Fine Arts

Fine Arts

Last week I went to visit some friends at my previous college, Concordia University. While I was there I was able to see parts of their art gallery. There was a specific drawing that caught my eye, which was titled “the Lost Boy”. It was a black and white charcoal drawing of a young boy walking in a dark forest with a small candle. I noticed this picture first out of all the others. The artist was a freshman and she drew the picture for a homework assignment. The art professor enjoyed her artwork so much that he decided to put it in the art gallery.
My interpretation of the meaning of the artwork is that it represents the artist as she is starting her first year of college, away from friends and family. The boy in the drawing has on a backpack to suggest that he is in school. He is embarking on a new and scary journey in an unfamiliar place. The dark and scary looking forest may represent that new place of college. I wasn’t exactly sure what the light he was carrying could have represented but I was sure it was something personal to the artist.
I feel that this artwork was successful in conveying a message of apprehension and fright because as soon as I looked at the drawing my emotions of sadness and fear surfaced. I was shocked that such a simple piece of artwork could have that effect on me but the more I studied the piece the more I understood why. The way the artist used shading and a black and white contrast made all the difference in the drawing. I feel that if the artist would have used another medium or used color that the drawing would not be the same and not bring up the same strong emotions as it did with me. The expression on the little boys face was also priceless. It was one of fear but excitement. I was very impressed with the drawing and how effectively it communicated its message.