Paper # 2

Maggie Pringle

The public image that I chose to analyze is a mural done by a friend of mine who is an extremely talented artist. His name is Marshall Adams and he has numerous works that he has created over the past several years. The particular piece that I chose is a mural he painted in Bel Air, Maryland. A Mother of one of Marshall’s friends owns a small craft boutique by the name of Two Sisters in Bel Air, and she had asked Marshall to paint a mural on the side of her building. He did this mural in 2009 and I especially like Marshall’s work because it is simply beautiful. Marshall calls the painting an “organic abstract pattern,” he used bright colors and made sure the imagery was not too complex.

The content of the mural contributes to its overall composition. The left side of the mural has a brightly colored creature-like object, looks to be some sort of sea monster. The mural transitions into a scene of chaotic waters that are colored different shades of blue. Amongst the water are ships and boats, and arms of the sea creature peek out of the water throughout the scene. There are also two men sailing away from a sinking ship.The scene ends on the right with a mermaid sitting on a rock looking out into the scene. The backdrop of the mural is a jagged sunset. The colors are that of a traditional sunset, purples and oranges, with a tinge of blue here and there. The composition as a whole is coherent and pleasing to the eye. The eye is drawn first to the neon figure in the left corner, as it is the most prominent image in the painting. Your eye then follows the water scene across the wall observing the ships and different patterns of waves along the way. Your eye ends with the picturesque mermaid perched on her rock. The mermaid is colored with sepia colors. One of my favorite parts of the painting is the portion on the left side that appears to be a cut-out of the painting, giving the illusion of peeking into the store showing wine glasses, art and jewelry.

The compositional rule called the “rule of thirds” can be seen in the layout of this mural. The composition is balanced because of the layout of its components. The content is not centered and the positioning of the objects create interest, as they are not centered. I asked Marshall about his intent when painting this mural and he told me that he wanted to paint something bright and bold to draw attention to the store. He also told me that it was especially fun for him because his friend’s Mom gave him complete creative control, which is rare when an artist is being commissioned to do a work of art. It is an image that causes your mind to wander, and your imagination to kick into action.

The setting of this image I think is significant because it was painted in his hometown. Marshall has left his mark for his family and friends to remember him by and it represents the beginning of his career as an artist. There is a relationship or common theme between the mural and the art gallery; which is most appropriate because of the nature of both. The mural conveys feelings associated with the concept of art: creativity, imagination, exploration, free expression, a liberation of the mind and heart. People walking by the mural, whether they are going into the gallery or not are sure to be inspired. Its colors remind me of colors a child would use in a painting, they are bright and fun. The mural is also dreamlike, which again emphasizes the use of the imagination, which is an important theme in this analysis. While Marshall said that he typically does not like to think too deeply about the meaning of his art, he said the theme of the mural had some thought put into it and in the end it held a special meaning for him.

Marshall made it clear that he designed the mural for people to interpret and enjoy in their own way. However, to him, the mural is a metaphor about moving forward and leaving the past behind you. To him specifically, the ship in the painting represents Bel Air, his normal way of life he had grown accustomed to, and the mermaid represents the west coast and his future as an artist. This was deeply moving when he told me this and has made me appreciate the painting that much more. I think this mural will become a landmark in Bel Air and will be a lasting impression of Marshall Adams.