If you feel a burst of energy when viewing this expressive portrait of pop culture icon Kanye West then Sarah successfully conveyed her vision. Sarah showcases a range of painting techniques from quick brushwork to tight details.
She strategically created bold contrast in both texture and colour, however carried the same style and colour palette through the piece to create a strong sense of unity. Sarah's experience and colour theory is very evident as she took full advantage of complimentary colours. Kanye's pose creates drama, intensity, and interest. The strong crop also lends to the success of the composition.
Sarah used gesso to build up areas of 3D texture across the canvas when prepping it. She also strategically selected a bright colour scheme of warm reds, oranges, and yellows for the underpainting. Texture throughout areas reveal pops of unexpected colour of the underpainting, contributing to the character and depth of the painting.
Sarah was not afraid to work with colours, in fact it excited her and allowed her to express a fun, high intensity piece layered with paint, energy, and meaning. Serving obvious aesthetic purposes, Meet Kanye also illuminates the many facets of Kanye's career and personal life. Kanye West plays a significant role in the pop culture industry making big waves in fashion, interior design, music, and politics. He is bold, intense, and sometimes unexpected, but that's what makes him Kanye.
