Artwork: Dry Point
Concealment
Dry Point
(Size 20.5 cm X 15 cm)
September 2017
Dry Point
(Size 20.5 cm X 15 cm)
September 2017
Exhibition Text
The focus of my piece was to carry out the idea of how girls are seen in society nowadays. We might not be told to do certain things, but we are greatly influenced by the actions that many take. I chose my culture to help me create this piece. I incorporated catrinas, which are elegant sugar skulls. They were created by Jose Guadalupe Posada, an illustrator who greatly influenced Diego Rivera. Both of them served as my inspiration as well as their elegant skeletons.
Process
1. Brainstorming.
As I began thinking about what I would do for my project I came upon the idea of self image. I thought about how much girls can be concerned about their looks and the actions they take to cover their imperfections. Because I tend to see this often I made that my theme.
As I began thinking about what I would do for my project I came upon the idea of self image. I thought about how much girls can be concerned about their looks and the actions they take to cover their imperfections. Because I tend to see this often I made that my theme.
2. Planning/Sketched
Because I already had my theme I began to sketch out ideas that I could possibly use.
Because I already had my theme I began to sketch out ideas that I could possibly use.
Sketch #!:
The first sketch that I made represents a girl holding up a mirror. In the mirror she looks like a skeleton, but if you look at the legs you can notice that they are thin. It represents how she is viewed by society and how she would like to look. She wants to look thinner, because skinny is pretty in society. I plan to make her standing up while holding a mirror because that is the best sketch that will help others understand my theme. I also plan to leave the background with that design because that brings the focus on the girl in the mirror. |
Sketch #2.
The second sketch is a close up from the first sketch. It has the same theme, but the way in which it is conveyed is different. Here it would be a bit more difficult to understand it without context. This is because of the fact that the mirror is no longer there, instead the girl is a complete skeleton only with flowers and hair. She is portrayed as a skeleton because, like I said before, in society the skinnier you are the prettier you are, and so I wanted to keep her that way. She also has designs that were inspired from a sugar skull to represent the use of makeup.
Sketch #3
The third sketch that I made is a girl with her face half painted like a catrina, also known as an elegant sugar skull. She represents what girls tend to do to feel prettier. They hide behind makeup, which makes them feel better about themselves, and they follow trends such as flowers and having their hair down. I plan to leave the girl the same way. I think that the close up can really bring my theme out, specially the concept of only having half of her face painted.
The second sketch is a close up from the first sketch. It has the same theme, but the way in which it is conveyed is different. Here it would be a bit more difficult to understand it without context. This is because of the fact that the mirror is no longer there, instead the girl is a complete skeleton only with flowers and hair. She is portrayed as a skeleton because, like I said before, in society the skinnier you are the prettier you are, and so I wanted to keep her that way. She also has designs that were inspired from a sugar skull to represent the use of makeup.
Sketch #3
The third sketch that I made is a girl with her face half painted like a catrina, also known as an elegant sugar skull. She represents what girls tend to do to feel prettier. They hide behind makeup, which makes them feel better about themselves, and they follow trends such as flowers and having their hair down. I plan to leave the girl the same way. I think that the close up can really bring my theme out, specially the concept of only having half of her face painted.
3. Research
When I was finished planning what my sketch would look like I searched up tips for making a dry point.
When I was finished planning what my sketch would look like I searched up tips for making a dry point.
- http://www.handprinted.co.uk/ramblings/drypoint-printing
- http://minu.co.nz/en_EN/how-to-drypoint-on-perspex-plexi-glass/
4. Carving out in Plexiglass
When carving out the piece I made an outline of the face, hair, and body. This helped me with setting the piece back to it's place when removed. Then I began by carving out the details in the face. I used crosshatching for shaded areas in the face and body while I used thick lines for the rest. Parts like the area in the eye and lips were made with plenty of thin lines which helped create the shaded effect. In the other hand the other parts had more simplistic lines which created a clear outline of the features. The deepness of the lines depended on the area. If it was a part that was supposed to be shaded, the lines were thin and the deepness was just enough to be able to feel it if you passed your fingers on top of it. In the other hand, the areas that were not shaded were made deeper.
