The Kiss

242 Show was last night, and it was quite good. Here's one of my pieces, finished. And some of the sketches/ideas/process.

It started out as just an idea, scratched on the back of an envelope.

I blew it up large, but I wasn't in love with the composition anymore. That heart shape doesn't hold up. Plus the poses are too tender. Seems forced, schlocky.

Pushing the idea further, I still wanted hands to be interacting, but they need to feel passionate, maybe even desperate.

Background/composition. I wanted wreckage, but it needs to be pushed away from the couple, so that we (the viewer) are pulled into their space. There are other 'people' in this world, but they don't matter.

The final, 12x36". I still wanted the colors to be sparse, but I don't want it to feel just black and white. I hit that spot between them with hot light, the sun, an explosion, a a-bomb, or just their emotion? The overall shape/flow of the background wreckage is also circular, originating in that same space between their faces. Click to enlarge.