Senior Year Open Studio
Studio #5
"Pulled a Pollock"
Acrylic on canvas
December 2015
40.64 cm x 50.8 cm
Acrylic on canvas
December 2015
40.64 cm x 50.8 cm
Exhibition Text: Abstract painting has its own mood to itself. It is looked at for its techniques and styles, and that is what I created through this painting. With the inspiration of Jackson Pollock, I attempted to portray the theme of abstractionism through abstract expressionism. The use of acrylic on canvas was different than Pollocks use of materials, which made our work different yet similar.
Abstract art is something that absolutely draws my attention. What is the meaning behind it? What is its purpose? Does this work mean a lot to the artist? Did the artist enjoy creating it? These are all questions I have when looking at abstract art. One artist that has drawn my attention since I was younger has been Jackson Pollock. Not only what his paintings look like that interest me, but it is how he creates them. He would use layers and layers of paint that would create these massive works. My main inspiration for this work was "Autumn Rhythm". It is by far one of my favorites, and I love the use of neutral colors. That then inspired my work to have neutral colors, because I am known to usually use bright and bold colors. This was all something new to me, creating this work that was completely abstract and that had neutral tones to it. I had now set out to create myself a Pollock style painting, to a certain extent. The first part of this was the materials being used. I was going to use a much smaller canvas, and I had gesso on mine. Some of Pollocks did not. Next was the paint that was going to be used. I was going to still stick with acrylic, but this changed my techniques down the road. Pollock used very thin paint that was dripped onto the canvas to create the layers. This became a limitation later on. My work had no plan, this was more of an experimentation work. How this worked was by layering and layering the colors onto the canvas. One technique was by simply watering down the paint. But after trying this a few times I realized it looked like watercolor, and was more blobs of paint rather than the lines dribbled on of how Pollock's paintings look. Next was to simply add a lot of paint to the paintbrush to splatter the big globs of paint off the canvas (onto the garbage bag) to create the lines that look the way they do. This was part of my technique that helped me create it.
Pollock used very thin paint that was dripped onto the canvas to create the layers. This became a limitation later on. My work had no plan, this was more of an experimentation work. How this worked was by layering and layering the colors onto the canvas.
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How I began this work was by simply splattering the paint onto the canvas. I had placed the canvas on top of a garbage bag so the paint wouldn’t make a mess. Next was pouring the paint into my plastic pallets to then begin the splattering process. This is when I realized this wasn’t looking how I wanted it to look. I realized that my paint was too thick at this point, and I did not want to use house paint to create this. So I had to work my way around this issue and create new techniques.
I continued to add layers and layers of paint after that. I still managed to mock the same techniques that Pollock did also, which was standing up and splattering the paint onto the canvas by leaning down. This did become tedious after a while.
After many layers of paint, I had decided to finish the work. The finished work I was overall satisfied with, and I would still continue the work if I wanted to.
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Studio #4
Exhibition Text: Attempting to use a new medium is never easy, and this was a challenge for me. Photography is something I enjoy looking at, but never actually creating. With the idea of photographing a place close to my home, with inspiration from Jay Maisel is what inspired this piece. Also the impressionism art movement played a role in this, by photographing different times of the day.
"Untitled"
Photography
December 2015
27.94 cm x 15.24 cm
Photography
December 2015
27.94 cm x 15.24 cm
Challenging myself with new mediums is something I always do. I am usually not one who has an eye for photography, but this was one thing that I was going to challenge myself with. I wanted to start with basic landscape pictures. I usually try to incorporate nature or some type of “natural” material or idea in my work, but I wanted this purely focused on nature. To get my ideas flowing, I looked into landscape photographers, and some who don’t have extraordinary work either. Someone who stays close to home, but still captures the beauty of it.
This is when I came across Jay Masiel. His work focuses on capturing “the light, color and gesture of everyday life”. I instantly fell in love with his work, and his work inspired me. The only difference was that he lives in New York and loves to photograph the city and people as well. Also with the exception of traveling the world a photographing everywhere. But I wanted to photograph outside of the small city of Milwaukee (in comparison to NYC), and stick to just the landscapes. There were a few of his works that caught my attention. The main inspiration from his work was “Tree and Goalposts”. This was a photograph taken in London, and I wanted my work to look similar to that. |
This was the photograph that was my main inspiration, and when I took my pictures I reminded myself of what this piece looked like.
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After photographing my first set of pictures, I wanted to extend this piece even more. I wanted an art movement to play a role in this piece. After exploring ideas and thoughts, I figured that one of my favorites would inspire this. I went with the impressionism art movement, and here’s why. Impressionists were obsessed with the different times of the day, and wanted to capture these different times as well. They were also known to emphasize colors, but I wasn’t going to adjust the colors for this piece, because I wanted the viewers to experience this the way I did.
