Date of Award
Spring 5-8-2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts
Department
Art
First Advisor
Chris Talbot
Second Advisor
Shaun Roberts
Third Advisor
David Lewis
Fourth Advisor
Lindsey Creel
Fifth Advisor
Kevin West
Abstract
Thresholds focuses on liminal spaces, moments of change, and those who cross these boundaries. For instance, transitions from the old to the new, unconscious to conscious, the known to the unknown, or where man meets nature. Sometimes, I think of them as a threshold where both sides are trying to cross simultaneously, but the door is only big enough for one to fit. The scenes in these paintings focus on the figure set in the contemporary world, referencing symbols of classical paintings, mythology, and philosophy.
The scenes are dynamic and driven by the expressiveness of the human figure and the use of environmental storytelling. They are executed in a classical style, melding past and present. This work is an exercise in rediscovering a sense of wonder in our world, the grandeur of nature and symbolism found in work from artists like Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velasquez, and Frank Frazetta—themes of heroism, romance, adventure, tragedy, and the enduring appeal of the imagination. The stories contain timeless messages and imagery that remain relevant today.
Repository Citation
Blank, Dagon, "Thresholds" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 665.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/665
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
