Planning Sketches
The message I wanted this piece to represent is sadness relating to potential happiness. I knew from the get go I wanted to portray this depressive tone based on the position/expression of the face. I looked at the work of Kathe Kollwitz. I've researched her in the past and I am aware of the type of self portraits she created. They usually have somber/ sorrowful tones to them. I chose to use her piece entitled, Self Portrait With Hand on the Forehead to make the tone of my piece recognizable. |
Inspiration
Process
Painting Process
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The materials I used for this painting were an assortment of acrylic painting and various flat and round paintbrushes that ranged in size. The first thing I did was paint the canvas with a wash of the background color I had decided. I then projected the image I was painting onto my canvas and traced it using pencil. I then began laying in the darker parts of the piece like my hair, eyes, eyebrows, and lips. I then moved on to mixing skin tones and lighter shades and began to place them accordingly. After this I began detailing with painting my piercings and earrings along with the shirt.
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Experimentation
Since I have very little experience as a painter I can come to the conclusion that almost every technique and step I did can be considered experimentation. Using different colors to represent highlights in shadows was certainly a trial and error process that took many attempts to get right. I also experimented using heavy gel to create texture to my piece. I thought this would add more texture and make the painting look more interesting but after applying thick coats of paint I decided that the paint looked better smooth and flat. I also played around with the use of pallet knives as opposed to a paintbrush. Going into this idea I was confident that this would be a faster way to paint and that it would create even more texture to the painting. However, when using the knife I found it very difficult to control the paint. Moreover, I decided standard paintbrushes would be a better choice.
Reflection
My self portrait is inspired by the the work of Kathe Kollwitz, and Ivana Besevic. I took inspiration from Self Portrait With Hand on the Forehead because it conveyed a similar tone I wanted to use in my piece. Due to Kollwitz's expression and positioning of her hand, a somber gloomy tone is in effect. My influence the work of Ivana Besevic. I studied portraits by Besevic as a reference to help me with color placement. My work is different than Kollwitz's self portrait due to the fact that we used different mediums and her face is positioned straight on where as mine is turned. The pieces are alike because the positioning is similar (hand on forehead and dull expression) and that the figure positioning conveys a serious and somewhat depressive tone. My work can be contrasted against Ivana Besevic's because the objects in which we painted are not the same. I can contrast my work with these two artists because the use of color is not literal and an interpretation of the shadows and highlights differ. Besevic used a similar color scheme as I did as well as used the same mediums. Overall, I am pleased with the final product of my piece. I have always steered away from painting because it is a skill I have never have worked on developing and I was surprised with my ability to paint during this project despite it being one of the very few times I have ever painted. During painting I experienced many struggles such as making the colors in my piece blend without appearing splotchy, correct coloration and proportion. If I were to do a similar piece again I would make sure that my face was outlined with absolute accuracy and that I had a better planning sketch so I would know what colors went where, therefore improving the quality of the finished piece. In conclusion, despite the struggle I am proud of what I painted because going into this project I was very unconfident with my ability to paint.
ACT Questions
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
The color placement and painting technique that I used in my piece are clearly representative of the work of Ivana Besevic. It is also obvious due to the positioning of my figure, that Kathe Kollwitz was one of my inspirations.
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 Kathe Kollwitz and Ivana Besevic I carried over a similar tone Kollwitz uses as well was inspired by the color scheme and techniques of Besevic.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Prior to this project, I knew very little about painting and different techniques of painting. I have learned through researching techniques there are many ways to express the theme of a piece.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted my theme to coincide with the theme of relationships. More specifically, the relationship a person has with themselves and how there is unnoticed positivity inside them despite them being sad.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
I was able to conclude where to place colors and where the placement of shadows and highlights would be based on painting I studied and referenced.
The color placement and painting technique that I used in my piece are clearly representative of the work of Ivana Besevic. It is also obvious due to the positioning of my figure, that Kathe Kollwitz was one of my inspirations.
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 Kathe Kollwitz and Ivana Besevic I carried over a similar tone Kollwitz uses as well was inspired by the color scheme and techniques of Besevic.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Prior to this project, I knew very little about painting and different techniques of painting. I have learned through researching techniques there are many ways to express the theme of a piece.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted my theme to coincide with the theme of relationships. More specifically, the relationship a person has with themselves and how there is unnoticed positivity inside them despite them being sad.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
I was able to conclude where to place colors and where the placement of shadows and highlights would be based on painting I studied and referenced.