Kissing Booth
Kissing Booth (2015)
23½x18½ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Available
Jimmy had spent all summer trying to work up the nerve to finally tell Jack how he felt. Now that it was almost time to go back to school, he just couldn’t stand the thought of leaving without confessing his true feelings. His last chance is the Harvest Festival. Digging deep for his courage and a fistful of dollars, he gets in line and waits his turn at the Kissing Booth, not knowing if he is about to end a friendship or start a relationship.
This piece was a challenge due to its many complex elements; the vendor stands, the barn, the varied outfits, and managing four figures with small faces. Because the story relies entirely on the expressions of the characters, where a subtle tilt of a brow can completely alter a mood, I channeled my inner Norman Rockwell and just dove in. Working in pastel allowed me to blend a nostalgic, whimsical country fair atmosphere with the tense, hopeful romance playing out in the crowd.
