Alright, so check it – today I’m diving into my latest art experiment. I’m calling it “Symbolism of a Starfish”. It’s been a real journey, not gonna lie.
First off, I started by just staring at a starfish. Yeah, sounds dumb, but I wanted to really see it, you know? Not just think “oh, starfish, ocean”. I grabbed a real one from a local shop – ethically sourced, promise! Sat it on my desk and just, like, looked. For a good hour. Scribbled down whatever popped into my head.
Then came the sketching. I wanted to capture the essence, not just the shape. Did a bunch of quick thumbnails, playing with different angles and compositions. Some were super abstract, just focusing on the radiating lines. Others were more literal.
Next up: Choosing the right medium. I was torn between watercolors for that flowy, oceanic feel, or something bolder, like acrylics. Ended up going with acrylics ’cause I wanted the colors to really pop. Plus, I wanted to experiment with some texture.
The actual painting? Man, that was a process. I started with a light underpainting in blues and greens to establish the background. Then, I built up the starfish layer by layer. I used a palette knife to add some impasto texture, mimicking the rough surface of the starfish. It was messy, but fun!
- Layer 1: Background blues and greens.
- Layer 2: Basic starfish shape in a burnt sienna.
- Layer 3: Adding texture with palette knife and impasto.
- Layer 4: Glazing with brighter oranges and yellows for highlights.
I messed up a bunch of times, of course. Had to repaint a whole arm once because the perspective was totally off. But that’s part of the process, right? Learned a lot about mixing colors and layering.
Finally, I added some symbolic elements. Subtle stuff, but it adds depth. A faint spiral pattern in the background to represent growth and renewal. And a tiny hidden pearl to symbolize resilience.
The end result? I’m pretty happy with it. It’s not perfect, but it captures the essence of the starfish and the symbolism I was aiming for. More importantly, I learned a ton along the way. Now, what sea creature should I tackle next?
