THE ENCHANTED AND FANTASTICAL WORLD OF BOOKS
Dividing Eden
18 x 12 inches
Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau shows the impact familial expectations can play. As Carys and her twin Andreus fight for a throne neither of them was destined to inherit their relationship begins to falter. With the fighting showing no sign of ceasing Carys realizes she needs to be both cunning and clever.
Enchantress
18 x 12 inches
The Enchantress by Michael Scott tells of Sophie Newman’s life with her parents and twin Josh was rather ordinary, before the destiny that was in store for them unfolded. When the reality that Sophie and her brother are destined to wield magic is revealed, both siblings take different paths to achieve this goal. While Josh takes a far more convoluted path, Sophie trusts herself and begins her own journey.
Origin
18 x 12 inches
Origin by Jessica Khoury takes place in a remote jungle with a secret science laboratory secluded from almost all human contact lives Pia, a girl with a precious gift. Pia was born with the gift of immortality and an inability to sustain injury. As Pia learns more about the people who have raised her, she begins to question exactly what price there was to pay for receiving this gift from them.
Shiver
18 x 12 inches
Shiver by Maggie Steifvater follows a girl named Grace living in Minnesota. This novel depicts her fascinating journey as she attempts to navigate life in a world where werewolves exist. As Grace matures, she begins to understand what in her world is most important, family.
Social Crimes
18 x 12 inches
Social Crimes by Jane Stanton Hitchcock is a riveting thriller. Jo Slater finds out about her husband’s infidelity; she realizes it's time to take her life into her own hands. With nothing left to lose now that she’s lost her home and her marriage, she begins plotting her revenge so she can move on.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein
18 x 12 inches
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White is set in the early 1800’s. A gruesome twist on Mary Shelley's original novel Frankenstein, this novel Follows Elizabeth throughout her tumultuous childhood. As Elizabeth grew up she was plagued by her “brother” Victor, a cruel and unstable boy. When she reaches adulthood Elizabeth attempts to pursue her own life.
ARTIST STATEMENT + BIO
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Art comes in many forms. Throughout my life I have been immersed in its awe-inspiring nature through the books I have read. The multitude of novels I have read have shaped me into the person I am today. Through literature I could go on bold and daring adventures in fantastical and imaginary worlds. When I read about the daunting experiences many of my favorite characters had experienced, I was fascinated by both their strength and bravery.
The characteristics I found in my favorite characters showed me the type of person I wanted to become. This year through my art series The Enchanted and Fantastical World of Books I focused on the importance that books hold in my life. To show how I feel and see myself when I read, I chose to create watercolor self-portraits wearing the main female characters' costumes from each novel. Each piece is on a medium sized piece of paper so I could show the detail extravagance of each character's style, While the background depicts an aspect from the respective novel’s setting. The novels I chose The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, Shiver, Origin, Dividing Eden, Social Crimes, and The Enchantress each depict strong female characters that aren’t represented on the cover. I chose these novels, because each one had an impact on me when I read them for the first time and every time after. With the help of the vivid and detailed descriptions of each character's wardrobe I created reference photos using Shakespeare and Company's vast and historical costume department. With Shakespeare and company’s help as well as the authors’ thorough descriptions I painted myself into the worlds of my books. |
Katy Schlaefer is a senior who likes ceramics, painting, musical theatre, and science fiction novels. She also enjoys spending time outdoors and swimming. Katy plans to attend Westfield Sate University where she will study English in preparation for a career in education.
Materials used in series: watercolor paint, gauche paint, and acrylic paint on watercolor paper, as well references of myself in character clothing. |