EMOTIONAL FIGURE, 2026.

This painting is a close-up study of a woman from The Last Day of Pompeii by Karl Bryullov. I focused on her face and eyes to explore sadness, fear, vulnerability and the relationship between emotion and identity. I began by sketching the basic structure of the face and then built the image using oil paint, gradually adding lighter and darker values to create depth and dimension. I used light blue, blue, black, and white to create a cold and somber mood. I chose blue instead of the natural skin tone to make the emotion more visible and emphasize the connection between blue and sadness. The highlights in the tears and shadows around the eyes helped bring attention to her expression. The woman's vulnerable expression made me think about how emotional experiences can affect the way people see themselves and how they may be perceived by others. This artwork connects to my interest in identity, vulnerability, and self-perception, while also exploring how colour and visual expression can communicate emotions that are difficult to express through words. The project helped me understand how colour, light, small details can communicate strong emotions.