This one, Hands Off! (#4), belongs to Hands Off Our Children! series. Mixed medium on paper, 14x22 inches, unframed. I mixed vibrant acrylic colors. The piece has multiple layers of paint, markers, various recycled materials including existentialist literature, plastic chocolate wrapping paper and yarn. I freely used my fingers, brushes and palette knives. Present in this painting and the whole series are four elements of significance: a touch of gold along with yarn, recycled chocolate wraps and pages from Albert Camus's printed literary work. To me, the vibrancy in this painting represents healthy childhood with all that it entails such as joyful thoughts, carefree attitude, happiness and wonder. The gold underlines children's value, the recycled chocolate wraps and yarn emphasize children's innocence while Camus's philosophy represents the silent suffering of children worldwide and the significance of protecting minors from ugly souls and traumatic experiences.
