Touch
22cm x 15cm Block Print September, 2017 (click to enlarge)
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Exhibition Text Touch was inspired by German Expressionism and Impressionism. I took inspiration from Kathe Kollwitz's The Widow I, Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, and Starry Night by Van Gogh. This piece was made through the block printing process and is representing the theme of relationships and conveys the message of how a person can change someone else. |
Inspiration
Planning
Planning Sketches
Planning Sketches
Initially I had a jumble of ideas while brainstorming this project. All I knew for sure at first is that I wanted my piece to incorporate hands, because the shape of a hand can represent a general theme I as going for- relationships. From there, I began sketching and my ideas developed into various ideas. In this sketch, you will see a variety of concepts I had before I began to sort out, organize, and develop the final sketches for my piece. |
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I chose to incorporate a spin on Michelangelo's piece, Creation of Adam. I was inspired to do this because while sketching hands I found myself drawn to this hand in particular and how the pose of it looks very weak and that would fit with the concept of my piece. I altered Adam's hand to appear much more skinny. This went along with my mood of desperation because the position of the fingers appear to be reaching out for something, that they can't quite reach. Also the way the hand is very thin and boney conveys being on the brink of hopelessness. I liked this concept but felt I had a stronger design in mind so I moved on to what would be my final sketch.
The final design I as quite pleased with. I took all the elements from my initial jumble of sketches and incorporated them into one fluid idea. One thing I did differently in this sketch was look more closely at Kollwitz's The Widow I, and I studied the form she used in her hands. It was then I decided not to use gradients to show dimension and value but to use a simple light and dark color scale- no transition colors. I also added God's hand from Creation of Adam. I felt like the theme behind my piece was clearer this way. There is a weak hand reaching out to a stronger one that is more powerful. The third piece I took inspiration from was the sky of Van Gogh's, Starry Night. I used the Van Gogh's style of thin compacted brushstrokes to create movement. In my piece these strokes represent the positive and strong energy flowing from one hand to the other. In conclusion, with all these elements added in my piece's theme of relationships was much more apparent and executed better than my previous sketches so I chose this one to be my final design before starting the printing process.
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Process
Experimentation
During this project I experimented with many different ideas. I was constantly adding to and changing my planning sketches. It took me a good amount of thought, time, and consideration to decide on a final sketch. While drawing, I constantly reminded myself that my drawings' colors would be inverted in the final print so after drawing I took pictures of my sketches and inverted the colors using my phone so my vision for the final print would be clearer. Also, while sketching I found myself constantly looking at my own hands to increase my accuracy. After this, I free-hand drew my design onto the linoleum. I found this quite challenging despite I am usually confident in my drawing abilities. It was then, after struggling, that I used the carbon transfer method. On the back of the paper I used to sketch on I added graphite then placed it over the linoleum and traced my design on. I was quite pleased with how it came out and after cleaning up the lines and making them more precise I was able to being carving. It took me multiple tries until I was decently pleased with how my print came out. After seeing my first print was blotchy in some areas, I adjusted the amount of ink I used. After this, my prints still didn't come out as clean and precise as I would have liked them to, so I made sure to apply a heavy amount of pressure while using the barren to get cleaner prints. Things still weren't going the way I'd liked them to so I added more ink but then was dissatisfied because there was too much ink on the print and filled in some of the cuts I made. I toned it back on the ink in the next (and last) print I did and I applied the right amount of pressure and ink and eventually developed the perfect print.
During this project I experimented with many different ideas. I was constantly adding to and changing my planning sketches. It took me a good amount of thought, time, and consideration to decide on a final sketch. While drawing, I constantly reminded myself that my drawings' colors would be inverted in the final print so after drawing I took pictures of my sketches and inverted the colors using my phone so my vision for the final print would be clearer. Also, while sketching I found myself constantly looking at my own hands to increase my accuracy. After this, I free-hand drew my design onto the linoleum. I found this quite challenging despite I am usually confident in my drawing abilities. It was then, after struggling, that I used the carbon transfer method. On the back of the paper I used to sketch on I added graphite then placed it over the linoleum and traced my design on. I was quite pleased with how it came out and after cleaning up the lines and making them more precise I was able to being carving. It took me multiple tries until I was decently pleased with how my print came out. After seeing my first print was blotchy in some areas, I adjusted the amount of ink I used. After this, my prints still didn't come out as clean and precise as I would have liked them to, so I made sure to apply a heavy amount of pressure while using the barren to get cleaner prints. Things still weren't going the way I'd liked them to so I added more ink but then was dissatisfied because there was too much ink on the print and filled in some of the cuts I made. I toned it back on the ink in the next (and last) print I did and I applied the right amount of pressure and ink and eventually developed the perfect print.
