"Shifted Reality"
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Four 2.54 x 2.54cm Acrylic on Canvas Panels September 6th 2017 Exhibition Text
"Shifted Reality" is a painting that was made using 4 panels of canvas in order to create one full picture that has a positive parts as well as mixed in with some negative parts. This painting reflects the overall design of life in general where there are alway positive things in life, but at the same time there are negative parts of life as well. By mixing these two things into the final painting, I have created a piece that somewhat resembles a checkerboard full of positives and negatives. |
Planning Inspiration
When I was deciding what to do for this project, I was reading a book called Waiting for Godot which was a book about two men named Vladimir and Estragon who wait at a tree and wait for Godot, but at the same time they said they wanted to kill themselves with the weeping willow tree that's right next to them because they have no purpose in life then later they said once Godot arrives they will be happy which has caused the once dead tree to grow leaves. By using this idea with the tree representing life I was able to develop an idea for my piece. How I related this into my piece was through the positives and negetives moments in our lives. We have alway wanted our lives to be perfect, but not everyone is going to have that perfect since there is always going to be something that's obstructing you from doing that. Artist Connection How I connected this piece was with Kathy Kollwitz because of the face that German Expressionism is followed with an idea with negativity which has a connection to Kollwiz's work. Originally I was going to create this inspired German Expressionist piece by creating a block print to further empathize the idea, but then later on during the planning phase I have decided to use acrylic paintings in order to empathize the idea on the negatives as well as mixing with the positive vibes that this piece is explaining. Planning Sketches
The main idea to this piece was that was to empathize the idea on how German expressionism's style has represented dark and negative aspects through the works of negative space and the carved mediums. Also originally there was going to be a single painting, but then I have decided create the designs with multiple canvas as well since I would be able to shift the design that is seen on Design #2. Descriptions from Sketchbook The main design and meaning of Design #1 is to represent the positives and negatives of life. This was inspired by the weeping willow tree from the play "Waiting for Godot" where the tree represents the meaning of essential life while the colors of black and white represents the positives and negatives of life respectively. The main design follow a similar style compared to Design #1, but one of the many key differences from the key aspect is altered with its shape and form, and it changes the idea on how it meanings is from the positives and negatives within the panel. Same idea as Design #2, but in a completely different layout. |
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ProcessWhen I was designing the main idea of the project I first had to design the panels. I was originally going to make it into a full painting, but then I remembered the design of the second sketch and was able to shift the designs of design #1 and design #2's layout which can be a lot more expandable upon the options on how this could be displayed. This has made the result of, 4 identical 1 ft x 1ft paintings.
I had to create a base layer in order to have a clean background so what I did was paint a full white background, and a full background where I mixed in some blue and grey in order to create a gradient in the background near the corners of the piece Then I created the next part of the piece which was the base layer where I added the solid black and white trees for the positive blacks and the negatives whites which has created the inverted design of the piece. Then finally I added the detail and and shading which has allowed the piece to develop a much more popped out design with the use of the pallet colors (especially the blue) |
ReflectionOverall I have done a really nice job with this piece when it comes to the meaning and design. When I was working on the critique, I took the feedback and have added more detail and made the colors a lot more vivid and bright in order to capture the design of German Expressionism. To other people, they claim that German expressionism to be specifically on a block print instead of a canvas, but to me I have felt like it doesn't always specifically have to follow a certain artist's technique, all that matters is that you capture the right mood and perspective from the artist you've gain inspiration from and placed yourself in their shoes. This is the main reason why I've did this in acrylic instead of block print
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ACT Response Questions
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork?
The similar relations between my piece and my inspiration is that it is based off the negativity that German Expressionism typically holds when it is being expressed which allowed the piece to stand out on its own.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach and perspective that the artist is conveying is the meaning of negativity in life since there hasn't been always been a positive since there are positives, there are negetives as well. This is why the piece is reflected in this tone
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
What I have noticed is that there is no such thing as a perfect life, we as human beings have always lived in struggling moments in certain chapters of our life. These can include depression, suicide, loss of loved one, rejection from society, and etc
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
What I wanted to centralize in this piece is that no matter who you are, what you're from, and who you want to become, there will alway be the good moments in life that have to include negatives in your path. This will sometimes make you feel useless like a tree without any leaves, but there will always be a purpose in life, no matter what.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
The reflection on negativity and depression can lead to deep and personal thoughts when examined through the piece.
The similar relations between my piece and my inspiration is that it is based off the negativity that German Expressionism typically holds when it is being expressed which allowed the piece to stand out on its own.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach and perspective that the artist is conveying is the meaning of negativity in life since there hasn't been always been a positive since there are positives, there are negetives as well. This is why the piece is reflected in this tone
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
What I have noticed is that there is no such thing as a perfect life, we as human beings have always lived in struggling moments in certain chapters of our life. These can include depression, suicide, loss of loved one, rejection from society, and etc
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
What I wanted to centralize in this piece is that no matter who you are, what you're from, and who you want to become, there will alway be the good moments in life that have to include negatives in your path. This will sometimes make you feel useless like a tree without any leaves, but there will always be a purpose in life, no matter what.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
The reflection on negativity and depression can lead to deep and personal thoughts when examined through the piece.