Hiding in Plain Sight

Medium: Pastels on Pastelmat

Size: 14″ x 11″ (unframed)

Artwork Availability: Available

In my artwork, wearing a blindfold while hiding in plain sight implies a paradoxical intention of hiding while simultaneously desiring to be discovered. By deliberately limiting her vision, she invites others to seek her out, playing a game of concealment and seeking attention or interaction, despite the apparent act of hiding. Wearing a blindfold also symbolizes hiding one’s true feelings from the world. In her case, while she shuts off visual cues that may reveal her emotional vulnerability, she also yearns for her feelings to be discovered and acknowledged.

What on Earth is a Pastel?

Pastel as an artistic medium is pure pigment dust held together by a transparent binder and formed in a stick or encased in a pencil. Pastel works age beautifully, their brilliant colour does not fade with the passing of time.

This artwork was created with pastel pencils on Clairefontaine Pastelmat®, a paper card specially created for pastel paintings. The pastel pigments bind greatly with the Pastelmat, and no fixative is needed to secure the applied layers. However, pastel works should never be directly touched. They are best kept under a matted, glass-protected frame and away from high humidity, direct sunlight, or extreme heat.