Dry Point
Long-Standing
20 cm x 15 cm
November 21, 2018
Exhibition Text
The theme of long-standing depicts one's ability to withstand the
torturous reality of life and continue to move on. The piece was inspired by artists
such as Rembrandt van Rijn and lucian Freud, with Mayan cultural elements installed. .
Long-Standing
20 cm x 15 cm
November 21, 2018
Exhibition Text
The theme of long-standing depicts one's ability to withstand the
torturous reality of life and continue to move on. The piece was inspired by artists
such as Rembrandt van Rijn and lucian Freud, with Mayan cultural elements installed. .
Cultural Investigation:
Long standing deals with the persona of overcoming the harsh and raucous components of reality, while remaining internally/externally durable to move on despite unpleasantness. I began my research with famous dry point artists who incorporated sincere and genuine vivid facial expressions that gave portrayed melancholic vibes internally, but inspirational vibes externally. Artists such as Rembrandt, influenced my piece, as he utilized vivid facial expressions in his work that really gave them depth and dimension. He did an exceptional job at construction facial features with cross-hatching to really convey his emotions accurately. Lucian Freud was also used as an inspiration, as I like the way he incorporated darker tone areas with lighter tone areas. Lastly, the Mayan culture was used as an influential element as well because I wanted to express a stab in my body to signify the idea of death internally of motivations, so I studied how the Mayan culture sacrificed people.
Long standing deals with the persona of overcoming the harsh and raucous components of reality, while remaining internally/externally durable to move on despite unpleasantness. I began my research with famous dry point artists who incorporated sincere and genuine vivid facial expressions that gave portrayed melancholic vibes internally, but inspirational vibes externally. Artists such as Rembrandt, influenced my piece, as he utilized vivid facial expressions in his work that really gave them depth and dimension. He did an exceptional job at construction facial features with cross-hatching to really convey his emotions accurately. Lucian Freud was also used as an inspiration, as I like the way he incorporated darker tone areas with lighter tone areas. Lastly, the Mayan culture was used as an influential element as well because I wanted to express a stab in my body to signify the idea of death internally of motivations, so I studied how the Mayan culture sacrificed people.
I used Rembrandt's "Eyes Wide Open" for my inspiration. I liked the way Rembrandt incorporated various facial directions and expressions in his works to display his emotions. I also appreciate how he utilized cross-hatching method to really create a sense of depth and dimension in his work. The way he constructed the mouth depicts how he is shocked and amazed at the same time. I wanted to incorporate deep/symbolic characteristics that express the state of overcoming harsh reality in life. I also wanted to put my face in various directions to test out how it will look for my piece.
Lucian Feud's drypoints prints were also utilized for the creation of Long-standing. Lucian did an exceptional job of incorporating darker areas with lighter areas as well to add contrast to his piece. The vivid dark areas blend in with the lighter areas which create a three dimensional effect on the viewer, as if the shirt is pointy and you can touch it. the vivid construction of the hair really ads solidarity to the composition. His use of a serious facial expression with cross-hatching really gives the piece the sense of a demoralized soul, which is what I wanted to display in my piece to a extent.
The Mayan culture was also heavily used for my inspiration. I studied how the mayans sacrificed people through exploring pictures. In the picture the killer has waves in his hair, which I made into flames to show rage and I also have a sword stabbed through my upper chest, to express how hard it can be to live on with all negatives heading your way. I wanted to express how a person's motivation is internally dead, with the Mayan culture sacrifice act, but also how a person must kill that negativity and move on for the greater good in life. People will try to kill your path, but you just have to move on is the type of mentality in my piece.
With my first planning sketch I wanted to display a vivid and serious facial that made me seem very locked in. I positioned my body in this way to capture the entire body features. I made flames in my hair to display rage and anger internally. The sword through my upper chest was constructed to express the negativity in life that tried to kill my motivation, but it also symbolizes strength as I am enduring through it. The blood pouring out creates a sense of external strength. But my face wasn't very clean nor my overall piece.
For my second sketch I got rid of the cross-hatching on my quads and eliminated the darker areas from my sword on the top of it. I also got rid of the cross-hatching in my eyebrows, to see how the composition will look with these factors being removed. I liked how the face was more clean with less cross-hatching in the eyebrows. I also made into a perfect square because I needed to complete my dry point on a square surface.
