The Straw Men and the Boastful Bat.

Here are my four abstract paintings, though there are two sets of different themes.

My first theme was the merging faces from my play assignments, as I really enjoyed how creepy they looked.

I don't really like the photo for Judgement,as it looks like there is a bit of a haze toward the top of the

painting—so I think I would like to get a more clear shot of it. But overall I like it okay, despite the several flaws I can see. The model was fairly symmetrical, though I can see where the right-hand figures chin is further up than the left-hand figure. However, I  was thinking due to how easily opinions and judgements can be distorted, that can be a theme with in the painting, as it looks like the one eye is judging the viewer (where I believe the focal point is). If I were to do anything different with it, I would likely put down another coat where you can see bits of the canvas, as well as touch up the eye and make it more prominent since I intended to draw the audience to that point. I think he color certainly adds to this gloomy mood that one might feel if they had such looming figures 'eying' them.

Judgement, done with acrylic paint on Canvas, photo taken with Ipad.

 I really like how The Straw Men came out, especially for my first painting. I like the grungy, textural quality of the paint and how along with the color, it could give the appearance of straw. This is where my theme of the "Straw Men" comes from, as it looks like they are being torn, or falling apart in shambles. It has a similar focal point like Judgement, as it draws you into the center. It's rather symmetrical. I don't think there is much that I would change as I had a lot of fun with this, except perhaps paint on a bigger canvas next time.

The Straw Men, done with acrylic paint on Canvas, photo taken with Ipad.

"straw man

noun

noun: straw man; plural noun: straw men; noun: strawman; plural noun: strawmen

1. a person compared to a straw image; a sham.

   • a sham argument set up to be defeated."

" A straw man is a common reference argument and is an informal fallacy based on the representation of an opponent's argument. To be successful, a straw man argument requires that the audience be ignorant or uninformed of the original argument.
     The so-called typical "attacking a straw man" argument creates the illusion of having completely refuted or defeated an opponent's proposition by covertly replacing it with a different proposition (i.e., "stand up a straw man") and then to refute or defeat that false argument ("knock down a straw man") instead of the original proposition.
     This technique has been used throughout history in polemical debate, particularly in arguments about highly charged emotional issues where a fiery, entertaining "battle" and the defeat of an "enemy" may be more valued than critical thinking or understanding both sides of the issue."

Here is an alternate photo of the two on the wall, the two colors almost compliment one another:

Big Dreams, done with acrylic paint on Canvas, photo taken with Ipad.