Dry Point
A Cry For Help
Size: 13x18cm Medium: Dry Point Date: September, 2017 This piece was created to depict the metaphorical meaning of how the Earth is deteriorating, and thus crying for help. The woman is a symbolic representation of Mother Earth. The oncoming car symbolizes humanity’s lack of concern as it will not stop and how it is toxic. In addition, the bullet wound on her leg shows how humanity is slowing and painfully killing her. Therefore, she cries for help. This piece was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night" and Edvard Munch's "The Scream." |
Critical Investigation
This is one page from my sketchbook about my critical investigation
"The Scream" Edvard Munch
“The Scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch.” Edvard Munch, 2011, www.edvardmunch.org/the-scream.jsp. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017. |
"Starry Night" Vincent Van Gogh
Adieb, Mariana. “Mariana’s Avatar: The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh.” The Arts in New York, doi:10.3897/bdj.4.e7720.figure2f. Accessed 1 Oct. 2017 |
I began by researching art from the Art Nouveau movement as inspiration for block print. But after realizing that fine lines were not ideal in creating block print, I decided to leave the Art Nouveau design idea for drypoint. However, once I revisited my initial sketch for block print that was inspired by Art Nouveau I decided I didn’t like it anymore. Consequently, I started researching different types of artists from Art Nouveau such as Gustav Klimt and Alphonse mucha. I created a sketch inspired off of these two artists but I didn't like it either because it wasn’t communicating the theme I wanted. It was showing more of the connection humans have with the Earth, rather than the Earth deteriorating. Thus, I began researching art from Edvard Munch because I’ve always like his expressionistic style which I thought would be perfect for drypoint since I knew I could use thin and scratchy lines. I liked his work more because I wanted to create something that was more raw with a somber message, as seen in my block print. The piece “The Scream” was perfect with displaying this type of message, as his bright and intense colors were seen as radical and gloomy while the screaming figure represented Munch's anxiety and other troubling experiences. Thus, I knew I wanted to emulate the theme and message expressed. I knew I would use a feminine subject who was screaming while having wounds to express a similar somber mood. In addition to this, I liked Munch’s use of line which created a sort of impressionist feel. I then decided I wanted to use line in a similar way, which is why the woman and background is drawn using thin scratchy lines. Furthermore, Munch’s style reminded me of Vincent Van Gogh’s post-impressionist style. I then started researching Van Gogh’s art and of course came across "Starry Night." During the time Van Gogh created "Starry Night," he was living in Arles, France. This city greatly inspired many of his pieces, including "Starry Night," due to how bright and colorful the city was. Because of this, his style became more loose and expressive. I've always loved "Starry Night," thus I decided I wanted to incorporate aspects of this painting within my piece. For instance, I wanted to incorporate his use of movement and line. Where Van Gogh used short lines to make up the painting, in which the placement of these lines created movement. I love this use of movement, so I decided to use this movement and line within the background of my piece.
Process
1. Research
First I began with researching art from several movements and artists to help me with inspiration of a piece. Inspirations for my final sketch include Edvard Munch's "The Scream" and Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night."
2. Planning
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The first three sketch's were inspired by the movement Art Nouveau, however I didn't like any of the sketches inspired by this. Thus, after the third sketch I decided to start researching other artists such as painter Francis Bacon and photographer Alex Stoddard. These two artists inspired the fourth sketch, which I liked better but not completely. Since many of Francis Bacon's art included screaming subjects, I had my subject be a screaming woman. However, this screaming woman as a subject reminded me of "The Scream" by Edvard Munch. Which I decided to research instead and base my fifth sketch off of. But my fifth sketch wasn't detailed enough and was quite dry. I tried to figure out how to make it more detailed, and decided I needed a more shadowing within the woman and a less boring background. I gave a second look at "The Scream," and Munch’s style reminded me of Vincent Van Gogh’s post-impressionist style. I then started researching Van Gogh’s art and of course came across “Starry Night,” where I decided I wanted to incorporate Van Gogh’s use of movement and line within the background.
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3. Etching
After I created my finalized sketch, I began to etch in my design into a plastic etching plate using a triangular scraper. To do this, I simply took my plate and placed it over my sketch and essentially traced my drawing. However, there were times where I would take the plate off the sketch and put it onto a dark surface so I could see my etching marks. This is when I would fix areas as I could see them better, but this is also when I sort of went free hand with the triangular scraper. This is seen within the background, where it doesn't completely match my drawing.
4. Printing
To begin printing, I soaked a couple pieced of paper in water for a few minutes. I set this aside while I worked putting the ink into my plate. I did this by spreading a small amount of oil-based ink onto by plate with a spatula. Then, I took pieces of paper to wipe off the excess ink and while working the ink into the grooves I etched. Once this was done, I took out a piece of paper and dried it off with a towel and wiped off excess lint. Then, I took a piece of normal drawing paper and set my plate onto that. I set this on the printing press and carefully placed my damp piece of paper on the plate. Then I fed this through the press. I repeated this step two more times until I was satisfied with a print.
