Friday, February 25, 2011

The first painting of a long series...





Choleric
Acrylic on canvas
24" x 18"
2011

The process of this painting began on April of 2010, so trying to finish this has been pretty long. Due to a computer dying, I had to retake references and kinda start from scratch. But finishing it has helped me put a foot forward in getting this series done. And the series? It's about old timey medical theories!

The four humors, or four temperaments, are elemental fluids linked to one's state of mind. Not that it's actually true, but those kooky folks coming out of the B.C. times didn't have much of a mind for the human body.

The four humors are sanguine, choleric, melancholy and phlegmatic. An even balance of these fluids keeps a person healthy and stable. An imbalance will cause disease, disabilities, and basically insanity. You know what they did to cure that? Drain the excess fluids. Like I said, folks back then weren't too bright...

Choleric is characterized by an emotionally unstable personality, while being aggressive and extroverted. The substance is yellow bile, produced by the spleen. A choleric person's element is fire, so you could assume that a person with this personality is angry and touchy. Just how I felt while trying to complete this!