When carving out the piece I made an outline of the face, hair, and body. This helped me with setting the piece back to it's place when removed. Then I began by carving out the details in the face. I used crosshatching for shaded areas in the face and body while I used thick lines for the rest. Parts like the area in the eye and lips were made with plenty of thin lines which helped create the shaded effect. In the other hand the other parts had more simplistic lines which created a clear outline of the features. The deepness of the lines depended on the area. If it was a part that was supposed to be shaded, the lines were thin and the deepness was just enough to be able to feel it if you passed your fingers on top of it. In the other hand, the areas that were not shaded were made deeper.
Carved out Plexiglass
*Note: Plexiglass has ink that remained after printing ocurred
|
5. Dry Point Printing Process
When finished carving I began the process for printing out my piece. I began by soaking heavy paper in a bucket of water, then I spread ink on the Plexiglass with a paint knife. By doing this I was making sure that every part that was scratched had ink. I then transitioned to wiping off the ink with paper. This took several minutes. I had to make sure that the plate was clean enough so that the print would come out. The next step was to remove the paper from the bucket and pat it with rags so that it wouldn't be soaking wet. If I was to leave the paper wet when printing, then the ink would probably end up spreading in places that weren't meant to have ink. After I was finished doing this I placed my piece face up on drawing paper and then placed the heavy paper on top of my piece. Next, I moved the entire thing to the printing machine. Here is where I placed it between a piece of wood and linoleum. When turning the handle, there was pressure being applied to the piece which allowed the paper to go in the carved in places. What I did several times was to roll it in once and then reverse it (bring it back). This resulted in a print with a good contrast. |
6. Experimentation
After having several prints I had to paint one of them with watercolors. Although it was only required to do one, I painted several. By experimenting several times I was able to see which print looked best while representing my theme. One of the prints was painted with light brown so that it would look like an antique print. The other parts that were painted were painted in colors that were toned down to bring out that effect. Another print was painted in a way in which the colors were a bit more vibrant. It had colors such as yellow, red, green, and blue. I painted her that way so the focus would be brought to her. Two other prints that I made have backgrounds that were made more colorful so that the girl would pop out more. One of them was made by letting paint drip from the top of the paper. In the other hand, the other print was made from letting the watercolor drop from a good distance. I used colors that would create contrast between the girl and the background. The last print I experimented with was painted completely in the background. What I did was plash paint with my paint brush and then paint the girl with light colors. At the end I felt like the last print looked the best, it came out the best and the light colors really helped the paint in her face pop out.
After having several prints I had to paint one of them with watercolors. Although it was only required to do one, I painted several. By experimenting several times I was able to see which print looked best while representing my theme. One of the prints was painted with light brown so that it would look like an antique print. The other parts that were painted were painted in colors that were toned down to bring out that effect. Another print was painted in a way in which the colors were a bit more vibrant. It had colors such as yellow, red, green, and blue. I painted her that way so the focus would be brought to her. Two other prints that I made have backgrounds that were made more colorful so that the girl would pop out more. One of them was made by letting paint drip from the top of the paper. In the other hand, the other print was made from letting the watercolor drop from a good distance. I used colors that would create contrast between the girl and the background. The last print I experimented with was painted completely in the background. What I did was plash paint with my paint brush and then paint the girl with light colors. At the end I felt like the last print looked the best, it came out the best and the light colors really helped the paint in her face pop out.
Artistic Inspiration
Jose Guadalupe Posada, Diego Rivera, and the Day of the Dead
Jose Guadalue Posada |
The Day of the Dead |
Diego Rivera |
My inspirations were both Jose Guadalupe Posada and Diego Rivera. Posada was a famous lithographer and was also known for engraving on wood and metal, but he was most famous for illustrating newspapers, books, and magazines. Posada liked to illustrate people as skeletons. They were created in a way in which they demonstrated social issues and daily news, just like political cartoons. He drew many calaveras, which symbolizes death in the Mexican culture. Because of all of these illustrations, Posada became very well known and soon created La Calaca Garbancera. La Calaca Garbancera is a skeleton who is dressed up in a fancy way. Because of Posada, the Day of the Dead now involves elements such as the female skeleton dressed elegantly. Diego Rivera, my second inspiration, was also influenced by Posada. His famous mural "Sueño De Una Tarde Dominical En La Alameda Central”, shows a catrina in the front center of the crowd. She symbolizes the Day of the Dead, a tradition in Mexico. I was inspired by the skeletons that Posada and Rivera made, as well as the Day of the Dead.
