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Christina Major
Oil on Canvas by Christina Major Titled “Meaning of Life”

2023

About the Item

Quotes within painting: George Bernard Shaw (?)26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950) “This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” As an undergraduate Christina Major developed into a portrait painter. Major has been interested in the ways the identity of both artist and subject can coexist in a portrait. Major also has a desire to combine portrait painting with writing (inspired from her Graphic Design studies) as well as to develop methods of using paint to express a merging of herself with the individual depicted in the portrait. Her creative research focuses on the traditional form of the portrait as a powerful form of representing an individual and how meaning can be expanded through scale, brushstroke, color, texture, composition and the many variables that portraiture deals with. Major looks to expand on the traditional portrait painting by cataloguing her memories and thoughts along with the thoughts of the subject by painting under, into and over the subject in her handwriting. Majors “hand” is visible both in the brushstroke and in the cursive writing, preserving her identity in a “readable” way both literally and through graphology, or handwriting analysis. The paintings are done primarily in oil on canvas grounds prepared with gesso and stretched. They are generally of monumental size ranging from 48” to 96” in each dimension. Major wants the portraits to feel overwhelming and have a “larger-than-life” presence that cannot be ignored. The large scale also supports her in creating a different “reading” of the painting depending on the viewing distance. Areas read quite abstractly when viewed up close and the emphasis appears to be brush stroke, dabs of color with energy and texture that is related to the form of the cursive text. From a further viewing point, the image coalesces from the fragmented strokes and layers of writing drawing focus to the likeness of the subject painted.
  • Creator:
    Christina Major (1982, American)
  • Creation Year:
    2023
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 48 in (121.92 cm)Width: 85 in (215.9 cm)Depth: 1.75 in (4.45 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    West Palm Beach, FL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU56213630422

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Oil on Canvas of Jackie O with Gold Leaf
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Words: Now I think that I should have known that he was magic all along. I did know it but I should have guessed that it would be too much to ask to grow old with and see our children grow up together so now he is a legend when he would have preffered to be a man. the Children have been a wonderful gift to me, and I'm thankful to have once again seen out world through their eyes they restore my faith in the familys future One must not let oneself b overwhelmed by sadness can anyone understand how it is to have lived in the White House and then, suddenly to be living alone as the presidents widow? Christina Major was born in Concord, New Hampshire in 1982. She has lived all over the world including Hawaii, France, New York and more currently Florida. Christina has achieved her MFA at Florida Atlantic University and has exhibited throughout South Florida. Her work has been collected both nationally and internationally. Christina Major is a portrait painter interested in the ways the identity of both artist and subject can coexist in a painting. Major's graduate thesis exhibition, Components of self, evolved from her desire to combine large scale portrait painting with writing. She developed methods of using paint...
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Quotes within painting: "If you don't know a guy on the other side of the world, love him anyway because he is just like you. He has the same dreams the same hopes and fears. It's one world pal, we are all neighbors. A big lesson in life baby, it's never be scared of anyone or anything. I'm gonna live till I die. The best revenge is massive success. Don't hide your scars they make you who you are. Fear the enemy of logic. There is no more debilitating, crushing , self-defeating, sickening thing in this world to an individual or to a nation. It's Billie Holiday who was and still remains the greatest single musical influence on me. You only go around once, but if you play your cards right, one is enough. Fairytales can come true, it can happen to you if you're young at heart. I'm for anything and for everything that bodes love and consideration for my fellow." As an undergraduate Christina Major developed into a portrait painter. Major has been interested in the ways the identity of both artist and subject can coexist in a portrait. Major also has a desire to combine portrait painting with writing (inspired from her Graphic Design studies) as well as to develop methods of using paint to express a merging of herself with the individual depicted in the portrait. Her creative research focuses on the traditional form of the portrait as a powerful form of representing an individual and how meaning can be expanded through scale, brushstroke, color, texture, composition and the many variables that portraiture deals with. Major looks to expand on the traditional portrait painting...
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