Westmont Magazine The New Normal

MADELINE LUSH ‘21

We are living through an unprecedented time that does not come without struggles. My paintings look at the current global pandemic and how it has affected the daily lives of my fellow students. Capturing this moment in history is important to me, as is understanding how we see each other and interact with the world so differently now. Having proximity to those we love has become more precious than ever before, and these portraits serve as a reminder of that.

With our new habit of masking ourselves in public, it is difficult to rely on capturing someone solely through their face; instead, I have learned to both perceive strangers and loved ones in a different way. Through portraiture, I sought to challenge myself to portray a sense of likeness of those around me despite being unable to see them fully. This series of oil paintings mirrors the significant change of what the genre of portraiture looks like in this moment.