Artwork: UWM-Mixed Media
Title: Conquering
Medium: used makeup products
Completion: January 2018
Exhibition: In my mixed media piece Conquering is a piece that displays what we have conquered in society and how far we have come. It also represents the self image of the people have been fighting along in the long battle of gender roles. This piece was heavily inspired by Sue Webster and Tim Noble who have created amazing shadow sculptures.
Artist Inspiration
For this piece was something that really had me thinking because it was a project in where I was able to created anything at my choice yet it had to be with already made items. For my inspiration artist I decided to use Sue Webster and Tim Noble becasue they were known for the shadow sculptures. Tim Noble and Sue Webster's work can be divided into the 'Light Works' and the 'Shadow Works' which in a way was what I wanted to create. I was inspired by British Wildlife this was inspiring to me because I was able to also interpret the piece with an animal but with my own twist to it. Sue webber and Tim Noble work together in most of their works and they also use materials like rubbish in order to create art with light. I also wanted to use things that I was about to throw away but I ended up keeping which would be my old makeup.
Planning:
When we were introduced to the project I was a bit overwhelmed due to the fact that I have never made anything like it. so coming up with what I wanted to do was actually harder than I though due to the fact that there was so much to chose from. We did get a presentation informing us and giving us examples on what we could do with the mixed media project. One of the slides consisted of the shadow sculpture and I was very astonished with the artworks from Sue Webster and Tim Noble. So I decided then that I wanted to create a shadow sculpture, I wanted to also continue with my theme which is self image. So I started sketching some of the drawings my first drawing was about a girl smoking, I decided to depict smoking as an addiction which would be interpreted into my addiction to makeup. I decided to change my idea to something that I believed that would fit my theme which is self image in a way that would be more relatable. That's when I thought about a woman looking up because it would show a woman's confidence. In a way I was still not content with that sketch so I decided to free draw and I came up with a bird. I wanted to use the bird as a symbol of freedom and I used makeup to create the bird to interpret how freely makeup has been. Makeup is used by all genders, it has come a long way. The tree itself looks to be dry it almost looks like it is dead and barely any leaves on it this is due to the fact that slowly we as a community are defining barriers in society.
Process:
Before I even had a sketch I decide to search up examples about shadow sculptures. Which I found a lot, once I had an idea on what I wanted to do I decided to get some of the materials ready. The first thing that I had in mind was a white board to project the shadow on to. I wanted to use primarily all of the old makeup that I was going throw away but for some reason I kept. I then decided to incorporate the makeup into my project. I then continued on my process by sketching my first sketch which was going to be a woman smoking. Then I decided to keep the woman but instead of smoking I decided to make her looking up. Even with this sketch I did not feel comfortable so Decided to free draw and came up with a bird. I decided to go with the sketch of the word because in a way it was what I wanted to show. Once I got my had my sketch ready I decided to start and try to assemble my piece. At first I decided to start with a circular piece to help me with the assemblage for the rest of the pieces. Once I had the main center piece I decided to move to the head and once again I used a circular bronzer powder, for the peak of the bird I decided to use one of the eyeshadows that slightly looked like a beak as well as adding a bit of sponge that I had and manipulated in order to make the beak larger. After the head was done, I decided to start to the body which I use an eyeshadow pallet for. I then continued by adding a circular single shadow to create a tummy since the center piece sort of already gave that illusion. I wanted to make the stick almost look like a tree so I added a tooth pick for the birds feet and a eye pencil to act like a tree branch. I then continued on by adding pieces of wrapping from cheat bags and also from a rice crispy. This created the illusion that the birds standing on a tree.
Experiment:
This project itself was a big experiment this is due to the fact that it took me a long time to be able to get the pieces to look right and also to glue them together. I have seen videos while doing my research and saw that when the start moving the sculpture around you are able to see need shadows. So I decided to move it around toes if I would get a different outcome as I start to move it. While moving it to a particular side a lightning bolt was noticeable which was something really cool to see because I wanted to create a shadow of a bird but I also created a shadow of a bolt.
Reflection:
Overal I am very content with the out come of my project this is due to the fact that it took a long time to assemble. Its also something I am proud of because it helped me how to manipulate light and be able to use simple thing for instance makeup to create art with light. Although, I did enjoy the outcome there are some things that I would change this would include the tail of the bird I believe it is too thick for the bird. The reason as to why I ended up leaving the tail was because I was lacking material to use so I wanted to keep it.
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 change the size of the tail and I also believe that if I were to make the stomach a bit bigger would also make the piece look nicer.
Compare and Contrast:
One of the main things that it is noticeable with my inspirations and my mixed media would be that both use light in order to create the shadow of the piece. Something else that they both use would be rubbish I would be saying this because the makeup that is use din my project is makeup that was planned to be throned away. The difference would be that they use animals to create the shadow and I made a shadow of a type of animal.
Overall I was pleased with how my piece came out a couple of things that I would change would be to change the size of the tail and I also believe that if I were to make the stomach a bit bigger would also make the piece look nicer.
Compare and Contrast:
One of the main things that it is noticeable with my inspirations and my mixed media would be that both use light in order to create the shadow of the piece. Something else that they both use would be rubbish I would be saying this because the makeup that is use din my project is makeup that was planned to be throned away. The difference would be that they use animals to create the shadow and I made a shadow of a type of animal.
ACT Questions
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
Due to the fact that my theme is self image I wanted to create something that is able to represent everyone as a whole. My inspiration uses animals in order to create the shadow sculpture and my shadow is an animal.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
My overall approach with my mixed media was to be able to show how we have come along especially with makeup.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
With the research that I had done I was able to conclude that the sculptures are a type of art that you are able to create with light and it will create a beautiful image even if you do use rubbish.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
My thematic concept would be self image and in the mixed media you are able to see the liberty and challenges we were able to conquer over time.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Some of the inferences that I had while reading was that Sue Webber and Tim Noble were trying to create art even when not everything about it is perfect because they literally use garbage for most of their works.
Due to the fact that my theme is self image I wanted to create something that is able to represent everyone as a whole. My inspiration uses animals in order to create the shadow sculpture and my shadow is an animal.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
My overall approach with my mixed media was to be able to show how we have come along especially with makeup.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
With the research that I had done I was able to conclude that the sculptures are a type of art that you are able to create with light and it will create a beautiful image even if you do use rubbish.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
My thematic concept would be self image and in the mixed media you are able to see the liberty and challenges we were able to conquer over time.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Some of the inferences that I had while reading was that Sue Webber and Tim Noble were trying to create art even when not everything about it is perfect because they literally use garbage for most of their works.