Project 4
Depression
Size: 30.5 cm x 45.7 cm Medium: Watercolor on Paper Date: October, 2018 This piece represents the fourth stage of the grieving process - depression. Inspired by artist Fred Hatt, this piece depicts the darkest and longest stage of grief representing someone in a vulnerable and melancholic position. |
Critical Investigation
Hatt, Fred. Spinous Process. 2008. Aquarelle crayon on paper. Private Collection.
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Williams-Brusubardis, Karen. FoliageParticulates 2 Pathway. 2016. Acrylic on Canvas. Private Collection
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For this project I wanted to continue using watercolor, however, I wanted to use watercolor paper because I like the style and the texture it creates. I also knew that I wanted to paint a female nude laying down to depict my depression stage. This would also deviate from the self portraits I’ve been creating to depict the stages of grief, making the process more exciting for me. I began by researching watercolor nudes, and found videos of people painting nudes in watercolor. This taught me the technique of how to use watercolor on watercolor paper, especially when it came to painting figures. I then continued to research nude art, and I came across the artist Fred Hatt. In a particular series known as Opening the Closed Pose, Hatt created nudes of people to depict the vulnerability of certain poses which express sadness, exhaustion, and even comfort. He used poses that extenuated the subject’s bones along with the use of chaotic colors, textures, and lines, making the piece more horrid or melancholic. Hatt explains that his art is “an art of movement, rhythm, and feeling.” This inspired how I would communicate depression with the position of the body and with the use of texture, line, and color. I researched more and came across the artist Karen Williams-Brusubardis, who paints unique types of impressionist landscapes. Karen Williams-Brusubardis explains that her paintings are a reflection of her mind's journey through her childhood adventures, which shows how memory and imagination collide. Foliage Particulates 2 Pathway particularly inspired the use of color and shape, I then planned on using cool hues like violets and blues within the background and shadows to communicate a feeling of depression. In addition this inspired the use of circular shapes in the background to add a dreamlike element to communicate how depression disassociates people from reality especially from the increased amount of sleep. Fred Hatt’s art, particularly Spinous Process, inspired the how I’d position my figure and how I’d use color, texture, and line. Foliage Particulates 2 Pathway inspired how I’d use color in the background and in the shadows, and how I’d use shape to convey a dreamlike reality to show how depression creates another reality due to the disassociation it causes.
Process
1. Planning/Sketching
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After researching and arriving to a rough idea of what I wanted to create, I began sketching to have a more finalized idea of what I would paint. I began with sketching a child pose figure, similar to that of Spinous Process. I then colored it in with colored pencils to map out the possible colors I would use, I used colored pencil on black paper just for fun. I then drew this sketch on watercolor paper and painted it in order to experiment with using watercolor and to see if I truly would like this position. After I completed this experimental painting, I decided I wanted to use a different position that was more graceful and looked exhausting. This child pose didn't seem depressing, it could rather be interpreted as a calming or begging position. I then started to sketch a new idea in which this position was laying down, I decided that a position laying down expressed exhaustion and therefore an indication of depression.
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2. Sketch on Paper
Once I had a final sketch drawn, I sketched this onto my piece of watercolor paper. I did this by drawing with reference of my sketch and observing the way my body looked laying down. Once I finished the sketch, I applied a thin layer of water onto the paper with a flat brush. This way the watercolor hues would easily blend into each other while having a watery texture.
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3. Painting
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To begin painting, I first applied a thin layer of orange watercolor. I made sure to mix enough water with the orange because I didn't want it to be too dark and only add more orange where I wanted my shadows. Through my experimental process I learned that it's important to maintain the white paper for the highlights because it's almost impossible to achieve a highlight once the paper is painted with a darker color because white paint cannot simply be added unlike when using other paints. Once this layer was complete I had to let it dry because letting the paint dry in between layer is essential, this won't allow paint to run into each other and make a more precise painting.
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To speed up the drying process, I found a helpful method that I learned from my experimental stage and used an electric hair dryer which is why the paint runs everywhere in the first process photo. I then began adding thin washes of crimson where I found necessary and began outlining the body and adding washes of burnt umber for the shadows. I let this dry and added a wash of phthalo blue to outline the body's shadows because I wanted the shadows to be blue to communicate a sense of depression. Once this thoroughly dried, I outlined the body with the same blue to strengthen the lines. Once I was done with the body I began with painting the background a mixture of phthalo blue, violet, and black. I liked the background from my previous painting in which the paint was running down off the canvas. I decided I wanted the same effect, in which the paint would be running down from the body to create a texture that looked like tears. I did this by using a large amount of water on the brush to allow the paint to run down the canvas. Once the background dried, Foliage Particulates 2 Pathway inspired me to shaped where I added white circles to create a dreamlike element. I did this by taking a fan brush and saturating it with white watercolor paint, I then ran my finger through the brush to make the paint spew onto the paper.