Up above were the first set of pictures taken.
Monet was a main inspiration for this because of his haystacks works. He would paint them based on the different colors and times of the day. This is what I wanted to do but with photography, but not without an unrealistic set of colors.
That was then what I proceeded to do, which was return to the park two separate times, and photograph the same areas again. But when I went back, it looked pretty much the same as before, and I was disappointed by it. Overall, I would like to continue to this piece because it doesn’t end here. I want to continue photographing this area throughout the month, or even seasons to create a different look to it, and add more. |
The second set of pictures taken later in the day.
To the left is the screenshot of my process in photoshop. This was used to simply create the collage of all the pictures.
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Studio #3
Exhibition Text: Exploring the theme of having divorced parents was addressed once again in my work. I decided to include my sister into this piece because she lives this life too, and she is very important to me. I went along with something we were told, which was “This is not your fault”. Incorporating our faces, and this sentence, with inspiration from Barbara Krueger helped me create this work.
"This is not your fault"
Digital Manipulation
November 2015
61 cm x 61 cm
Digital Manipulation
November 2015
61 cm x 61 cm
Attempting to portray the feelings that a divorce brings to a family is not easy. This was something I was going to focus on in this piece. I wanted to focus on more of a personal topic, because it is something that affects my everyday life. I wanted to think of a certain message that would explain divorce in a sentence. I then began my research, on the different ways to tell children about divorce. According to womansdivorce.com, there was an article that explained the “Five Must Messages” to tell your children when explaining divorce. The first message that was brought to my attention was “This is not your fault”. This quote sparked my attention instantly because it sounded a little too familiar. My sister and I were told this after we first found out about my parents divorce. This one sentence then became key to this piece because it had meaning and importance to my life as well.
The artist I decided to use as my inspiration would be Barbara Kruger because of her style of work. I always had admired her work, and wanted to then use her as an inspiration for my work. She has common themes of feminism, religion, race, and more. These are very bold themes that make her work stand out. But I was more focused on the visual aspects of her work. I liked how bold and straightforward the meaning of her work was, and it sent a powerful message. This was then something I wanted to include in my work. With the use of serious and fierce facial expressions from the subject, and of red text boxes, it makes the piece unique from any other artist.
Experimentation with the first few pictures taken
Sketches #2 & #3
The next and final idea I had was to still include my sister, but still have my face as a part of this. With the help of the varying colors, I wanted to have one half my face, and the other half my sister, because we share this same lifestyle, and we only have each other. The smiling facial expressions were no longer part of it, it was now a serious facial expression to replicate it like Barbra Kruger.
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I then began the process of completing my work. My thoughts evolved throughout the process. I began with the inspiration of “Who does she think she is” but with my sentence of “This is not your fault:” I then sketched an idea of using my eyes and then the rest of my face with a different tone. But there was something that didn’t seem right about this piece, and didn’t fit it. I then continued exploring ideas.
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The process then continued. I combined our faces to look like the piece but with two separate faces. I inverted the colors on one side, which took away from the meaning of the piece so it was difficult to tell the difference between our faces. I continued by adjusting the tones of our photographs, so there was still the elements of different colors. Lastly to finish it off, was adding the red boxes with the text within it. And it was then finished with the caption “This is not your fault”.
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Studio #2
"Defeated"
Ink on paper
September 2015
Size: 22.85 x 27.95
Ink on paper
September 2015
Size: 22.85 x 27.95
Exhibition Text: With the final print to the series itself, the work had been completed with the subject being defeated overall. Losing the fight to loneliness, the subject lost. It is all based on the theme of loneliness, with the inspiration of Matisse for the shape of the figure.
Matisse, Henrii. Dance (II). Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Matissedance.jpg>.
My ideas have evolved throughout creating this piece. First I just wanted to have a typical distorted figure (To the right).Then I wanted this subject to have this potential story behind it. So this is where the defeated figure comes in. (Below)
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This was once again to add the last print to this series. But this was the end of the story being told. That the person who had these feelings of loneliness over them was defeated by it. Not that they were battling it, but they were defeated by even the thought of it. This can also be interpreted in completely different ways by each viewer.
The figure to the right is the final sketch of the subject. It is defeated by loneliness, and completely consumed by it. It has the shading around it to represent the dark feelings behind it. This was then sketched onto the linoleum that was carved and went through the printing process.
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"Plucked by Loneliness"
My original work that inspired this one. |
The shape of the person was inspired by Matisse. I do not like creating normal work, especially when it has to be realistic and look proportioned. I love the unique look and distorted figure, which helped enhance my piece. It is the final work for this series and completes the overall story.
