Mysterious Eyes: A Self-Portrait Exploration

https://www.saatchiart.com/en-gb/studio/art/12545713/overview

Title: Mysetrious Eyes
Artist: Laura B. Nelson
Measures: 40x50x2 cm (Framed)
Medium: Pencils on Paper, Varnished
Signed: Front and Back with a Certificate of Authenticity

This is a striking mixed-media self-portrait of the artist created with oil pastels and coloured pencils on paper, framed and signed on both the front and back. The piece combines the softness and richness of oil pastels with the precision and detailing of coloured pencils, producing a textured and layered effect.

The composition centres on a half-length portrait of a woman with vivid orange hair, styled into two braids. She wears a mask-like pair of turquoise glasses that frame her striking green eyes. Her facial expression is solemn, with bold red lips and a pale complexion, creating a contrast with the vivid background of swirling green patterns, which evoke a sense of psychological intensity.

She holds a cat in her hand, rendered in warm orange and brown hues, with a slightly disgruntled or mysterious expression. The cat’s eyes mirror the woman’s in intensity, suggesting a connection between them—perhaps symbolic of inner emotions or hidden aspects of the psyche.

The clothing is richly textured and colorful, with geometric patterns, dots, and buttons, giving the piece a whimsical yet introspective feel. The bold, black outlines defining the facial features, hair, and garments give the work a graphic, almost illustrative quality. The background’s freeform, organic shapes in dark green contrast with the subject’s warm, orange-toned hair and the geometric patterns of her garment, adding visual depth.

The work shows influences of psychological portraiture, perhaps inspired by Lucian Freud’s introspective approach, though with a more stylised and symbolic aesthetic.

This carefully presented and professionally framed piece invites viewers into a world of hidden emotions and surreal connections, making it both visually and conceptually captivating.

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