Reflections? – Original 16x20 Ovular Acrylic Painting on Canvas

Reflections? – Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas (16x20 Oval)

What do we truly see when we look in the mirror? Is it only our surface, or is something deeper being revealed—or even taken away? Reflections? is an original 16x20 ovular acrylic painting on canvas that dares to ask that very question. This surreal and atmospheric piece blends realism with abstraction, evoking themes of identity, essence, and the haunting uncertainty of self-perception.

The composition centers on a young woman seated before a vanity. At first glance, it is familiar: dark wooden tones, subtle golden accents in the mirror’s frame, and soft shadows stretching across the canvas. Her shirt—painted with delicate blends of violets, reds, and pinks—introduces warmth against the cooler palette of blues and blacks that dominate the background. Yet, the closer you look, the more unsettling the image becomes.

Her reflection, though present, is faceless. The mirror captures her form but withholds her identity, as though something essential is missing—or being stolen. Is it simply an incomplete reflection, or is the mirror itself alive, pulling her essence into its unseen depths? The faceless figure creates a void where the viewer expects recognition, turning the everyday act of looking into the mirror into something mysterious, almost otherworldly.

Shadows and color play a crucial role in building the mood. Deep blues and blacks provide a weighty, contemplative atmosphere, while the muted violets and rich browns suggest both fragility and groundedness. The hints of gold in the mirror’s trim shimmer with an otherworldly quality, balancing elegance with unease. Together, these colors weave a visual tension—beauty clashing with ambiguity, serenity disrupted by the unknown.

Like much of Jackie Harris’s work, Reflections? invites layered interpretations. Some see it as a meditation on identity, the faceless reflection symbolizing the struggle to understand who we truly are beneath societal roles and expectations. Others may view it as a commentary on vulnerability, the sense that we are not fully in control of how we are perceived—or how much of ourselves is taken by the act of being seen. Still others may feel a supernatural undertone, as though the mirror is more than an object, acting as a portal or force pulling at the subject’s soul.

This ambiguity is the painting’s strength. The title’s question mark emphasizes its open-ended nature, prompting the viewer to linger, to ask, and to wrestle with their own interpretations. Is it just a reflection? Or something more?

Details:

• Title: Reflections?

• Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

• Dimensions: 16” x 20” (Oval)

• Colors: Dark blues, blacks, violets, red/pink, browns, golds

• Style: Surreal, Figurative, Contemporary Fine Art

• Signed by the artist, Jackie Harris

This one-of-a-kind painting is more than wall art—it is a conversation starter, a mood setter, and a profound statement piece for any collection. Whether displayed in a modern living space, a gallery wall, or an intimate personal corner, Reflections? will draw viewers in with its quiet yet powerful presence.

Bring home a work that asks the questions many avoid: what do we see when we face ourselves? And are we ever truly looking?