The Day of the Dead is a holiday that is celebrated in Mexico during the month of November. During this celebration they build altars in houses or graveyards for the relatives that passed away. The altars they make tend to be full of colors, including many flowers and even colored paper with cutout designs. After the altar is made, they place food for the dead. Bread, water, and salt tend to be the most common foods. Other offerings that could be included are candy made like sugar skulls, their favorite drinks, fruits, and even traditional dishes. It is believed that the food will then be eaten by the spirits of those who have already passed away.
I am planning to use the artists' and the culture's theme of skeletons in my piece. I will be approaching it the same way in which it is seen in the Day if the Dead. The girl in my sketch will have her face half painted. Following similar designs to those seen throughout the holiday. She will have bright red lips and flowers like designs in her eyes. Another thing that I want to include is the rose or flower that is usually worn to decorate the hair. Overall, I wish to incorporate as many elements as I can in her painted face. When it comes to the clothing that is being worn, not much matters, she will have a simple top so that the attention isn't taken away from the face.
The Day of the Dead is a holiday that is celebrated in Mexico during the month of November. During this celebration they build altars in houses or graveyards for the relatives that passed away. The altars they make tend to be full of colors, including many flowers and even colored paper with cutout designs. After the altar is made, they place food for the dead. Bread, water, and salt tend to be the most common foods. Other offerings that could be included are candy made like sugar skulls, their favorite drinks, fruits, and even traditional dishes. It is believed that the food will then be eaten by the spirits of those who have already passed away.
I am planning to use the artists' and the culture's theme of skeletons in my piece. I will be approaching it the same way in which it is seen in the Day if the Dead. The girl in my sketch will have her face half painted. Following similar designs to those seen throughout the holiday. She will have bright red lips and flowers like designs in her eyes. Another thing that I want to include is the rose or flower that is usually worn to decorate the hair. Overall, I wish to incorporate as many elements as I can in her painted face. When it comes to the clothing that is being worn, not much matters, she will have a simple top so that the attention isn't taken away from the face.
Reflection
The result of my piece had me feeling content. Overall, my print had a different result. Sometimes the print would come out very light, and other times there were spots that were very dark. The dark spots were a result of the small amount of cleaning I did on my piece. When it came down to my experimentation some of the prints looked decent. The experimentation was meant for me to create different pieces and choose the one that conveyed my theme the best. In my opinion the best print was the last one. The hue from the background brought the focus to the girl. It made the light color from the face and hair stand out the most. I was satisfied with the piece that I made, but if I were to recreate it I would change several aspects. One of the things I would change would be to have a mask instead of having her face painted. If I were to do this then the theme would be better transmitted. Another thing that I would change is the accessories that she has. A change would include to have her wearing a different top as well as wearing a flower crown or something along those lines. I believe that I laced having a modern aspect so adding this would bring that out more.
My inspirations included Jose Guadalupe Posada, Diego Rivera, and the Day of the Dead. Diego Posada was known for his famous skeleton illustrations. He was the person who began this and greatly influenced both Rivera and the Day of the Dead. Posada motivated me when it came to making my piece. I tried my best to adorn the person, just like he did to the skeletons. In the other hand, I tried using similar colors to those of the muralist Diego Rivera. Lastly, my piece revolved around the Day of the Dead. During this holiday many tend to paint their face and dress up, imitating the "catrinas" and "catrines" that Posada made. It followed the trend that is seen during that day.
My inspirations included Jose Guadalupe Posada, Diego Rivera, and the Day of the Dead. Diego Posada was known for his famous skeleton illustrations. He was the person who began this and greatly influenced both Rivera and the Day of the Dead. Posada motivated me when it came to making my piece. I tried my best to adorn the person, just like he did to the skeletons. In the other hand, I tried using similar colors to those of the muralist Diego Rivera. Lastly, my piece revolved around the Day of the Dead. During this holiday many tend to paint their face and dress up, imitating the "catrinas" and "catrines" that Posada made. It followed the trend that is seen during that day.