My third planning sketch was composed of a sword that I would hold with my internal organs falling out with blood scattered on the floor. The concept got a little to inappropriate for my theme and composition. The viewers would have been displeased and wouldn't have a comfortable artwork o view, it wold be a mesh up of thins floating around, so I chose not to incorporate that extreme level of violent orientation.
Experimentation
I began experimenting with my face tuned sideways to see how ti will reflect my theme. The way I turned body towards east, it made my entire body reveal itself quite accurately. I put my hands out wide imaging a sword through my upper chest to see if my composition would accurately depict my theme. This was very successful because this specific direction and a serious face tone, with contrast really allows the viewer to see the entirety of my physical features and thoughts. I liked how this picture displays unity, balance, and realistic depiction of my ideas concerning my piece. the serious face creates a sense of toughness, as i am facing adversity.
Then, I wanted to test out other directions and facial structure as well, to get the best quality depiction of my work. I lowered my head downwards to see if that created a major impact. It did create a impact, but a negative one, as I couldn't see my face so it wouldn't reveal my true thoughts, as my face is hiding, so viewers couldn't see my true state. Also, I had one arm down and one extending which created a weird sensation, as it wasn't balanced proportionally.
I also turned my body towards the center more downwards towards south. I also extended my hands out again to see how this appeared. The conflict with this was that again, I couldn't see my face at all basically and I didn't like my torso hanging downwards. It also doesn't capture my body features such as my pecs to show the sword go through it with blood pouring out near my upper chest. the structure seemed more like I am doing meditation or yoga which is not what I intended for.
Then I also stood up facing west, to see if the side pose would be the best way to go about things. The major issue is that I appear to be smirking, which eliminates my theme because it turns the phase of my composition to comicial. Also again my spinal cord is a little bend due to my posture hanging down which I didn't want at all. The biggest issue was the smile, which i couldn't have any way because it was meant to be a serious depiction not a comcicial one. Also this direction didn't really add contrast because there are to many dark areas, which provide no balance.
I also experimented by taking a close up of my face eliminating the majority of my arms, because I wanted to examine if I should just include a bloody face. I thought about having a sword come through my head and brain with blood peeling off like that. I didn't like my lips plugged in like that and i felt like I wasn't showing enough through just my face, rather than to include the entire body. I wanted to have more body features to add depth and dimension.
Process
1. The first step was to transform the drawing to the scratching surface using a etching needle, making sure that the plastic was off the surface. So after drawing the image on a paper, you had to then trace it on the scratching surface to accurately depict the image.
2. Then I grabbed water color paper and soaked in the water for 8 minutes with a timer on my phone for accuracy purposes.
3. I grabbed big pieces of paper to put underneath my piece for craftsmanship purposes. I also cut out little pieces of paper for cleaning my board once done inking. Then, I transformed Aldo black Ink with a spoon, by putting a little bead of Aldo ink on the top of my surface.
4. Then I took a squeegee and went back and forth with Aldo ink all over my composition until it was entirely filled up.
5. After that, I took my little pieces of scrap paper and cleaned out my compositions' surface gently, otherwise the Aldo would come off the defined areas.
6. I made sure to wipe off my composition's surface, to make it very clean from the edges and the center, in order for a better print. I tried to cleaning the image to the extent that it didn't remove the detailed points from the composition.
7. Then I dried my water color paper with a towel and placed it on top of my composition in the print making machine. I continuously moved the levers of the print making machine until the sheet came near the end, to get a better print.
8. Then, I took off the water color paper from my composition and saw print. Next, I used a chemical to clean off the aldo ink off my piece and the tools I used for the project. I put the materials back in to their respective places and let my print dry off on the drying rack for a day.
Reflection
I would say that this was one of my most successful projects so far this year. I really liked the way my print turned out, of course it could've been cleaner, but overall I was very satisfied with my print. I was able to use the elements of the Mayan culture through the flames and sword incorporation successfully. My piece also had elements of Rembrandt as I incorporated a vivid facial expression and contrast with darker and lighter areas. Lucian Feud was also in my piece because I created vivid hair and had contrast which add dimension. The hardest aspect of this project was cleaning the right amount of ink because you don't know what that amount necessarily is, it was a lot of trial and error, but I got mine the first time I did so it was quite good. the easiest part was moving the levers of the print making machine to make your print because it's just so simple. Overall it went pretty decent and nice I would say. i would maybe want to clean it up a bit more to make it more pleasing, but I am satisfied.
