Artwork: Painting
Secret
Acrylic on Canvas
60.96cm x 60.96cm
October 2018
60.96cm x 60.96cm
October 2018
Exhibition Text
Secret is a painting inspired by Henri Manguin's self portrait and the theme of struggle. The piece was created as a way to encourage self love since many seem to detest the way they look. Secret is meant to show the reality of this issue while giving many the realization needed to feel comfortable in their appearance. The neutral colors used in the skin represent oneself while the odd coloration is meant to draw the eyes to the piece and help further explore the theme.
Process
Brainstoming
Because I have been struggling with the way in which my skin looks I knew that I wanted to create a piece that showed the harsh reality of the lack of love or appreciation many of us have with our appearance. I knew I wanted to create something that appealed to all of us but also made us have that realization needed.
Sketches
The first sketch created shows a female body laying down. One of her hands is laying on top of her face to cover it while the other is resting close to her head. The painting will have two canvases that will stretch to the side to show the entire body. There will be a hidden face and the figure will be in a position that looks almost vulnerable to cause an uncomfortable feeling. This piece will symbolize the uncomfortable way in which one feels, depicting the vulnerability that they might feel when talking about their body.
|
The second sketch is a close up on a girl who is trying to hide her face with her hands. Although using both hands, one can still see part of her face. The look that she will have will be serious and almost uncomfortable. The painting will symbolize one trying to hide all of their flaws. Although the painting will be made to speak to all, I will incorporate the way in which my skin looks to show how I can personally connect to this issue.
|
The last sketch created will be a triptych that will have canvases on top of each other so that the piece stretches down. The idea for this piece is to paint an entire body in where there will be a girl standing very uncomfortably. Along with that I will be circling areas in her entire body. This will symbolize what she believes her flaws are, which will highlight the fact that we are never satisfies with the way in which we look.
|
Creating a Canvas
To create my canvas I first had to get 2 foot stretchers and connect them each of them at the corners. To make sure that the stretchers made a 45 degree angle, I aligned two corners to the tiles that were in the floor. I then used a staple gun and stapled each corner in between each stretcher. At the end I had a wooden square that looked like a frame. The next step involved rolling out the canvas fabric and cutting out a piece that would fit the frame. I then placed the frame on top of the cloth and began to fold and staple two corners. The rest of the cloth was then stretched and stapled once more to tighten up the canvas. The same steps were followed to complete the canvas, and to finish it up, two layers of gesso were applied.
|
Tracing Sketch on Canvas
In order to reduce the amount taken to create my panting, I decide to enlarge the sketch that I had previously made. When doing this I placed my sketch under a small tracing projector and positioned it according to the size of my canvas. Because the tracing projector is meant to project on small areas, the image looked blurry. Unable to focus the sketch any more I decided to trace it as it was, since there wasn't any detail that had to be transferred.
|
**Click to enlarge pictures
|
Experimentation
Painting on the Canvas
When I began to plan out what I was going to paint I noticed that I had forgotten to paint a wash on the canvas before transferring my sketch. Because of this, I began by painting the highlights as well as the color of the skin tone on the canvas. I then began to paint the eyes. White was added around the pupil while the ends of the eye had purples, blues, greens, and pink added.
When painting the skin I began to add white on areas around the face so that it looks similar to that of my inspiration. I obtained a dry brush and then put a bit of paint into my hand. It is easier for me to tell just how much I am using when I do this and so I used this technique to add only a bit of white around the face. As I finished doing this I continued to add paint on my hand, but this time I added a bright yellow. The yellow was only added on certain areas to help bring different tones to that of the natural skin color. As I finished that I mixed red, white, and yellow paint to create a color that was similar to a peach color with a bit of red. This was used for the lips and areas close to the eyes as well as the forehead.
When painting the skin I began to add white on areas around the face so that it looks similar to that of my inspiration. I obtained a dry brush and then put a bit of paint into my hand. It is easier for me to tell just how much I am using when I do this and so I used this technique to add only a bit of white around the face. As I finished doing this I continued to add paint on my hand, but this time I added a bright yellow. The yellow was only added on certain areas to help bring different tones to that of the natural skin color. As I finished that I mixed red, white, and yellow paint to create a color that was similar to a peach color with a bit of red. This was used for the lips and areas close to the eyes as well as the forehead.
Lastly, I used blues, greens, and purples to highlight different areas. Blue colors served as a way to catch one's attention and so it was used in random areas around the face. The green colors helped highlight the areas in my face that I am mostly concerned with and also made a good combination with the areas that had different shades of blue. Finally, purples and dark blues were used to highlight facial features and areas that had value added.
To finish of my painting I used a big brush and put my fingers through it. While using a wash I loaded my brush with it and lightly ran the brush on the areas that had hair drawn in it. I followed this same procedure with four to five different hues and then ran a black wash on top of that.
To finish of my painting I used a big brush and put my fingers through it. While using a wash I loaded my brush with it and lightly ran the brush on the areas that had hair drawn in it. I followed this same procedure with four to five different hues and then ran a black wash on top of that.
Research/ Artistic Inspiration
Reflection
Meaning
The painting that I have created is meant to portray the harsh reality that many face. We often feel disgusted with certain aspects of ourselves, which cause us to feel distressed and many times make us want to hide. Secret is a piece that I can personally relate to. Since I have been facing many issues with my skin I have come to realize that I should feel comfortable in my own skin. I had often wanted to hide the fact that I have white spots in my face, making me another person who detests themselves. My Painting purposefully has unnatural hues to represent one's flaws. Hands are also seen covering the face so that she can hide all of this, which is why I named my piece secret.
Connection 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 artistic inspiration had clearly influenced my work. A similar color palette can be seen as well as similar use line to highlight ones features.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author is show Manguin's work as well as to inform people on how he became to use the impressionism and fauvist movement.
3.What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
As I researched my inspiration I came to realize that ones work will always be critiqued, both negatively and positively. One should stick to their own style, and not follow what others do.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my inspiration was to use shades of green that were odd to others. Although not always accepted, Manguin decided to experiment on new techniques.
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research I can inference that artists have difficulty bringing out their art since there will always be controversy with anything being done.
My artistic inspiration had clearly influenced my work. A similar color palette can be seen as well as similar use line to highlight ones features.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author is show Manguin's work as well as to inform people on how he became to use the impressionism and fauvist movement.
3.What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
As I researched my inspiration I came to realize that ones work will always be critiqued, both negatively and positively. One should stick to their own style, and not follow what others do.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my inspiration was to use shades of green that were odd to others. Although not always accepted, Manguin decided to experiment on new techniques.
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research I can inference that artists have difficulty bringing out their art since there will always be controversy with anything being done.
Resources
- “Henri Charles Manguin.” Henri Charles Manguin | Artnet, www.artnet.com/artists/henri-charles-manguin/.
- “Henri Charles Manguin.” Henri Charles Manguin Biography – Henri Charles Manguin on Artnet, www.artnet.com/artists/henri-charles-manguin/biography.
- “Henri-Charles Manguin (1874-1949).” Henri-Charles Manguin: French Fauvist Landscape Painter: Biography, Paintings, Visual-Arts-Cork.com, www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-artists/manguin.htm.
- “Manguin, Henri.” Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, www.museothyssen.org/en/collection/artists/manguin-henri.