In Bloom
Artwork Description
“Like many people, I feel things intensely. I am fortunate, because I am able to convey my heart and share my passion onto canvas. Know that when you see my work, it is coming from a very sincere place.” —Henry Asencio
In Bloom, an image created specifically for the American Heart Association, speaks of the survivors’ struggle and triumph over cardiovascular disease. The creative process was aided by an incredible muse. “At first,” explains the artist, “I just wanted somebody who had striking features, I was think purely in aesthetic terms, but when I met the model, I knew she was the one for this project. Her life has been directly impacted by heart disease. Her brother passing away from complications of the heart and her herself had heart failure twice in her early twenties. She is such an inspiration, she is so positive and so uplifting, I just knew that she was the perfect model for this piece.”
Reacting to the model and her story, Asencio was able to capture sentiment and delicate resolve, by orchestrating the pose, color and composition. Asencio emphasizes raw elements of abstraction that balance the graceful, delicate and beauty of his model. She gently gestures to her heart, bringing together subtle imagery with the powerful message. The artist explains, “In this painting I wanted to illustrate not only the refined beauty of my model but the struggle and the strength that she possesses.” Known for his dichotomy between solace and chaos, Asencio takes a challenging state and contrasts it with eloquence and hope.
Asencio attests, “It’s an honor to share this painting with so many people, because it conveys a sense of triumph and displays who I am as an artist.”
