Vanessa Ruicci

John Curtin College of the Arts

Year 11

Oil on Canvas

122 cm × 90 cm × 2 cm

This painting is a self-portrait of me holding a teapot from which a strange fluid figure emerges from the spout, inspired by subconscious doodles I created when bored, combined with a collage like approach. The painting is influenced by the work of Ally McIntyre, particularly her unconventional subject matter and expressive fragmented paint application, informing the treatment of my face and background.
Hidden in the background are distorted figures, including an alien-like form appearing to glow through the surrounding brushstrokes and a fish with a human-like face. These surreal elements contribute to the painting’s exploration of the subconscious, suggesting themes of imagination and mysterious imagery emerging from our inner worlds.