Let’s Talk About Regret
The Client
True Story Tent
TST is a platform that supports and encourages the sharing of true personal stories from the Middle East.
@truestorytent
Regret.
A presence that lingers.
A weight that grows heavier with time.
A sense of despair so deeply rooted in the essence of our very being.
True Story Tent commissioned me to create an artwork that was going to be used to promote and attract attendees to their online Themed Story Night. The Theme for this event was Regret. The event coincided with the world slowly starting to open up post COVID-19 and allow for people to cautiously begin interacting with each other in small controlled groups. A question to inspire the audience to reflect on what they might be willing to let go of, seeing this new emergence as a chance to start new. The artwork was going to be used on their social media account to announce the event and all its information.
August 2020
Deliverable: One 1080 x 1080 px or 1:1 artwork
Function: Events Poster
Uses: Social Media Advertising, Instagram Poster
Theme: Regret
Client requirements: Artist has creative freedom, as long as the theme was reflected in final artwork.
Medium: Acrylic Painting
The process for this piece started with a photograph. I wanted to capture the look and feel of regret using facial features, color, light and shadow. I used myself as the model, and used a tripod and a timer to take photographs of my face, making sure that the lighting was creating harsh shadows and dramatic silhouettes.
I then moved the final image over to photoshop to manipulate the shadow and colors even further. Using this as my reference it was time to paint.
Photoshopped image with color
Reference image
Color scheme
The composition of the painting was designed with the image to the far right to stress the feeling of isolation and distance that can come with deep regret and to make sure there would be enough room to accommodate the events information since it’s main function was an events poster for social media, and therefore the information needed to be legible.
The contrast between the deep dark blue background and the vibrant purples and pinks really helped create a sense of coming out of the shadows, owning our truth and expressing our vulnerabilities and the layered textured brushstrokes was my way of inviting the audience to express themselves in whatever way that came up, and that difficult emotions like regret are messy and that’s ok.
Final painting
Final True Story Tent Poster, edited by Abdullah Al Maawali
Always a pleasure working with @truestorytent . Creating safe spaces for vulnerability and connection was so vital especially after such an abrupt and disruptive forced isolation. And yet with Isolation comes moments of clarity that allow for us to question old beliefs and ideas and emotions, that might be holding us back, just like Regret.
I am so happy that I was able to work alongside them to shed some light on yet another topic we'd rather pretend didn't exist, and yet is so transformational when used as a learning tool instead of a life sentence.