Binding Gouache Painting on Illustration Board 38.1 cm x 25.4 cm January, 2020 Binding was inspired by artists Damselfrau and James Ensor, reflecting the expressionism and surrealism movements. They are both widely known for their work with masks. This gouache painting is meant to demonstrate how one is able to hide their true identity behind a "mask". |
Planning
Inspiration The inspiration pieces that had motivated me to create these works of art were pieces from London-based Norwegian artist, Damselfrau, who mostly works with masks and jewelry using materials such as plastic trinkets, old laces, gold confetti, old tea towels, and pearls. However, I also picked another artist to influence my piece. James Ensor had influenced my decision on the movements I wanted my illustration piece to reflect. He was mainly considered to be a major factor in the expressionism and surrealism movements. His artworks mostly contains figures in distorted masks, representing certain emotions. I have chosen these two artists and the movements in order to successfully mirror the use of their masks in my illustration piece. My goal is to create a drawing of a mask that is supposed to cover a fake "facade", but on the second part of the illustration the figure is going to take the mask off to reveal a different appearance. However, I am not really following any of their techniques because my illustration pieces are being made from colored pencils on paper while Damselfrau uses physical mixed media and Ensor mostly uses oil on canvas for his choice of medium. However, for my gouache painting I have decided to add a third inspiration piece, Ruby by Alphonse Maria Mucha. This addition will inspire me to add the influence of the art nouveau movement into my gouache illustration piece. Overall, I feel that my piece will not successfully mirror my inspiration pieces because of the medium that I will be using, however, the use of their techniques and concepts will be greatly implemented. |
Damselfrau
Mixed Media The Intrigue
James Ensor Oil on Canvas 1890 |
Ruby
Alphonse Maria Mucha Color Lithograph 1900 |
P L A N N I N G S K E T C H E S
My planning sketches for the gouache paintings consist of my sketches for the initial part of the illustration project and the final product which was finished with colored pencils. For my first sketch I had taken an interpretation of James Ensor's, The Intrigue, in order to capture the distorted and whimsical features that it contains. The use of the different hues in my sketches and final products were inspired by the physical masks produced by Damselfrau which consist of bold and heavy pigments. For my second set of sketches, they are less colorful and more standard based hues are present such as numerous shades of browns. I decided to have X's over each eye in order to tie into my other sketch which does not show the inside of the figures eyes as well. |
Process
1. After completing the illustration sketches and cutting an illustration board in half so that each had dimensions of 38.1 cm x 25.4 cm
2. I then replicated my sketch onto the illustration board and started to gather the colors I wanted to use for the figures skin tone and hair 3. After I had finished layering multiple hues of browns, grays, and blacks to complete the hair portion of the figure, I then mixed together colors for the skin tone 4. The colors that I had used for the skin tone consisted of were yellow ochre, white, burnt sienna, and vermilion which resembles a darker orange 5. Following the completion of painting the hair and regular skin tone I then gathered brighter colors in order to replicate my initial sketch 6. These colors consisted of lemon yellow, crimson red, ultramarine blue, sap green, and coeruleum blue 7. This then led to the completion of the first gouache painting 8. After completing the first painting I then went on to mix together different hues for the hair. I wanted the colors to seem healthier than the colors in the previous figures hair 9. To do this I did not include black and grey so that the colors looked more full |
Experimentation
My experimentation for this project greatly consisted of evaluating the gouache paints and how they blended together. I had realized that working with the paints wasn't the easiest because of the fact that I had never worked with them before and I was not used to the paints not blending the way acrylic paints do. The skin tones for my two paintings were not the correct hue I was anticipating, however it still closely resembled the first half of the illustration project consisting of the colored pencils.
Reflection
C R I T I Q U E
C R I T I Q U E
For the second part of the illustration project, the gouache paintings, I was not that satisfied on how my final products turned out. I am not pleased with the final pieces because I would have wanted to have more experience working with gouache paints. Since it was my first time using these paints, however, I feel that it was a good first experience. The skin tone that I had created could have been lighter and less splotchy. If I were to do this project again I would spend more time working on blending and mixing the various hues in order to get the colors I truly envisioned.
C O M P A R E & C O N T R A S T
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ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork.
I am able to identify the cause and effect relationship between my artworks and my inspiration because I have recreated my illustration piece with gouache paints. I have also taken components from my inspiration pieces and put them into my artworks.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach that the author has regarding the topic of my inspiration is to inform readers how artworks fit into certain movements and how mediums are used within the pieces.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Some generalizations that I have discovered is that although there are many different movements and cultures they can all be connected within a similar theme.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research was to find artists that used masks in their artwork in order to represent certain things about a person's identity or sense of purpose.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Some inferences I made while reading my research is that artists have many different perceptions on similar ideas.
I am able to identify the cause and effect relationship between my artworks and my inspiration because I have recreated my illustration piece with gouache paints. I have also taken components from my inspiration pieces and put them into my artworks.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach that the author has regarding the topic of my inspiration is to inform readers how artworks fit into certain movements and how mediums are used within the pieces.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Some generalizations that I have discovered is that although there are many different movements and cultures they can all be connected within a similar theme.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research was to find artists that used masks in their artwork in order to represent certain things about a person's identity or sense of purpose.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Some inferences I made while reading my research is that artists have many different perceptions on similar ideas.
Bibliography
Mucha Foundation. Mucha Foundation, muchafoundation.org/gallery/browse-works/object/138/.
PeoplePill. “Damselfrau: Norwegian Artist, Mask Maker - Biography, Life, Family, Career, Facts, Information.” PeoplePill, https://peoplepill.com/people/damselfrau/.
“The Intrigue - James Ensor.” KMSKA, https://www.kmska.be/en/collection/artworks/the-intrigue.
“The Mysterious Masks of Damselfrau.” Design Indaba, https://www.designindaba.com/articles/creative-work/mysterious-masks-damselfrau.
Mucha Foundation. Mucha Foundation, muchafoundation.org/gallery/browse-works/object/138/.
PeoplePill. “Damselfrau: Norwegian Artist, Mask Maker - Biography, Life, Family, Career, Facts, