Title: Consumed
Size: 61cm x 61cm
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Date: September 2019
Exhibition Text
"Consumed" is a self portrait that derives from the idea of top down light in theater, and "Smoke and Mirrors" by René Magritte. The effect that top down light creates is an ominous effect that hides the features of the face. Seeming more like a dark, mystic being instead of a human being. In this portrait, I use all of the bad things, and darkness inside myself to portray the evil inside of all of us. This evil is hidden from the world, and this piece sheds light on that idea.
"Examples of top down lighting" Retrieved from
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/421157002644510788/?lp=true. “The Lovers" by René Magritte retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/smoke-and-mirrors-the-surreal-life-and-work-of-ren-magritte-2295262.html.
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Inspiration / Research The idea of lighting has been a very important part of theater and has to be used carefully in every single play. Color of lights create a large effect also, but the position of the light can make the scene feel like a home, or like a dystopian future. Lighting in artwork is actually very important as well considering light determines what facial features require a brighter color, and what features fade into the background. This is the idea my artwork revolves around; the idea that a top down light removes the most prominent features in a face, the eyes and lips. The absence of these features leaves what seems like an empty shell of a human. The soul has left and all that is present is the darkness that remained. This color choice of black and white also adds to this, as it seems like all life has left the body, the vibrant colors that connect with the personality are gone.
This idea is also similarly portrayed in my other inspiration piece, "The Lovers" by René Magritte. Magritte was a Belgium artist who was known for his ability to use improvised surrealism in his works. He used realistic people and objects in his work, and put them in situations that would in some way startle or upset the viewer. This painting shows two "lovers" with sacks over their heads. This hides their identity while creating an ominous feeling because of their features being skewed. "Are they being kidnapped?" "what are they hiding?" are just a few of the many questions i'm sure the viewers had. I attempted to show this same idea, creating a question provoking piece. |
Experimentation During the process of creating this piece I decided to experiment with different ways of using the paintbrush. This is mainly focused in the background where I use excess paint, and light strokes, to create a smokey, strange background. I decided to use this background because I thought that a solid black background wouldn't have much depth. This background is a little more thought provoking and abstract which I enjoy creating. Also, it creates balance to the piece. While with a black background the eyes would be mainly around the center, this background allows the eyes to float across the piece.
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Technique To get the most accurate and precise lines, I used a projector over the canvas and traced the changes in color onto it. This way I could get the most accurate gradients of light to dark exactly where it needed to be. I first went over these areas with the lightest colors (white) and slowly added more black and used it each time on the canvas. The pure white would still be painted over, so that the light can reflect off the whole painting instead of just certain areas.
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Planning
"Consumed" was a piece that I came up with relatively quickly. This as been a very rough beginning to the school year and it has nothing to do with school. I feel like I haven't been the "Self Portrait" version of myself on the inside. I feel like I have been this "Consumed" version. The darkness when it takes over creates a whole different person that many people don't get to see. It puts into perspective how someones life can be going horrible, but they never show it. This painting is a tribute to people that have a hard life in private, and don't show it in public. This use of black and white portrays the darkness taking over the color and light. Additionally, the facial features are blocked off showing a change in character and a darker change at that.
Process
First I used my mother's phone to create a flashlight effect above my head in order to get the picture for the lighting I needed. I had my mom take several pictures at which I would move the light to a position I though would be good. I decided to go with this picture because of the darkness of the facial features and how the light hit the gray shirt.
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Second, I used my Adobe Photoshop Express to crop the image to a square size which would make it easier to project onto the canvas. I then used the High Contrast Black & White filter which isolated all of the colors which gave the exact look I was going for.
Next was the process of projecting and tracing the changes in colors. I did this by using my Chromebook display on my projector and lining it up with the canvas. This method wasn't the best method but it was what I had at the time. I then traced over every line established by the change in color. |
After the tracing was finished I outlined where the black and white separate before painting over with the black. During the painting over process I decided that instead of painting over the whole background, I would go around the outline of the body and use long strokes. These strokes would create this lion mane blackness around my darkened body. This adds white to the color in the background, and creates a balance between the black and the white. The contrast is assisted by the additional white in the background.
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Next, I filled in the eyes and the face shadows. I used a small amount of white to the bare black background to create a bit of a brighter color. This would be used around the eyes so they could be visible, and because the eyes aren't bare black like the background. This creates a realistic effect to the piece and allows my face to glow.
