Acrylic painting - progress of creating

In creating this piece, I change the idea a couple of times. Finally, It stopped on improvisation that will present sleep paralysis in expressionism based on Basquiat's style and techniques.

The first idea of this project was to present sleep paralysis in 3 stages that will be represented by each canvas. Starting from the first canvas is supposed to represent the energy that ran out during the day. The middle canvas represents tiredness, which causes falling asleep. In my work, I have tried to present the journey through the entire day ending up sleeping. During that, we may get sleep paralysis, which is represented by the 3rd canvas showing creatures in different shapes and colours as it might be seen differently by everyone. The colours of my work represent a daytime that changes into red tones representing “hell” by going down. Creating the main character and focal point of my painting, I wanted to implement another meaning of my work, which shows the areas that sleep paralysis impacts on. The white outline on this character shows the body parts of the five basic senses that are the most influenced and active during sleep paralysis, which means that we can experience taste, hearing, sight, smell and touch. Each of these connects and goes to the brain, which is represented by a spiral placed in the centre of my painting.

In my work, I have included many eyes placed on the top canvas, which are the representation of the people experiencing sleep paralysis at the same time as it's common and doesn't happen individually.

The photos below show the progress and changing the ideas during the process:

Starting from the first work, I covered the canvases with white paint and sanded them multiple times to receive a smooth surface of the canvases.

Consulting the project with my tutor, We decided to create an acrylic painting in bright colours. Doing research, I decided to use the colours that would be the most representative of hell, and as a contrast to hell, I chose blue. 

On the next day of creating this piece, I was satisfied with the final effect, so I decided to cover some of the elements and started layering that could create interesting shapes and outlines.

Then I tried to create new outlines and shapes. When I analysed Basquiat's work, I noticed what I did wrong in a previous step while still training and creating new pieces in his style.

I decided to make a couple of more black spots as I feel more confident with dark tones that, in final was profitable looking at the final outcome

Creating this piece, I felt that it still could be improved, so I kept analysing Basquiat's pieces and implementing them in my work. Although the progress at this time still must has been improved.

I kept adding new outlines and elements to my work and used the finest brush in this painting for the first time.

The areas around the head on the top canvas seemed empty, so I decided to put more lines to keep dynamic and chaotic of the painting.