deconstructing a picture

Soft Pastel 2013

The scene is of any ordinary cafe but to delve deeper into a more personal point of view we sometimes need to understand the reasoning of a composition, the why if you like. When I embark upon any type of commission or piece I try to understand the emotional and personal value for the audience. This example could easily be misconstrued as banal, bland, but with a little coxing of a background to the cafe owner it can suddenly become an endearing and cherished work of art. The reasoning for this composition is based upon the empty table for two at the center of the picture, obscured behind the setting but still in view is a high chair, hence signifying the birth of the owners first child. The reflection in the mirrored glass of a blue sky and park from across the way denote a bright and vital future.