Studio #1
"Dancing Over Our heads"
Ink on paper
September 2015
Size: 22.85 cm x 27.95
Ink on paper
September 2015
Size: 22.85 cm x 27.95
Exhibition Text: This is the second piece of work in my series. It is involved with the feelings of loneliness, with the inspiration of Matisse. The little dancers above the subjects head are the feelings of loneliness dancing over your head, weighing you down. It is an open ended story that can be interpreted many different ways.
For my first project, I decided to continue a piece that I had made last year. It was a block print that was based off of the theme of loneliness. I decided to make this piece the “next step” for the story behind the piece. The prints put up next to each other would tell the story, but based on the viewer's interpretation also.
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The inspiration for this piece was matisse, and his painting “Dance”. I decided to also base it off another work, “Music”. The reason I chose these two was to create a non realistic body figure but with body language that fits the theme. The dancers in the background are representing the feeling of loneliness and how it is dancing around the person, almost like haunting them. Sitting there observing what is happening, but the person sitting there is being bothered by these figures.
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The process for this piece was to first continue the idea and story from my previous work. It was challenging trying to create the next piece to tell the next part of the story. I created this work with a linoleum piece, that was carved. Ink was applied to the carved linoleum sheet, then put onto a piece paper. The final result was the print.
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Matisse, Henri. Music. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Matissedance.jpg>
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Summer Portraits
Junior Year Works
Sacred Vessel
"Pushing for More"
Clay, acrylic paint, fake moss, colored rocks
April 2015
31.5 cm x 15.4 cm
Clay, acrylic paint, fake moss, colored rocks
April 2015
31.5 cm x 15.4 cm
Exhibition Text
My ideas for this piece became stronger as I moved on with the idea. The metaphor behind this is that we always push to get more out of life, and are never satisfied with what we have. The hand pushing out of the pot is trying to get more, even though it has what it needs inside- which is rocks and moss, representing life. Brett Freund is my artist inspiration because of his ideas with nature and pop culture.
My ideas for this piece became stronger as I moved on with the idea. The metaphor behind this is that we always push to get more out of life, and are never satisfied with what we have. The hand pushing out of the pot is trying to get more, even though it has what it needs inside- which is rocks and moss, representing life. Brett Freund is my artist inspiration because of his ideas with nature and pop culture.
City in the Artist, Artist, Artist in the City
"Stages of Fauvism"
Acrylic on canvas
30.48 x 60.96 (Individual canvas)
March 2015
Acrylic on canvas
30.48 x 60.96 (Individual canvas)
March 2015
Exhibition Text
Knowing who I am is something I struggle to do, and representing it through paintings. The portrait in the middle is me, the left side (with cool colors) and how I let the negative things in my environment affect me. The right side then transitions into warm colors, and how I try to not let my environment make me a negative person, and I try my best to stay positive. My inspiration for this was using a triptych because the 3 canvases connect, and the fauvism movement for the color schemes.
Knowing who I am is something I struggle to do, and representing it through paintings. The portrait in the middle is me, the left side (with cool colors) and how I let the negative things in my environment affect me. The right side then transitions into warm colors, and how I try to not let my environment make me a negative person, and I try my best to stay positive. My inspiration for this was using a triptych because the 3 canvases connect, and the fauvism movement for the color schemes.
Choice Piece
"Consumed by Darkness"
Acrylic on Canvas
February 2015
60.9 x 60.9 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
February 2015
60.9 x 60.9 cm
Exhibition Text
This choice piece was based on a short story in a novel, “whatever happened to Frank Snake Church” in the book Ten Little Indians by Sherman Alexie. The painting is acrylic on canvas, and is more of a metaphorical painting. The colors symbolize the darkness of grief consuming him, and the picture of the indian man is how i pictured him when reading the story. I used techniques from munch that inspired my piece, the colors, shape of the face, and brushstrokes on the face.
This choice piece was based on a short story in a novel, “whatever happened to Frank Snake Church” in the book Ten Little Indians by Sherman Alexie. The painting is acrylic on canvas, and is more of a metaphorical painting. The colors symbolize the darkness of grief consuming him, and the picture of the indian man is how i pictured him when reading the story. I used techniques from munch that inspired my piece, the colors, shape of the face, and brushstrokes on the face.
Industrial V.S. Organic
"Industrialized Organs"
Wire
January 2015
25.4 x 20.3 x 7.62
Wire
January 2015
25.4 x 20.3 x 7.62
Exhibition Text
I wanted to address the issues with industrialization and how it affects our body. Everything we consume is industrial made, and wanted to portray how our body is made up of these industrialized objects. I created the lungs and made it out of wire, which is an industrialized material. Kate Mcdowell was my inspiration for this piece because her pieces are based on the effects of the environment.
