Patryk Chojnowski “A Window to the Soul”, mixed media, 24” H x 18”W – $350.00

How people portray themselves through their art often reveals the artist’s soul to the viewer. While this can be accomplished with a traditional self-portrait, abstracting my psyche onto a canvas through a “stream on consciousness” style of painting speaks more directly to the viewer. A Window Into the Soul can easily be interpreted as a violent piece, however, it is intended to be a piece of healing. A vignette was created by blooming black ink across the edges of the canvas, creating the idea of the vignette. Nails can be found at the very top of the blood dripping, with a scabbing effect around the nail created with encaustic wax. The nails are intended to represent the wounds inflicted on the soul, while the opposite is true for the staples. The staples are instead meant to represent healing, found along the wounds. Not all wounds are covered, however, to represent the slow healing process. This is my soul, and I hope that many viewers will relate.