Beauty in Death

My piece shows sunflower skulls within a garden of poppies. It was created with oil pastels, chalk pastels, and acrylic paints. I used a palette knife to create an impasto effect with the sunflower petals so that they were thick and textured. I was inspired by Halloween decorations that I saw in the fall. I like the contrast of the skulls representing death and the yellow of the sunflowers representing life and being a joyous bright color. The poppies add a contrast of color as well and also are used as a symbol of remembrance. This was my first time using these materials together and I honestly wouldn’t use them together again. While I don’t like acrylic, I’ve been experimenting with oil pastels and they are one of my favorite mediums so I will continue to work with them.