Imprimatura by Elizabeth Ballou
Content warning: Brief verbal descriptions of a loved one dying of cancer; a verbal description of a car accident involving a death; some descriptions of anxiety, depression, emotional abuse, and the threat of physical abuse. Light cursing.
Meditative, slice-of-life artgame (literally!) • Half an hour • Choice-based • Web-based
The first line of the blurb is: “Imprimatura (It.): the first layer of paint on a canvas.” Combined with the tags, the game likely revolves around creating an imprimatura or finishing one. Perhaps the player finishes an imprimatura that the “loved one dying of cancer” started. And as the player paints, they remember more about their tumultuous past and their relationship with that loved one, ultimately reflecting that in the paintings.
Or the player is creating an imprimatura, struggling with their anxiety and depression from their past and painting their emotions and memories onto the canvas as a coping mechanism.
TLDR: past memories, present paintings, future possibilities