Experimentation
As mentioned before, I began with sketching a child pose figure, similar to that of Spinous Process. After completing this sketch, I then drew this sketch on watercolor paper and painted it in order to experiment with using watercolor and to see if I truly would like this position. This stage was essential for me because it helped me learn how to use watercolor and also helped me decide that I wanted to use a different position. One thing I learned was that it's important to maintain the white paper for the highlights because it's almost impossible to achieve a highlight once the paper is painted with a darker color because white paint cannot simply be added unlike when using other paints. This is why you can see prominent white paint, I used white acrylic paint because that was the only way for me to create highlight since I painted with darker colors. I also found a helpful method to speed up the drying process and used an electric hair dryer.
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Reflection
Overall, I'm happy with my final piece especially because I achieved the watercolor texture unlike my previous painting and successfully learned how to use watercolor. I think I used color successfully to communicate depression, in which I made sure to use a dark cool colored background and shadows that helped put the body in context these colors helped communicate sadness. In addition, the position of the body looks exhausted as it is laying down which I think successfully indicates the subject's depression. The white dots of paint along with the dark background helps symbolize a dreamlike state due to the disassociation depression brings, especially from the exhaustion. In short, I feel like due to my choice of hues and bodily position within the piece effectively evokes this mood of melancholy. Furthermore, I'm very proud and satisfied with my technique throughout the piece especially since I've never used watercolor on watercolor paper until this project. One thing I think I could improve upon is creating a wash for the background.
Fred Hat created nudes of people to depict the vulnerability of certain poses which express sadness, exhaustion, and even comfort. He used poses that extenuated the subject’s bones along with the use of chaotic colors, textures, and lines, making the piece more horrid or melancholic. This inspired laying position of the body and the use of texture, line, and color. This is seen where I use dark colors, lines to extenuate the curves and shadows of the body, and the texture is unrealistic which helps to communicate a similar mood of exhaustion and sadness. Karen Williams-Brusubardis’ Foliage Particulates 2 Pathway inspired the use of color and shape, in which I used cool hues like violets and blues within the background and shadows to communicate a feeling of depression. In addition this inspired the use of white circular dots in the background to add a dreamlike element to communicate how depression disassociates people from reality especially from the increased frequency of exhaustion.
Fred Hat created nudes of people to depict the vulnerability of certain poses which express sadness, exhaustion, and even comfort. He used poses that extenuated the subject’s bones along with the use of chaotic colors, textures, and lines, making the piece more horrid or melancholic. This inspired laying position of the body and the use of texture, line, and color. This is seen where I use dark colors, lines to extenuate the curves and shadows of the body, and the texture is unrealistic which helps to communicate a similar mood of exhaustion and sadness. Karen Williams-Brusubardis’ Foliage Particulates 2 Pathway inspired the use of color and shape, in which I used cool hues like violets and blues within the background and shadows to communicate a feeling of depression. In addition this inspired the use of white circular dots in the background to add a dreamlike element to communicate how depression disassociates people from reality especially from the increased frequency of exhaustion.
Connecting to the ACT
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
Fred Hatt’s art, particularly Spinous Process, inspired the how I’d position my figure and how I’d use color, texture, and line. Foliage Particulates 2 Pathway inspired how I’d use color in the background and in the shadows, and how I’d use shape to convey a dreamlike reality to show how depression creates another reality due to the disassociation it causes.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Fred Hat created nudes of people to depict the vulnerability of certain poses which express sadness, exhaustion, and even comfort. Hatt explains that his art is “an art of movement, rhythm, and feeling.” Karen Williams-Brusubardis explains that her paintings are a reflection of her mind's journey through her childhood adventures, which shows how memory and imagination collide.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I can generalize that people are inspired by different things. Fred Hatt's art was an art of movement, rhythm, and feeling and Karen Williams-Brusubardis explains that her paintings are a reflection of her mind's journey through her childhood adventures, which shows how memory and imagination collide.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The piece represents the fourth stage of the grieving process - depression. In which this piece depicts the darkest and longest stage of grief representing someone in a vulnerable and melancholic position.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
I concluded that artists create art for many different reasons, whether it's to express an emotion or idea or even to simply experiment with imagination.
Bibliography
Hatt, Fred. Nude Portraits , www.fredhatt.com/nude_portraits_pages/alley.html.
Hatt, Fred. Opening the Closed Pose. http://fredhatt.com/blog/2009/10/30/opening-the-closed-pose/
Williams-Brusubardis, Karen. “About the Artist.” Karen Williams-Brusubardis Fine Art. karenwb.faso.com/about.
Hatt, Fred. Opening the Closed Pose. http://fredhatt.com/blog/2009/10/30/opening-the-closed-pose/
Williams-Brusubardis, Karen. “About the Artist.” Karen Williams-Brusubardis Fine Art. karenwb.faso.com/about.