Reflection
I was influenced by the artwork of Kathe Kollwitz, Michelangelo, and Van Gogh. After seeing the hands Kollwitz included in The Widow I, I was inspired to use hands in my piece because it went well with my theme of relationships. Despite us using different poses and forms of hands, the etching technique between my work and her's was similar due to the fact that lighter parts represented shadows. I used Michelangelo's Creation of Adam as an influence and did my own interpenetration of the hands of God and Adam and made Adam's hand much skinnier. Lastly, I wanted my piece to incorporate the element of movement so I used Van Gogh's Starry Night as an inspiration. I used the same style in my lines as he did but did this through an etching technique- not through brushstrokes. I am fairly happy with how my final print came out. I was most concerned about my lines not being thin enough and deep enough but I was able to achieve success in these areas. Although I am pleased with my piece I feel like I could do better in the future. If I did this again the one thing I would change is to add more dimension to the hands and make them look even more realistic. It took a lot of trial and error during the printing process but after getting the perfect combination of ink and pressing I was able to produce a perfect print. One of my greatest challenges throughout this project was picking a theme/ sketch and sticking to it. It took a lot of thought but I'm happy that I chose to go with the inspirations that I did. I am especially happy that I was able to combine three great artists and artwork into one piece. Also, I was a little nervous about carving on linoleum since it had been around four years since I had done so and I'm much more confident with pencil and paper. Despite this, I was glad I got to try something I hadn't done in a while and was able to see what I could do using an unfamiliar medium.
I was influenced by the artwork of Kathe Kollwitz, Michelangelo, and Van Gogh. After seeing the hands Kollwitz included in The Widow I, I was inspired to use hands in my piece because it went well with my theme of relationships. Despite us using different poses and forms of hands, the etching technique between my work and her's was similar due to the fact that lighter parts represented shadows. I used Michelangelo's Creation of Adam as an influence and did my own interpenetration of the hands of God and Adam and made Adam's hand much skinnier. Lastly, I wanted my piece to incorporate the element of movement so I used Van Gogh's Starry Night as an inspiration. I used the same style in my lines as he did but did this through an etching technique- not through brushstrokes. I am fairly happy with how my final print came out. I was most concerned about my lines not being thin enough and deep enough but I was able to achieve success in these areas. Although I am pleased with my piece I feel like I could do better in the future. If I did this again the one thing I would change is to add more dimension to the hands and make them look even more realistic. It took a lot of trial and error during the printing process but after getting the perfect combination of ink and pressing I was able to produce a perfect print. One of my greatest challenges throughout this project was picking a theme/ sketch and sticking to it. It took a lot of thought but I'm happy that I chose to go with the inspirations that I did. I am especially happy that I was able to combine three great artists and artwork into one piece. Also, I was a little nervous about carving on linoleum since it had been around four years since I had done so and I'm much more confident with pencil and paper. Despite this, I was glad I got to try something I hadn't done in a while and was able to see what I could do using an unfamiliar medium.
ACT Responses
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
My first source of inspiration came from the style Kollwitz uses in her etchings. I used the technique she used in which the etched out sections were used as the shadows. Also I studied the style in which she drew he hands and mimicked them in my piece. Secondly, I took inspiration from Michelangelo's Creation of Adam and used the hands in that piece to help connect with my a mood of desperation. Lastly, Starry Night by Van Gogh inspired me to use impressionism like etches to create a visual of movement.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
I was inspired by Kollwitz's and Michelangelo's points of view. I was influenced by Kollwitz because the meaning behind her work is very gloomy and dark and she uses her technique to reflect this. I also took inspiration from Michelangelo because one of the things Creation of Adam conveys is giving life to someone, which is similar to my theme.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I learned that the themes behind the German Expressionism movement are based around the depressing hardships people were facing during the aftermath of World I.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted my theme to be expressed through the technique I used. I wanted it to be centered around relationships and also wanted to incorporate the tone of desperation.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
I made inferences about the techniques I researched and how I planned to use them in my project. This helped the vision for my piece become clear in my head.
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
My first source of inspiration came from the style Kollwitz uses in her etchings. I used the technique she used in which the etched out sections were used as the shadows. Also I studied the style in which she drew he hands and mimicked them in my piece. Secondly, I took inspiration from Michelangelo's Creation of Adam and used the hands in that piece to help connect with my a mood of desperation. Lastly, Starry Night by Van Gogh inspired me to use impressionism like etches to create a visual of movement.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
I was inspired by Kollwitz's and Michelangelo's points of view. I was influenced by Kollwitz because the meaning behind her work is very gloomy and dark and she uses her technique to reflect this. I also took inspiration from Michelangelo because one of the things Creation of Adam conveys is giving life to someone, which is similar to my theme.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I learned that the themes behind the German Expressionism movement are based around the depressing hardships people were facing during the aftermath of World I.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted my theme to be expressed through the technique I used. I wanted it to be centered around relationships and also wanted to incorporate the tone of desperation.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
I made inferences about the techniques I researched and how I planned to use them in my project. This helped the vision for my piece become clear in my head.