Title: Why am I like this?
Size: 16 in x 10 in
Medium: white and black charcoal and color pencil
Completion: October 2018
Exhibition:Getting it Together is a charcoal piece that depicts a girl that is being relieved because after chaos in her life she is finally getting all of her things together. I was inspired by Edvard Munch Self Portrait that was created in 1896. This piece was created to be able to see the relief of someone who has gone through some things. Since the overall theme is self image I wanted to include something much more than when you are going through things but I wanted to depict the emotion after all the damage is over.
Size: 16 in x 10 in
Medium: white and black charcoal and color pencil
Completion: October 2018
Exhibition:Getting it Together is a charcoal piece that depicts a girl that is being relieved because after chaos in her life she is finally getting all of her things together. I was inspired by Edvard Munch Self Portrait that was created in 1896. This piece was created to be able to see the relief of someone who has gone through some things. Since the overall theme is self image I wanted to include something much more than when you are going through things but I wanted to depict the emotion after all the damage is over.
Artist Inspiration
Planning
Process
Before even starting my project I decided to look at my sketches in order to figure out which one I wanted to do and so I decided to have the hand movement from The Scream but also have her smiling because it would have been the best fit for my piece. At first it was a bit hard to work with charcoal because I was not used to working with it
As I started my project I decided to gesso my canvas since I accidentally bought a canvas without gesso. So I decided to give it a thick layer of gesso so I would not need another coat and have it warp my actual piece. Once gessoing my painting I also decided to scan my painting and blow it up in my computer I did this in order to be able to get portions in place. I continued on by measuring the template and creating a grid on my paper this was done so it can also help me with portions. Even though I was using a reference I decided to draw a grid in my piece because this way I can get the eyes and nose and the mouth within portions. Once I had the grid on place I decided to sketch out the actual picture reference into my piece. I started out with the outline of her whole head I did have to fix a bit of it just because to me it did not look right. Once doing so I then started with the outline of the inner face by this I mean the eyes, nose and the mouth. I was not give it detail until after I was actually color it in. Next came the hair and the hands which I did not pay much attention to and just sketch a quick overview of what it would be.
At this point I decided to start coloring the actual piece so I decided to gather all the white color pencils I had as well as the black color pencils. I started out by coloring in the forehead once I noticed that the color pencils were not giving enough pigment in the black paper I decided to go for charcoal pencils I only had black charcoal pencils so I took a break and went to the store to purchase white charcoal paintings. I Started in the eyes with the charcoal pencils and when I saw they gave an awesome effect as well as the blended so beautifully. I decided to try and erase the forehead because I wanted to give it a nice blend but the wax from the color pencil would not leave so it was actually harder to color in so I decided to color it in again with color pencil and leave it like that. Even though I did not like it because of the texture that was left behind by the color pencil. I continued on shading and blending on my project once I got to the eyes that's when I would start adding detail to the piece it was much easier that way because I was not overwhelmed from the beginning. When I finished that I continued on the hair as well as the hands and the background. I didn't decide to outline with a white gel pen until the end because I thought it would have looked more professional if I had added a border to my work. While outlining the border I also decided to give even more detail with the white gel pen but this was mostly to the nails and the eyes to make it seem like there was a bit of light.
As I started my project I decided to gesso my canvas since I accidentally bought a canvas without gesso. So I decided to give it a thick layer of gesso so I would not need another coat and have it warp my actual piece. Once gessoing my painting I also decided to scan my painting and blow it up in my computer I did this in order to be able to get portions in place. I continued on by measuring the template and creating a grid on my paper this was done so it can also help me with portions. Even though I was using a reference I decided to draw a grid in my piece because this way I can get the eyes and nose and the mouth within portions. Once I had the grid on place I decided to sketch out the actual picture reference into my piece. I started out with the outline of her whole head I did have to fix a bit of it just because to me it did not look right. Once doing so I then started with the outline of the inner face by this I mean the eyes, nose and the mouth. I was not give it detail until after I was actually color it in. Next came the hair and the hands which I did not pay much attention to and just sketch a quick overview of what it would be.
