I decided to create some Oil Pastel pieces using the colour theory and psychology .

For this first piece, I created a female head figure with no facial features. I scribbled out the face, to represent that ongoing idea of loss of identity and being alone and feeling empty/lost/numb.

I used red which portrays the idea of rage, overpowerment but also love and passion.
Being in a toxic, abusive relationship is very contradicting in the way your feelings are. On one hand, you are being controlled, overpowered and are generally feeling less and less like yourself but you also most likely have very deep, strong feelings for this person, such as infatuation. This is probably due to being manipulated over time, to love this person even after they are doing you wrong.

 

I decided that this piece needed more texture and detail to be more captivating, so I used the oil pastel to create a dark and misty appearing background to emphasise feeling alone and in the dark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is another piece using oil pastels with the colour theory. I used black initially as the base, creating an abstract corridor with a very distant figure walking down.

The black colour really feeds into the idea of mystery and power, which the abuser will have on the victim. I added blue to add depth and detail to the piece, blue conveying the general idea of lonliness and sadness. Considering the figure is in this corridor, and feeling so small, I think the blue works well. I also added a tiny bit of red, to just add that glimmer of love and passion. Mixing the blue and red oil pastels created a dark shade of purple, which also shows the mystery of what is going on. This is quite an abstract piece and the viewer can have their own ideas and opinions on what they think is occuring.

 

Another oil pastel piece I created was of two figures hugging. Although hugging is most often a form of endearment and adoration, this piece has a very melancholy feel. There are no facial features to imply the loneliness or loss of hope yet it is easy to tell. I used the black oil pastel for the abuser, who seems to be hugging the other figure tightly, their arms gripping around them. The other figure I have created with a blue oil pastel to represent that idea of sadness and even fear. They are not hugging the other person back, they look limp and lifeless as if they have completely lost who they are by being in this relationship.

 

I decided to add some depth and detail to this piece as well. I coloured in the figures and added some shapes and line work around them. This changes the narrative as the blue figure now looks as if they are facing the viewer instead of hugging the other figure back. It looks less of a hug, more of a hold as if they are trapped.