About This Listing
This is a 6x8 studio gouache painting completed on professional-grade watercolor paper mounted to a cradled wooden panel 7/8 of an inch thick. To protect the water-based gouache paint from moisture, the painting has been lovingly treated with a three-step varnishing process consisting of a spray varnish suitable for water-based media, an isolation coat, and two coats of UV-resistant gloss varnish. The birchwood panel has been sealed with buffed finishing wax to increase its longevity, and a signed label affixed to the back certifies its authenticity and specifications. The painting has already been glued into a custom poplar frame handmade by a local craftsman. Including the frame, the full dimensions of this piece are roughly 7 x 9 x 1.25 inches.
Bryana Says
This painting is an illustration for my poem "The Mandalina Tree," first published in Bracken Magazine. When I was a child growing up in central and northern Turkey, decorative bowls loaded with pyramids of mandalinas (mandarin oranges) were harbingers of Christmas in our house. Also, Celine Dion singing “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” a refrain that rang close to home for me as I watched the chaos of the War on Terror unfolding in the news from the perspective of a young person with strong roots in the Middle East. I was in my teens when my family relocated to the US, and I remember finding a mandarin-scented candle in Wal-Mart and keeping it in my sock drawer for at least two years because I simply couldn’t bear to burn up that smell of home. This poem recounts those memories, and suggests that the absurd event of Christmas invites us to let go of all our self-defensive dysfunctions, and step into the sweet, defenseless lowliness of the baby in the hay.
Colors
I do my very best to make sure my scans and photographs provide accurate representations of my artwork, but please do be aware that due to monitor differences the colors you see on your screen may vary slightly from the way the colors appear in person.
Shipping
This painting ships for free within the United States. To arrange international shipping, please reach out to me via the contact form with information about the piece you'd like to purchase and where you need it shipped to. (Please note that international shipping for framed original artwork can be quite pricey, and you will be responsible for any customs fee or import taxes that may arise.)
© 2024 Bryana Joy
The artist retains all copyrights.