Nicole Bartolo

Willetton Senior High School

Year 9

Oil pastel on paper

59.4 x 42 cm

Using oil pastels and a limited colour palette, I created a self portrait from pictures that I took and edited. The work consists of bright, complementary colours (red and green). These past few years, we’ve had to celebrate Christmas behind our masks. Despite this fact, the majority of us have still been able to feel joy and hope. By masking our mouths, we give others an opportunity to interpret the feelings that lie in our eyes. I have been inspired by Shepard Fairey’s notable artwork, ‘Hope’, in which he uses a limited colour palette and contrasting colours to convey a powerful message.