Original artwork description:

This is a portrait of Laviah, a little girl whom I've met, drawn and later renamed her after an angel. There she counts pearls, the innocent rose-cheeked angel in a dark, dangerous world. I have used splashes of natural pigments , henna and hibiscus tea , for background, adding watercolor, ink and pastels.
The project “Do Touch The Angels!” started as a creative accident in the Oncology department. Children were often too tired to actively participate in evening art workshops. Instead they were asked to engage in the art process in a passive way as models. Being a portrait model in the way of quiet observation required the utmost luxury of time. Treatments in the hospital were long and exhausting so everyone was forced to slow down. Model - artist relationship requires respectful attentiveness and benevolent contemplation of another person. The artist distinguishes emotional and physical traits with admiration while depicting them. This process can be healing when the model feels insecure or depressed about his/her appearance in case of illness. The artist is privileged to see the hidden personality of the model: the cynic becomes romantic, the stoic becomes gentle, etc.. The moment when the model sees the result of meditative patience and artistic efforts serves as tangible proof of a person's outer and inner worth. People in doubt receive evidence of their value as human beings. “Do you see what I see?” I ask, while the model ponders at the drawing. Each sitting can last 10 – 60 minutes, depending on the model's mood and state of health. The sketches are recreated in elaborate, monumental watercolors. I adapt and rename children's personalities as angels walking on the earth.
The work is painted on 300 g/m² Arches watercolor paper and is not framed.

Materials used:

Watercolor, ink, hibiscus tea, henna, pastel on paper

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