This mural was done as my "creative project" for my Unit 2 CAPE examinations, over a period of 9 months. It was the product of many months of studies about portraiture, facial dimensions, and culture of the different races that make up Trinidad and Tobago.I studied the work of Sheena Bryen, Shayna Karim, and Leonardo DaVinci for the many different aspects of the piece, such as the background and facial proportions
Primed 4'x8' plywood base
Plan of dimensions and layout of faces on paper.
Plan transferred onto wood after being gridded.
Base colors applied to the background.
Background colour applied using cross-hatching technique with a base colour of Ultramarine blue, mixed throughout with Winsor violet, Cerulean blue, and Sap Green
Beginning painting of the faces from right to left, starting with Chinese.
Midway point; Indian, Spanish, African
Plan for the background with cultural representations for each corresponding face. I created a different montage for each ethnicity. I used items such as a Chinese dragon and lettering, British architecture, Adinkra African symbols, a rosary (since the Spanish brought Catholicism to Trinidad and Tobago), an Indian Deya, and mehindi symbols.
Modelling paste that was used to create the texture for the background; a medium for the cultural symbols.
A mixture of water and modelling clay was mixed in a bowl before being applied to the background next to he faces. It was allowed to dry for 5 minutes before I drew the symbols on with my fingers and allowed it to dry.
Close-up of African symbols after the modelling paste was applied and dried
Full view with symbols for the major races added.
Close-up of Chinese symbols after the base paint was re-applied over the modelling paste as well as metallic paint dry-brushed on.
Full view of the piece after the background was re-painted
Close-up of bottom left corner of the final piece (Indian symbols).
Close-up of bottom of piece. (Spanish/ African symbols.)
Top right corner of final piece
Relative size of full mural.
This mural is currently displayed in the courtyard of the San Fernando Central Secondary School (Modsec) in Trinidad and Tobago.