Meaning
The meaning behind my piece is self image. In my piece you can see a girl with her face half painted, like a catrina. She has long wavy hair and a rose to adorn her hair. The overall look of my piece represents how girls deal with self image. The half that is painted in the face, is the make up that girls use to feel better. Many believe that it makes them prettier while others wear it just because they feel good in it. The girl in the piece also has a rose in her hair, which is a trend now a day. Overall, flowers are a symbol of beauty and delicacy. So incorporating the rose tied in with the theme and the inspiration. Now a day girls look up to models which tend to create beauty standards that are very high. They convey the idea of being skinny, and wearing clothes that is tight or more revealing than others. Not only do those famous figures influence the way in which we identify beauty but our surroundings also impact us greatly. We are all easily influenced by social media and the comments that are received through it. Instead of trying to please ourselves we try our best to be accepted in society by following trends that we see. Because of this I have decided to make a piece that opens our eyes, not letting us be blinded by those high beauty standards.
Connecting to ACT
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
My inspirations caused great influence on my piece. They can be seen on the overall design such as the painted face and the flower, which are elements distinguished in my inspiration.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my inspiration wrote an article of them in order to inform others about the history of the "catrina". They wrote about Jose Guadalupe Posada and how he influenced other great artists such as Diego Rivera, and later on, influenced the wardrobe and overall look of the catrinas and catrines seen on the Day of the Dead.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I have discovered that there are elements that can influence everything. I used to think that they were simply inspired by what they saw around. I learned that the Day of the Dead was greatly influenced by the great illustrator Posada, and not only by what people saw around.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea of Jose Posada was to convey the news in his illustrations, Diego Rivera made murals to convey different themes, and lastly, the Day of the Dead has the theme of celebrating those who have passed on. Overall, the artists that served as my inspiration had the idea of passing on a concept (news/social inequality) while my culture was has a theme of celebration
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research I made inferences about how everyone or everything causes influence. Culture is a big topic of inspiration, but artists like Posada can also influence traditions. I realized that our surroundings affect the way we perceive things causing us to have different views on topics.
My inspirations caused great influence on my piece. They can be seen on the overall design such as the painted face and the flower, which are elements distinguished in my inspiration.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my inspiration wrote an article of them in order to inform others about the history of the "catrina". They wrote about Jose Guadalupe Posada and how he influenced other great artists such as Diego Rivera, and later on, influenced the wardrobe and overall look of the catrinas and catrines seen on the Day of the Dead.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I have discovered that there are elements that can influence everything. I used to think that they were simply inspired by what they saw around. I learned that the Day of the Dead was greatly influenced by the great illustrator Posada, and not only by what people saw around.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea of Jose Posada was to convey the news in his illustrations, Diego Rivera made murals to convey different themes, and lastly, the Day of the Dead has the theme of celebrating those who have passed on. Overall, the artists that served as my inspiration had the idea of passing on a concept (news/social inequality) while my culture was has a theme of celebration
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research I made inferences about how everyone or everything causes influence. Culture is a big topic of inspiration, but artists like Posada can also influence traditions. I realized that our surroundings affect the way we perceive things causing us to have different views on topics.
References
- Pilar.“Origen e Historia De La Catrina.” Cultura Colectiva, Cultura Colectiva, 16 Oct. 2014, culturacolectiva.com/historia/origen-e-historia-de-la-catrina/.
- “The Calaveras of José Guadalupe Posada.” The Public Domain Review, publicdomainreview.org/collections/the-calaveras-of-jose-guadalupe-posada/.
- “La Calavera Catrina.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Sept. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Calavera_Catrina.
- “Dia De Los Muertos - DAY OF THE DEAD - AMERICA'S NEWEST HOLIDAY.” History of Day of the Dead & the Mexican Sugar Skull Tradition, Reign Trading Co , 2017, www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html.
- “Day of The Dead.” Encyclopedia of Food and Culture, Encyclopedia.com, www.encyclopedia.com/sports-and-everyday-life/days-and-holidays/days-months-holidays-and-festivals/day-dead%E2%80%8B.
- “Jose Guadalupe Posada.” Copal, Mexican Folk Art at Its Best Online., 2016, www.mexican-folk-art-guide.com/jose-guadalupe-posada.html#.WcVNYxgrLrc.