I get so excited when someone asks me to make some art for them for a particular purpose. They present a new prompt and context for me to draw inspiration (from). Most of the time. I love it all. I love restrictions and freedom. I also struggle with them both.
Each commissioned piece needs fresh eyes. When I forget that, I get stuck.
My mom’s dear friend asked me to make a portrait of her brother’s wedding as a gift for him and his new family. She took photos of the wedding and sent them to me.
One of the first paintings I memorized was the one of my parent’s wedding. It’s black and white and gray and abstract. It’s another world, and it’s amazing.
I wanted to make another world.
The photo quality (quite minimal) lent itself to a simpler composition with bold colors and large, rather than small, details.
I had to Frankenstein together a few photos. I wanted the bride and groom to be prominent. I sent them a draft and they wanted me to include the sail boat and some dude who’s in the distance.
Here’s a video that shows part of my process.
The final image:
When the bride came by to pick it up:
Now it’s on her wall!
You can find me on
Facebook: @LornaAlkanaArt and @LAWordSalon and @AffectComic
Twitter: @LornaPhone and @LAWordSalon
Instagram: @Lornaphone and @LAWordSalon
I update my Exhibition Page with events and galleries Lorna Alkana Art is featured in.
I post on (or around) Mondays with new art/discussion of the process of works in progress, and Fridays with Comic Lorna in the form of an audiobio comic series called, Affect.
Lorna Phone 