The Academic Playground

This painting is a replica of Ghost of Recess Past by artist Nick Vogel with a more modern twist. The most visually obvious alteration of the two elderly women and the ghost into what appears to be three young girls, all of them gradually increasing ages. The differing ages demonstrate a literal form of development as you look left to right. This reflects the development aspect of my thesis in a physical sense on the canvas. A physical demonstration of maturing differs from growth internally, but it is a more engrossing subject to paint.

The title of this piece is simply titled The Academic Playground due to the simplistic nature of the painting itself. The lack of true form in the faces depicted contributes to this idea of minimalism but also allows the viewer to relate to the piece more. Although the person viewing the illustration may not be an art connoisseur, it is easy to reflect on their own growth after acknowledging that all three figures are the same person. This piece is about self-reflection in one’s own growth.

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The artwork includes a combination of vibrant tones and muted earthy browns throughout the piece. The usage of a mid-tone brown fence and a deeper wood tone for the bench, allows your eye to move towards the center of the piece, towards the subjects of the piece. I chose to emphasize the usage of red and blue as a reference to my previous assignment from the fall, What Impact Does Color Have on the Minds of Young Children?. The red hue is known to release serotonin, along with creating an ideal atmosphere for children to learn when the tone is more muted, whereas the blue tone is known to allievete pain. The shades' usage in conjunction kindles a richer experience for the spectator.