20260416-006_web_bubble
Riley Fleming
15 x 15 in.
For this self portrait, the perspective is swapped to acknowledge the artist observing marine life. A curious, candid expression is being worn, as if a camera was zoomed out and the subject hasn’t realized it yet. The bubble is a whimsical method of breathing underwater, implying the subject has been there for a long expanse of time, simply observing. To be an artist is to be watchful, reflective, and communicative. This piece alongside its place with the rest of the collection brings together the sense of unity between us and our marine friends.
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Prismatic Shores
Riley Fleming
Watercolor on paper, 9 x 12 in.
This piece, Prismatic Shores, was the beginning of a collection centered around exploring and expanding upon the observations that occurred to me when referencing marine life and its many intricacies. Prismatic Shores aims to capture the beauty of light filtering through a coral reef’s surface, utilizing shades of pink, blue, and yellow. This piece aims to inspire and reinvent my own perception of our oceans.
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Seventeen Zeroes
Riley Fleming
Watercolor and magazine collage on paper, 9 x 12 in.
Seventeen Zeroes serves as a unique exploration of individuality and creative expedition. The title, Seventeen Zeroes, was chosen to reflect the seven quintillion individual grains of sand on Earth that bridges together our oceans with us. This is mirrored by the individual magazine scraps utilized to bring a scale pattern to the freshwater salmon serving as the subject. This piece is a testament of impulsivity and unity.
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Opal Glow
Riley Fleming
Acrylic on canvas, 9 x 12 in.
Opal Glow serves as an attempt at mastery at a famously difficult technique in art. It builds up underpainted layers, combining a pale subject with a stark navy background, to create a gently glowing effect. For this piece, the goal was to replicate the ethereal, almost alien beauty present in creatures at the bottom of the sea. Gels were mixed into some of the paints to build their thickness and expand their palette of textures.
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Artificial Life
Ava Stading
Colored pencil, 11 x 17 in.
Artificial Life explores how overstimulating urban architecture and technology can repel through a desperate attempt to appeal. This 11×17 colored pencil work depicts a dystopian cityscape where glowing advertisements consume all negative space, creating a sense of claustrophobia. By layering neon hues over deep shadows and eliminating pencil texture, I achieved a slick, manufactured blur that mimics digital screens. This composition reflects the isolation of being trapped in a relentless system. Ultimately, the piece highlights the lack of humanity in environments so saturated with information they feel empty of life, leaving the individual overwhelmed and alone.