Fear
In my personal experience, visiting the dentist has always been a source of anxiety. The intention of this painting is to induce that same feeling of anxiety and fear in the viewer. The overall composition is intended to evoke a negative emotional response. The figure is positioned close to the viewer, and the lighting is intense and bright. This is also meant to resemble the bright light used to illuminate the teeth during surgery. The figure is over exposed by the light to create a sense of vulnerability and nervousness. The face is contorted and the mouth appears to be frozen in a permanent scream. The position of the mouth symbolizes the helplessness of the figure; their lack of control. The only part of the dentist that the viewer can see is the hands. This is meant to dehumanize the dentist and allow the viewer to sympathize with the figure only. I painted the background of the artwork using shades of green and red to create an atmosphere of tension and unease.