So Poe by Sherry Dellaria-McGrath
Sherry Dellaria-McGrath’s So Poe demonstrates the artist’s ability to express literary aesthetics through visual art. So Poe depicts the legendary raven in one of Edgar Allan Poe’s greatest poems, The Raven. Literary critics frequently examine the poem for its expression of mystery, the grotesque, and the supernatural. Dellaria-McGrath’s So Poe captures the essences of these literary components through design, texture and color.
Dellaria-McGrath’s design masterfully incorporates aspects of the original poem in extraordinary detail. So Poe features the raven perched upon a tree branch beneath the moonlight. The raven is the most dominant visual aesthetic throughout the art piece. Its shape and posture reflects that of the raven in the original poem, as it were perched upon a bust above the narrator’s chamber door. So Poe’s design highlights this extraordinary image under the bright lights of the shining moon, giving observers the opportunity to experience the image from a new perspective.
The tree branch in So Poe represents vividly the literary concept of the grotesque that is present in the original poem and throughout the many works of Edgar Allan Poe. The branch’s detail, a significant visual component of the art, tells a story of its own upon observation. The art suggests that both the branch and the raven are on respective journeys in addition to the parallel relationship they have with each other. Notice the detail in the branch’s downward arch and emphasis on its end points, it functions like a human hand attempting to stretch away from the raven above. The expression of movement and emotion within the branch represents an excellent juxtaposition with the raven’s attitude and posture.
The changes in physical texture add even more unique detail to the work of art. The acrylic paint provides a striking natural tone to the painting. Notice how the moon and the night sky appear with realistic lighting and shading. The artistic decision to use sparkle paint and paper mache provide visually stunning layers of texture to the art.
Art by Sherry Dellaria-McGrath
View the artist’s collections on ShopVIda and Fine Art America