At this point I decided to start coloring the actual piece so I decided to gather all the white color pencils I had as well as the black color pencils. I started out by coloring in the forehead once I noticed that the color pencils were not giving enough pigment in the black paper I decided to go for charcoal pencils I only had black charcoal pencils so I took a break and went to the store to purchase white charcoal paintings. I Started in the eyes with the charcoal pencils and when I saw they gave an awesome effect as well as the blended so beautifully. I decided to try and erase the forehead because I wanted to give it a nice blend but the wax from the color pencil would not leave so it was actually harder to color in so I decided to color it in again with color pencil and leave it like that. Even though I did not like it because of the texture that was left behind by the color pencil. I continued on shading and blending on my project once I got to the eyes that's when I would start adding detail to the piece it was much easier that way because I was not overwhelmed from the beginning. When I finished that I continued on the hair as well as the hands and the background. I didn't decide to outline with a white gel pen until the end because I thought it would have looked more professional if I had added a border to my work. While outlining the border I also decided to give even more detail with the white gel pen but this was mostly to the nails and the eyes to make it seem like there was a bit of light.
Experimentation
I do believe that the whole project would be my experiment now this is because I have never really used charcoal at all especially to create an artwork. I also learned through out the way that you need a fixative spray so the charcoal would not smudge all over the place. I also learned that you can't mix color pencils with charcoal because the charcoal will not color anymore, also that even when you try to erase color pencils the wax is left over which seems like common sense but to me it was something that I truly did not know.
Reflection
Some of the things that I noticed about doing the piece is that it was easier to blend with a napkin than with a blender stick. It took me less time to get my final piece, I am content with my overall piece there there are somethings that I do wish to improve on which would be to have started to blend with a napkin since the beginning. My blender stick has been overused a lot so the blending was not the same as it was in the beginning. Also I do which that I should have started with another board so I would not have to keep the color pencil but I only had one board. Even though I didn't like certain things I do enjoy my piece in an overall state.
Critic/ compare and contrast
Critic:
Overall I was pleased with how my piece came out a couple of things that I would change would be to be able to try and be able to use charcoal from the beginning as well as use a napkin to blend.
Compare and Contrast:
One of the main things that it is noticeable with my inspirations and my piece would be that both use the movement of the hands as well as the use the same colors. Once of the differences would be that they aren't exactly the same in The Scream they use color and in Self Portrait he is more serious.
Overall I was pleased with how my piece came out a couple of things that I would change would be to be able to try and be able to use charcoal from the beginning as well as use a napkin to blend.
Compare and Contrast:
One of the main things that it is noticeable with my inspirations and my piece would be that both use the movement of the hands as well as the use the same colors. Once of the differences would be that they aren't exactly the same in The Scream they use color and in Self Portrait he is more serious.
ACT Questions
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
Since my main idea or theme is self image, I wanted to depict someone who has overcame there challenges. I wanted to depict that emotion of relief.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration
My overall approach would be for everyone. This is becasue everyone goes through challenges in their life.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
With my research I concluded that with my inspirations the artist tend to show emotion.
4. What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
My theme is self image with my inspiration they relate because they both show emotional aspects.
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research
Some of the inferences that I made was that Edvard used more of an colorful and serious aspect to show his message.
Since my main idea or theme is self image, I wanted to depict someone who has overcame there challenges. I wanted to depict that emotion of relief.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration
My overall approach would be for everyone. This is becasue everyone goes through challenges in their life.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
With my research I concluded that with my inspirations the artist tend to show emotion.
4. What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
My theme is self image with my inspiration they relate because they both show emotional aspects.
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research
Some of the inferences that I made was that Edvard used more of an colorful and serious aspect to show his message.