? I think that the simple lighting adds a level of honesty to the piece. For this painting I wanted to have a clear yet simple lightsource. I like that the lightsource is left up to the imagination and isn't included into the composition. This adds a bit more to that mysterious quality I talked about earlier. Which I find is so valuable in my paintings.
Editorial Notes:
“This art piece . . . makes me wonder what this painting is portraying within . . .”
“[The] shadows are amazing . . .”
Team Judgment:
We believe this artist did an excellent job in theme, execution, content, and craftsmanship.