Black. 🖤
After I finished Senior School, I went to an Art Academy in Amsterdam for a year. I was massively proud to have been accepted into two art academies in Holland because it was pretty hard to get into them, only about 30/ 40 people got selected out of 100nds of applicants each year. To be accepted into two Art Academies was a huge deal. Sadly the experience was not one I enjoyed much at all.
Coming from a vibrant, colourful senior school where art classes were uplifting and fun, I was shocked to discover that at the academy, it almost seemed sport to the teachers to ‘break down their students emotionally’, supposedly to make us better artists. Even the building itself was grey, devoid of any joy or colour. It was baffling; a place meant for creativity felt so grim and dark. 😔
The professors, too, each had their own peculiar ‘rules’. I remember being told things like, “Never use black in your paintings, it’s not a colour,” or, “Don’t use purple, I hate purple.” Looking back now, it’s almost comical; if every teacher had a forbidden colour, soon we’d be left with none! The arbitrary rules piled up, until it seemed like you could break one just by picking up a brush.
But the ‘never use black’ rule really stuck with me for years. I avoided it religiously, until this painting.
Yes, black can be a tricky colour. It’s bold, sometimes harsh, and can easily overpower a piece. But, when used with intention, I think black adds a beautiful sense of depth, contrast, and harmony. In this painting, I love how the black brings weight and grounding, making the other colours sing even brighter. ✨🙌✨
I remember painting this piece in 2016 and feeling a sense of freedom. I let myself be looser and wilder; not only did I dare to bring in black, I also used fluorescent pinks, which can be just as challenging! Suddenly, all those ‘forbidden’ elements became a celebration.
I left the Art Academy after a year, feeling confused and a bit lost. For a while, they made me believe maybe art wasn’t for me after all. How sad, isn’t it, when a place meant to nurture creativity ends up clipping your wings? ... (continues in comments)