deviant art





Login
Join deviantART for FREE Take the Tour Lost Password?
Deviant Login
Buy Art Buy deviantWEAR Buy adCast Buy Premium Upgrade
Shop
 Join deviantART for FREE Take the Tour
Download Image
JPG, 541×823Shop Similar Prints
This Print Not Available
[x]

More from ~nosurprises

Featured in Groups:

group avatar #DD-Catalogue
The Home of Daily Deviations group avatar #Surreal-Landscapes
It's a surreal world! group avatar #VerySpecialArtists
All Art Is Special! group avatar #TreeLovers
Where the leaves whisper

Details

May 27, 2007
767 KB
541×823
Link
Thumb

Statistics

Comments: 345
Favourites: 2,968 [who?]
Views: 57,355 (3 today)
Downloads: 1,433 (2 today)

Camera Data

Canon
Canon PowerShot S1 IS
1/60 second
F/2.8
6 mm
May 25, 2007, 12:59:19 PM
Shop For This Camera
[x]
:iconnosurprises:
32" x 48"
acrylic on masonite

Part one of a series I am slowly building. The theme is different interpretations on how the outside world views America. Some might say it's cliché, but how I plan on approaching it might make up for face value opinions. This particular painting is not finished, as I plan on adding several oil glazes for depth, and some scumbling for both detail and color. The history behind this piece is a conversation I had with a Russian guy not too long ago, and something he said about American family values spawned a mental image of this. I deliberated painting this for a while, because I am in college and such dark imagery can make or break certain facets of shows, opinions, money, etc. However, I've decided to never again spoonfeed my work to the public, so enjoy. Comments appreciated.

Edit:
By request of many, the story behind this piece: I once had a conversation with a Russian foreign exchange student about the things they value in his country. He said that he and everyone he'd ever known from his home valued family above all else. I nodded and agreed that I personally shared a similar viewpoint. To this he said "No no no, I don't think a lot of you Americans feel that way. Seems like you forget about your family right when you leave the home to become an adult. It's like you might as well hang your family out to dry." What he meant was that we hang them out to dry like laundry, but his tone and context sparked this imagery in my head and was the primary inspiration for this piece.
:icon:
Add a Comment:
 
Preview   Add Comment

Daily Deviation

Given 2008-10-20
"Intense" is the word that comes to mind when you view The Family Tree by ~nosurprises. The sheer amount of symbolism, coupled with such a vivid palette creates an incredible composition. ( Featured by `limnides )
:icondziecko-we-mgle:
~Dziecko-we-mgle 21 hours ago
very interesting work
Reply
:iconmatbuk:
~Matbuk Apr 16, 2012  New member
www.whoartyou.net/en
an artistic contest in Milan!
Check it out!
Reply
:iconstudiorhapsody:
*StudioRhapsody Feb 28, 2012  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
whoa.

--
"I am an artist; you're free to correct me" -Bo Burnham
Reply
:iconaronback:
Mood: Love ~AronBack Feb 21, 2012  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
somehow the fact that you included the dog makes this picture more intense :) i like it really much:D

--
I love everyone and everything :love:
Reply
:iconmetalgolem:
~metalgolem Jan 10, 2012
Amazing work.
Reblogged through tumblr.
Reply
:iconshebecomesthecure:
~SheBecomesTheCure Dec 28, 2011
Interesting concept... I like the colors.
Reply
:iconkatehlouise:
~katehlouise Sep 10, 2011  Student Photographer
Oh, this is brilliant!
Reply
:icongorbanzo:
~Gorbanzo Sep 5, 2011  Professional Traditional Artist
I really enjoy that you paint with meaning.. great acrylic work
Reply
:iconari3ana3:
~ari3ana3 Aug 26, 2011
masonite is so much better than canvas

--
Ill make my journal entry for the winner of your contest... I have a messege center on my page...
Reply
:iconthefulkrum:
=TheFulkrum May 5, 2011
[link]

--
:groups: =TheFulkrum & =Echostar08 Founders of #dALinkSystem: Link another artist's submission to your own. Expose Deviants. Expose Yourself. Expose Art.
Reply
:icon:
Add a Comment:
 
Preview   Add Comment
©2012 deviantART. All rights reserved
About Us | Contact Us | Developers | Careers | Site Tour | Help & FAQ Advertise | Premium Membership Etiquette | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Copyright Policy