I would say that this was one of my most successful projects so far this year. I really liked the way my print turned out, of course it could've been cleaner, but overall I was very satisfied with my print. I was able to use the elements of the Mayan culture through the flames and sword incorporation successfully. My piece also had elements of Rembrandt as I incorporated a vivid facial expression and contrast with darker and lighter areas. Lucian Feud was also in my piece because I created vivid hair and had contrast which add dimension. The hardest aspect of this project was cleaning the right amount of ink because you don't know what that amount necessarily is, it was a lot of trial and error, but I got mine the first time I did so it was quite good. the easiest part was moving the levers of the print making machine to make your print because it's just so simple. Overall it went pretty decent and nice I would say. i would maybe want to clean it up a bit more to make it more pleasing, but I am satisfied.
Similarities
Some similarities were that I used contrast in my piece just like Lucian Freud used, with darker and lighter areas in my piece. I also incorporated a vivid face with a direction like rembrandt did in his piece. I utilized some of the Mayan culture aspects in my piece by making a sword go through my upper chest and flames on my head.
Differences
There were some differences as well in my piece when compared against my inspirations. For example the Mayan Culture was showing death of people physically, while in my piece I used it as a motivation and an internal killing of self-esteem in my piece.I also created a more serious tone than Rembrandt did because his was more about alarmed, while mine was really serious.
Some similarities were that I used contrast in my piece just like Lucian Freud used, with darker and lighter areas in my piece. I also incorporated a vivid face with a direction like rembrandt did in his piece. I utilized some of the Mayan culture aspects in my piece by making a sword go through my upper chest and flames on my head.
Differences
There were some differences as well in my piece when compared against my inspirations. For example the Mayan Culture was showing death of people physically, while in my piece I used it as a motivation and an internal killing of self-esteem in my piece.I also created a more serious tone than Rembrandt did because his was more about alarmed, while mine was really serious.
ACT Responses
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your art work? In my work I incorporated contrast that both Lucian Freud and Rembrandt incorporated in theirs. They both also used facial expressions through cross-hatching techniques, which I incorporated in my composition as well.
2.What is the overall approach (point of view) the author ( from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration? The authors that wrote about Lucian Feud very factual towards his works. They stated his works composed of lines, expressions, and vivid etailes no else may see in his work, especially his ability to create contrast.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration? I learned that Rembrandt was really into mythical, biblical, and creating generic scenes through expressions. He really was unique from the prolific style of barque in European artists.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my research was about overcoming the harsh truth of reality such as betrayal, racism, etc. and just grow stronger while enduring through it. I wanted to express how these elements just make you stronger than before.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
The inferences I made were that in life it's not a bed of roses or a rainbow of cotton, rather it is a cycle of failures, disappointment, and experimentation. In order to live life you have to take all the pain and put it on your back and transform it into motivation to move one and forget the past.
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your art work? In my work I incorporated contrast that both Lucian Freud and Rembrandt incorporated in theirs. They both also used facial expressions through cross-hatching techniques, which I incorporated in my composition as well.
2.What is the overall approach (point of view) the author ( from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration? The authors that wrote about Lucian Feud very factual towards his works. They stated his works composed of lines, expressions, and vivid etailes no else may see in his work, especially his ability to create contrast.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration? I learned that Rembrandt was really into mythical, biblical, and creating generic scenes through expressions. He really was unique from the prolific style of barque in European artists.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my research was about overcoming the harsh truth of reality such as betrayal, racism, etc. and just grow stronger while enduring through it. I wanted to express how these elements just make you stronger than before.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
The inferences I made were that in life it's not a bed of roses or a rainbow of cotton, rather it is a cycle of failures, disappointment, and experimentation. In order to live life you have to take all the pain and put it on your back and transform it into motivation to move one and forget the past.
Citations
Graham, Elizabeth Dr. There is no such thing as human sacrifice. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/home/no-such-thing-as-human-sacrifice
Rembrandt: Painter as Printmaker. ( n.d.) Retrieved from https://denverartmuseum.org/exhibitions/rembrandt-painter-printmaker
Lucian Freud: The Painter's Etchining. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/29
Graham, Elizabeth Dr. There is no such thing as human sacrifice. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/home/no-such-thing-as-human-sacrifice
Rembrandt: Painter as Printmaker. ( n.d.) Retrieved from https://denverartmuseum.org/exhibitions/rembrandt-painter-printmaker
Lucian Freud: The Painter's Etchining. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/29