Project #5 (Digital Collage) - Generations
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Exhibition TextTitle: Generations
Medium: Digital Illustration Size: 38.47 in x 30.69 in Time of Completion: December 2018 Generations is a digital illustration, of which has been primarily inspired by the various collages from French artist: Henri Matisse. Through a similar usage of vibrant colors, familiar shapes, as well as a consistent pattern, Generations attempts to communicate the significance of family and the knowledge of your heritage. More specifically, similarly to Matisse, “The Sheaf,” this digital illustration uses familiar shapes colored with vibrant colors in order to showcase a diversity of objects. |
Critical Investigation/Artistic Inspiration
My digital illustration piece was primarily inspired by the abstract expressionism movement that took place during the 1930s in both the United States and some parts of Europe. As a result of severe politically instability during this time period, several artists reacted with abstract expressionism in attempts to combat the chaos and ruggedness of their surrounding environment. Artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooling ,and Franz Kline - of which were previously subjected to creating provincial and generally stereotypical artwork - started to expand past the conventional boundaries of certain artworks at the time. The idea of avante garde artwork was quickly becoming popular amongst the artist community, and paved the way for the United States to be internationally recognized as a hub for modern artwork. Heavily inspired by the Surrealist art movement, abstract expressionism similarly showcased feelings of both trauma and anxiety, but in a new style than previously seen. In addition to this, abstract expressionism captured aspects of figurative painting that similarly grew more commonplace during the 1930s.
From this art movement, I primarily took inspiration from artists Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline, both of which were proclaimed abstract expressionists. Franz Kline was an American artist most known for his large black and white works, of which were intended to showcase motifs considering confidence and similar emotions. Originally a realist, following his meeting with Willem de Kooling, Franz Kline started creating increasing amounts of abstract artworks. His various abstract works - of which include the series of black and white pieces - frequently contained a series of motifs, structure, powerful contrasts, as well as hidden messages. However, as Kline’s work continued to increase in popularity, Kline grew considerably reluctant to share the hidden meanings of his works to the public. Even today, several art critics debate the intentions behind his works such as, “Black and White No. 2” (1960), and “Chief” (1950). These two pieces were major inspirations for my illustration, as I felt his technique could express powerful emotion without being overly dramatic or dynamic. In addition to Franz Kline, abstract expressionism Jackson Pollock was a primary inspiration to create my illustration. Known for his famous ‘drip paintings’ Jackson Pollock was a well known abstract expressionist that used his paintings in order to emphasize an idea of human entrapment and anxiety, as the unusual works were described as being entirely unique and modern within the artist community. The two pieces from Jackson Pollock that I felt most inspired by are formally known as, “Blue Poles,” (1952) and “Mural” (1943). |
CBS News. “Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs.” CBS News, CBS
Interactive, 11 Jan. 2015, www.cbsnews.com/pictures/henri- matisse-the-cut-outs/15/. |
Planning Sketch #1
Planning Sketch #2
Planning Sketch #3
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Planning PhaseTo start off my planning phase, I started working with themes of loss and decay in my attempts to connect my new artwork to the overarching theme present within my previous pieces. However, as I began working with this artwork, I quickly started feeling disdain towards my project as I felt it too closely referenced my inspiration from Snow White.
After this I started focusing on broader themes of illusion and identity, and by doing this I attempted to sketch a deer that had been manipulated so that it showcased themes of confusion and decay opposed to warmth and familiarity one typically feels when seeing wildlife. For the final “planning sketch” I actually took inspiration from an older painting of mine from a few years ago of a handprint that I made. I originally had made the painting in attempts to showcase themes of family and unison, however the medium limited me from doing so. As a result of this, I decided to revisit this piece, and furthermore attempt to edit the piece so that it more efficiently conveyed the desired theme. However, I additionally wanted to put a spin on the piece so that it connected more closely to the themes I had presented within older artworks, of which generally centered around loss and emotional distress. |
Process
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Experimentation
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In contrast to previous pieces I’ve created, the experimentation phase of this digital illustration played a vastly more significant role in the presentation of this artwork. Instead of the experimentation occurring in short bursts, the whole process of placing and adjusting the various handprints within my illustration took place throughout the entirety of the creation of this piece. Furthermore, this experimentation phase differs from previous experimentation phases, as the features of my piece that I was considering changing were smaller, and furthermore had less of an intensity to them. Admittingly I didn’t make any substantial changes to Generations, most of which instead involved the hands that are present throughout the entire artwork.
