Scarlett  Pitulej

Mindarie Senior College

Year 12

45.7 × 61 cm

My artwork, Messengers, explores my spiritual connection to Willy Wagtails, which I and many others perceive as messengers from the afterlife. Their presence has always felt significant, and this sense of foreboding is conveyed through the multiple Willy Wagtails scattered across the composition, each positioned and directed differently to mirror their mysterious qualities. This is paired with my expression of deep contemplation. Inspired by the work of Meghan Howland, I used expressive brushstrokes and vibrant blues in the birds to contrast with the neutral tones of my complexion and the vibrant cadmium yellow and orange background, enhancing their symbolic prominence within the piece.