I wanted to address the issues with industrialization and how it affects our body. Everything we consume is industrial made, and wanted to portray how our body is made up of these industrialized objects. I created the lungs and made it out of wire, which is an industrialized material. Kate Mcdowell was my inspiration for this piece because her pieces are based on the effects of the environment.
Self Portrait
"Self Portrait 2014"
Acrylic on Canvas
December 2014
91 cm x 91 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
December 2014
91 cm x 91 cm
Exhibition Text
The techniques of Chuck Close have always been very interesting, and I wanted to attempt it through this self portrait. This piece is an abstract self portrait, with different shapes and colors in each square to make up a portrait. The picture I used was a posed picture I took of myself, which I then gridded and then painted onto the canvas as I went.
The techniques of Chuck Close have always been very interesting, and I wanted to attempt it through this self portrait. This piece is an abstract self portrait, with different shapes and colors in each square to make up a portrait. The picture I used was a posed picture I took of myself, which I then gridded and then painted onto the canvas as I went.
Mixed Media
"Box of Stereotypes"
Wood, Model Magic, Spray Paint
November 2014
45.72 cm x 45.72 cm
Wood, Model Magic, Spray Paint
November 2014
45.72 cm x 45.72 cm
Exhibition Text
The box that the pieces are inside of, is a box that I made with shelves. The meaning of these objects are that we think of certain stereotypes when we see them. The figures I made were sculpted from model magic, and spray painted a glossy white. I made the figures with one piece inside each box to have a stronger message and wider range of interpretation from the viewers. The artist who inspired the box shape was Donald Judd, who make sculptures of cubes, but with nothing in it.
The box that the pieces are inside of, is a box that I made with shelves. The meaning of these objects are that we think of certain stereotypes when we see them. The figures I made were sculpted from model magic, and spray painted a glossy white. I made the figures with one piece inside each box to have a stronger message and wider range of interpretation from the viewers. The artist who inspired the box shape was Donald Judd, who make sculptures of cubes, but with nothing in it.
Dry Point Printing
"The Depths of Beauty"
Ink and watercolor on paper
October 2014
12.70 cm x 17.80 cm
Ink and watercolor on paper
October 2014
12.70 cm x 17.80 cm
Exhibition Text
This was a piece that had no actual meaning behind it. The use of flowers, bright colors, and designs in the back were to portray the same looks as Art Noveau. A piece of plastic was used to make lines where there was positive space, like a drawing but with carving into plastic. My original intentions were to have the colors painted on lighter and not as opaque, but also not too dark either.
This was a piece that had no actual meaning behind it. The use of flowers, bright colors, and designs in the back were to portray the same looks as Art Noveau. A piece of plastic was used to make lines where there was positive space, like a drawing but with carving into plastic. My original intentions were to have the colors painted on lighter and not as opaque, but also not too dark either.
Block Printing
"Plucked by Loneliness"
Ink on paper
October 2014
Size: 22.85 cm x 27.95
Ink on paper
October 2014
Size: 22.85 cm x 27.95
Exhibition Text
I wanted my metaphor for this to be based off of feelings, and not a situation or problem in my life. I took a piece of linoleum then carved away the negative space. I used Matisse’s paper cut out figures as my inspiration because the figures have a unique shape that I wanted to use in my art work. The metaphor of this are the feelings of loneliness pulling you away unexpectedly.
I wanted my metaphor for this to be based off of feelings, and not a situation or problem in my life. I took a piece of linoleum then carved away the negative space. I used Matisse’s paper cut out figures as my inspiration because the figures have a unique shape that I wanted to use in my art work. The metaphor of this are the feelings of loneliness pulling you away unexpectedly.
Know Thyself Digital Collage
"Megan the Marionette"
Digital Manipulation
September 2014
61 cm x 91.5 cm
Digital Manipulation
September 2014
61 cm x 91.5 cm
Exhibition Text
My intentions for this piece were to demonstrate how I feel like a puppet between two households, living a life with divorced parents. I used photoshop to make a collage of the pictures that make up my life, family, and who I am. I then shaped them into a silhouette of myself hanging there like a puppet. My artist inspirations for this piece were Kiki Smith and Annette Messager who focused on identity.
My intentions for this piece were to demonstrate how I feel like a puppet between two households, living a life with divorced parents. I used photoshop to make a collage of the pictures that make up my life, family, and who I am. I then shaped them into a silhouette of myself hanging there like a puppet. My artist inspirations for this piece were Kiki Smith and Annette Messager who focused on identity.