Lastly, I used the black and white paints, and made many different shades of grey. I used the darker grey to establish the darker lines in the shirt, and then the lighter grey to change the effect the shirt has. These would both create these shirt lines that are visible in the picture and that also adds a realistic look. |
Reflection
I believe that "Consumed" turned out really well. I didn't use color because I wanted this piece to contrast with my self-portrait because my self-portrait is a colorful life like version of myself, while this piece represents the darkness and how we would look with just the darkness. I do like how my use of grey in the shirt looks. At first I felt like the shading in the shirt wasn't well done and I went over it several times with several different shades of grey. I am really proud of how it turned out in the end, and with the colors I used.
I do however believe that the process of using the projector could've been done a lot more efficiently. I put a blanket under the projector which caused the projector to move slowly, so I ended up needing to place a book under the projector. This was not an effective way of tracing because the projector would move and so the tracing lines. Otherwise, the process of creating this piece was very enjoyable and I would like to go through the process again.
I do however believe that the process of using the projector could've been done a lot more efficiently. I put a blanket under the projector which caused the projector to move slowly, so I ended up needing to place a book under the projector. This was not an effective way of tracing because the projector would move and so the tracing lines. Otherwise, the process of creating this piece was very enjoyable and I would like to go through the process again.
ACT Questions
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
The stage lighting scheme of the top-down light is exactly what this piece is about. The idea of hiding facial features from viewer and changing this person's character showing this dark side directly relates to my piece. "Consumed" is a piece that shows the darker side of people, and sheds light on the fact that some people hide their true feeling deep inside. "The Lover's" by René Magritte creates an ominous mood, and challenges the norms that you see. My piece isn't very similar to any of my other pieces, and even other's pieces because of the black and white.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
René Magritte has a way of twisting common objects and people and putting them in a place that evokes a confused, potentially startled emotion towards the viewer. In "The Lovers" he shows a woman and man who have bags over their heads. This makes the viewer uneasy and creates the questions of what these people are doing. Challenges norms, and is very strange.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Nobody is immune to hurting and pain, just some people are really good at showing it. Some people need that extra help and some people don't. Good people are the ones who do something to help and then stop if the person needs them to.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
The central idea of my inspiration consists of a person changing based on their inner emotions. The top down theater light shows this by removing facial features, and the other painting creates an ominous idea around people.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I inference that there are many more people that hide their pain out in the world than people realize. Suicidal people or people that have shown that they are, are just the start. There are people that we know who may seem happy, but you never really know how they are on the inside.
The stage lighting scheme of the top-down light is exactly what this piece is about. The idea of hiding facial features from viewer and changing this person's character showing this dark side directly relates to my piece. "Consumed" is a piece that shows the darker side of people, and sheds light on the fact that some people hide their true feeling deep inside. "The Lover's" by René Magritte creates an ominous mood, and challenges the norms that you see. My piece isn't very similar to any of my other pieces, and even other's pieces because of the black and white.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
René Magritte has a way of twisting common objects and people and putting them in a place that evokes a confused, potentially startled emotion towards the viewer. In "The Lovers" he shows a woman and man who have bags over their heads. This makes the viewer uneasy and creates the questions of what these people are doing. Challenges norms, and is very strange.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Nobody is immune to hurting and pain, just some people are really good at showing it. Some people need that extra help and some people don't. Good people are the ones who do something to help and then stop if the person needs them to.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
The central idea of my inspiration consists of a person changing based on their inner emotions. The top down theater light shows this by removing facial features, and the other painting creates an ominous idea around people.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I inference that there are many more people that hide their pain out in the world than people realize. Suicidal people or people that have shown that they are, are just the start. There are people that we know who may seem happy, but you never really know how they are on the inside.
References
"Examples of top down lighting" Retrieved from
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/421157002644510788/?lp=true.
Hamilton @IndyVoices, Adrian. “Smoke and Mirrors: The Surreal Life and Work of René Magritte.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 23 Oct. 2011, https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/smoke-and-mirrors-the-surreal-life-and-work-of-ren-magritte-2295262.html.
Dupêcher, Natalie. “René Magritte: MoMA.” The Museum of Modern Art, 2017, https://www.moma.org/artists/3692.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/421157002644510788/?lp=true.
Hamilton @IndyVoices, Adrian. “Smoke and Mirrors: The Surreal Life and Work of René Magritte.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 23 Oct. 2011, https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/smoke-and-mirrors-the-surreal-life-and-work-of-ren-magritte-2295262.html.
Dupêcher, Natalie. “René Magritte: MoMA.” The Museum of Modern Art, 2017, https://www.moma.org/artists/3692.