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Experimentation
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After I created a couple prints I decided to experiment with water color paints. Since the background of this piece is inspired by "Starry Night," I used similar colors seen in that painting within the background of my piece. For example, I used different shades of blues, greens, and yellow. I had to experiment with the paint to figure out how to make different shades, which was simply a matter of adding more or less water. In addition, for the woman I used similar warm color scheme as seen in "The Scream." I ended up using different tones of reds, browns, and yellows. This also created a contrast against the background, which I liked. After this, I then decided to add brown within the background to create a contrast to my own personal liking. Once I finished painting, I decided that I liked the black and white version better even though the one in color looks good as well.
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Reflection
I am happy with my final piece for the most part, as it turned out better than what I had originally sketched. I ended up adding more precise detail within the background from what I had originally sketched within my final sketch, which I think makes my piece look better and more complete. However, the only thing I do not like is how I portrayed my message of the Earth deteriorating. I feel as though I could have shown a better way to depict the woman as being the Earth, as the car in the background seems to deviate from my message. Although, it is suppose to represent of one the things that are harming the Earth as it implies how it will run over the woman. I also feel like some areas of the background were etched too much, making it look like there were blotches of ink. Next time, I would want to exhibit my message in a way that was easier to connect and create less negative space so detail could be seen better in certain areas.
Furthermore, I also liked the mood my piece portrayed which was inspired by Edvard Munch where his bright and intense colors were seen as radical and somber while the screaming figure represented Munch's anxiety and other troubling experiences. Thus, I emulated this message by also using a screaming figure for the subject and using similar colors within my experimental piece. In addition to this, used line in a similar way as Munch did, where the woman and background are drawn using thin scratchy lines. Furthermore, I used "Starry Night" as inspiration where I incorporated his use of movement and line. Van Gogh used short lines to make up the painting, in which the placement of these lines created movement. I love this use of movement, so I decided to use this movement and line within the background of my piece.
Furthermore, I also liked the mood my piece portrayed which was inspired by Edvard Munch where his bright and intense colors were seen as radical and somber while the screaming figure represented Munch's anxiety and other troubling experiences. Thus, I emulated this message by also using a screaming figure for the subject and using similar colors within my experimental piece. In addition to this, used line in a similar way as Munch did, where the woman and background are drawn using thin scratchy lines. Furthermore, I used "Starry Night" as inspiration where I incorporated his use of movement and line. Van Gogh used short lines to make up the painting, in which the placement of these lines created movement. I love this use of movement, so I decided to use this movement and line within the background of my piece.
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.
After researching "The Scream" by Edvard Munch, I used a similar screaming figure for the subject and used line in a similar way where the woman is created with thin and scratchy lines. In addition, "Starry Night" also inspired the use of movement and line within the background which is similar to how it is used in "Starry Night."
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
"The Scream" was created by Edvard Munch where he used bright and intense colors, as a way to express art in a more radically in that time and encourage expressionism. In addition, this piece was created to express and represent Munch's anxiety and other troubling experiences by using a screaming figure with intense warm colors. "Starry Night" was created by Vincent Van Gogh as an expression of his enthusiasm for the city Arles that he lived in, which inspired this piece and others due to how bright and colorful the city was.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered that artists use their surroundings and inner feelings as inspirations for their own or a way to deal with pr express emotions. Due to how Munch's anxiety and other troubling experiences inspired "The Scream," and the beauty of the city Arles inspired many art pieces of Van Gogh.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my inspirational research was to depict and evoke Munch's anxiety and other troubling experiences, while Van Gogh's theme was to depict the beauty of the city Arles as it's brightness and color inspired this piece.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
During the time "The Scream" was created, I can infer that there was a change in art as Munch's use of bright and intense color was unconventional and encouraged expressionism. In addition, I can infer that Munch was going through a difficult time as the screaming figure can be seen as a representation of anxiety and difficult experiences. Furthermore, I can infer that the city Arles was extremely influential for Van Gogh's art as it inspired many of his pieces and I can also infer how much he must have loved that city.
Bibliography
Adieb, Mariana. “Mariana’s Avatar: The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh.” The Arts in New York, doi:10.3897/bdj.4.e7720.figure2f. Accessed 1 Oct. 2017
“Edvard Munch.” The Art Story Modern Art Insight, 2017, www.theartstory.org/artist-munch-edvard.htm. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
“The Scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch.” Edvard Munch, 2011, www.edvardmunch.org/the-scream.jsp. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
“Vincent's Life and Work.” Van Gogh Museum, www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/vincents-life-and-work. Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
“Edvard Munch.” The Art Story Modern Art Insight, 2017, www.theartstory.org/artist-munch-edvard.htm. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
“The Scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch.” Edvard Munch, 2011, www.edvardmunch.org/the-scream.jsp. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
“Vincent's Life and Work.” Van Gogh Museum, www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/vincents-life-and-work. Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.