My project collaboration surrounds the research of Elizabeth Anne Lada, who studies star formation, supernova, and molecular clouds. My work was visualized around my conversations with Dr. Lada on how stars move and change when they're on the brink of collapse.  010, 024, and 601 are all based on what I imagine to be different renditions of different stars.

010 is heavily based on a very close-up perspective view of infrared wavelengths in the stretching of interstellar space and molecules, as shown with the visualization of lines and blended brushwork. The cloudiness of the paint in the center is reminiscent of the molecular clouds that are always within interstellar space, where all material is collected densely and where new stars and planets form. 

As a star forms, it shines its light due to gravity, then collapses, and that collapse causes the formation of light. After the star is born, as they evolve, they go through nuclear fusion, creating all the elements of the universe. When they die, some die in explosive events that create more energy and create more elements. New chemical compositions form from different generations of stars, also dependent on the mass of the star. 024 was my interpretation of what the core of a star looks like as its nuclear fuel spills into itself and ruptures sporadically, causing a supernova. This radiation in the painting is exhibited by the core releasing light and supernova remnants into space. 

601 is representative of stars living part of their life in a stable configuration where two forces are balancing out (inward force of gravity trying to collapse the star and pressure pushing out).  601 is reminiscent of nebulae, where the atmosphere of the star gets expelled into space. Because they’re very hot, they shine very different colors. 601 is representative of Reflection Nebula which are less massive stars; their light will go out and reflect off the dust in giant molecular clouds.