Watching It All End

Looking at Illusionist Surrealism work I was captivated by Max Ernst and his destructed post-apocalyptic dreamscape paintings he made using “decalcomania” technique. I was interested in the reoccurring theme of destruction, devastation, and human ignorance seen in surrealism, along with the use of symbolic imagery. I processed and researched how I would go about making my artwork. I came up with the idea of the Asteroid and how it is seen as a conduit of destruction, but an asteroid is also given credit for the rise of the mammals and eventual evolution of Humans. I wanted to create a scene of an Asteroid about to make impact with the planet. I decided to make the scene of the Asteroid coming in over the ocean because the Ocean is a place that man does not inhabit, cannot survive in, and is still largely unexplored. Humans need water to survive and it is what gave us life. But, the salt water that covers most of our planet is undrinkable because it would dehydrate our bodies and eventually kill us. So, something that is symbolic of life can also bring us death. I wanted it to feel like there was nothing that could be done because the ocean cuts you off. This is where the sand comes in. I used a picture of the sand and water and put it into Photoshop where I manipulated elements of it. I decided to keep with Surrealist practice and put myself into a calm, undistracted state. I stared at the image and drew what I saw. I could see faces in the sand so I used various tools to draw and exaggerate what I saw. The faces are stuck still in the sand; they can’t go into the ocean because they will be washed away. So, they are helpless to wait for their impending doom. I did the same thing with the eyes in the clouds. I stared and drew the eyes where I saw them. The sky surrounds our planet and is constantly watching us. The eyes are looking all around expressing concern, fear, and dissatisfaction with what is supposed to be our fault. There is of eye that is bigger and darker than the other eyes. That one is looking at the hand placed on the rock. The hand has a firm grip on the rock but is not safe from the asteroid and is holding on out of desperation. The colors of the bloody red, and dark green, and the bright radiant orange give the piece a sense of fear and destruction. I wanted it to feel very wrong. Since the Print did not turn out as detailed as hoped I included the digital version.