The Beauty and Solace in Loneliness
“If you can’t change a situation, change how you feel about it,” is the advice my aunt reminds me of whenever I complain. It is that phrase that has helped me, throughout my life, to accept certain outcomes that were out of my control. With vivid light, intoxicating color, and numerous art historical references, these seven pieces portray different reactions to loneliness. Rather than concentrating on its negative aspects, I want to encourage a perspective that is contemplative, enriching, and beautiful. Meant to be read in a continuous narrative, each painting showcases the process of traversing aloneness and learning new forms of self-assurance. The work connects embracing solitude to a form of revelation and enlightenment with spiritual rebirth.
My intention is to provide a sense of serenity and relatability. Feeling alone does not last a lifetime, it comes and goes just as every other emotion. You are not defective nor a failure for being sad, anxious, or lonely. Learning to be alone can aid in the creative process, navigating one’s subconscious, and invigorating a genuine sense of self. If loneliness is not changeable in one’s life, one must learn to utilize and cherish those moments as opportunities to discover beauty and solace.
Olivia Watling ‘23
Advisor: Marina Mangubi
All images copyright © 2023 Olivia Watling. All rights reserved.
Mystical Hues, Oil on canvas, 42” x 52”, 2023
Yearning, Oil on canvas, 36” x 48”, 2023
Rebirth and Serenity, Oil on canvas, 42” x 53”, predella: 42” x 16”, total: 42” x 70”, 2023
Curiosity is Embedded in the Hope for Something Better, Oil on canvas, 36.25 x 48”, 2023
Anxieties and Disasters, Oil on canvas, 36” x 48”, 2023