These changes to my artwork generally were solely to improve the visual presentation of my work, and never really had a significant impact on the theme being communicated through my work. Although I wish I would have challenged myself more with this piece, I feel that it would have been hard to both complicate my artwork and keep the illustration connected to the various inspirations. |
Reflection
In general, although I can appreciate my piece’s overall connection to my artistic inspiration, I generally feel displeased with the artwork, as it neither connects strongly to my overarching theme, nor does the illustration show any advanced technique. The piece looks considerably simple overall, but still has a decent amount of refinement within it. The smooth cuts of the objects, the variety of shapes presented within the piece, and the attention/consistent reference to the artistic inspirations showcase this refinement, but contrastingly do not reflect a severe amount of complexity.
Similarly, in consideration to my theme, although I’m happy with the message presented within this piece by itself, I’m unhappy with the fact that the message doesn’t connect to the overarching theme that’s present throughout the rest of my work. If I were to redo this artwork, I would attempt to somehow connect the piece to themes of loss or something similar so that it would more strongly connect to the other artworks within my series.
Similarly, in consideration to my theme, although I’m happy with the message presented within this piece by itself, I’m unhappy with the fact that the message doesn’t connect to the overarching theme that’s present throughout the rest of my work. If I were to redo this artwork, I would attempt to somehow connect the piece to themes of loss or something similar so that it would more strongly connect to the other artworks within my series.
Connecting to the ACT
1) Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
2) What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
4) What was the central theme or idea around your inspirational research?
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions based on your evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
- It was primarily through the use of color, shape, and contrast I was able to establish a series in-depth connections between my triptych painting and my inspiration pieces. Specifically, it was through the use of these Elements of Art - as well as various Principles of Design - that I was able to capture the themes and general the general appearance presented within the abstract expressionist movement. The vibrant colors create distinct visual connections to my inspiration pieces, while the idea of using these colors and shapes to showcase emotion in abstract ways also captures a common trend in the abstract expressionist movement.
2) What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
- Throughout my researching process, the authors I referred to typically focused on discussing the trends surrounding the more popular artists from the abstract expressionist movement, as well as their relationships with one other. This is in opposition to the discussion of common characteristics within the movement itself, and furthermore the discussion of the factors that specifically influenced the start of the abstract expressionist movement. This was beneficial to my research process, as various sources had input on my inspirations.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
- Primarily, I have come to the conclusion that the abstract expressionist movement was a considerably short, and furthermore that this movement frequently took aspects from other movements and altered them in new ways. This can be observed through the colors from the Impressionist movement, as well as the darker themes and abstraction from the Surrealism movement. Furthermore, I have realized that the abstract expressionist movement only consisted of a few artists major artists, opposed to it being a wide spread movement.
4) What was the central theme or idea around your inspirational research?
- The central theme that I focused on investigating throughout my inspirational research was the abstract presentation of emotion through various artistic elements such as shape and color. This idea is presented within certain abstract expressionist pieces, of which ultimately lead to me using the movement as my primary source of inspiration.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions based on your evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
- Throughout the process of conducting research, I concluded that color, line, and shape have much larger impacts on art then I initially thought. In most paintings, we tend to overlook Elements of Art such as color and line, yet through my investigation I was able to observe how much it affects the overall appearance of the abstract expressionist pieces I used as my inspiration.
Bibliography
CBS News. “Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 11 Jan. 2015, www.cbsnews.com/pictures/henri-matisse-the-cut-outs/15/.
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“Henri Matisse Biography.” Henri Matisse, www.henrimatisse.org/.
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“Henri Matisse Overview and Analysis.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/artist-matisse-henri.htm.
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“Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs.” Lee Bontecou. Untitled. 1959 | MoMA, www.moma.org/audio/playlist/6/312.
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“Large Decoration with Masks.” Artist Info, www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.53814.html.
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“Henri Matisse Biography.” Henri Matisse, www.henrimatisse.org/.
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“Henri Matisse Overview and Analysis.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/artist-matisse-henri.htm.
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“Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs.” Lee Bontecou. Untitled. 1959 | MoMA, www.moma.org/audio/playlist/6/312.
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“Large Decoration with Masks.” Artist Info, www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.53814.html.