ARTIST STATEMENT
'Gerascophobia' serves as a visual representation of the different ways a person may be haunted by the irrational and overwhelming fear of growing older. This phobia may present itself differently depending on where the fear itself stems from; whether it’s the fear of leaving behind childhood, what the future holds or the fear of old age or death. This phobia is unique in the way it follows a person, as it is unavoidable because we are constantly ageing. The saturated colours of the symbols within the artwork serve as a metaphor for the overwhelming and irrepressible nature of this phobia.
ARTWORK PROCESS
In making 'Gerascophobia' I experimented with a variety of media to find what best represented my message. This included collage, graphite pencil drawing and animation, before I found that digital painting was best suited to my art style. I then experimented with character designs and created multiple panels with sketched line art each based on the different ways gerascophobia may present itself. I then added colour to my character sketch and coloured the backgrounds in separate layers. In another layer, I added the shading, reflections and glow of the saturated colours, adjusting the opacity to make them appear more subtle.
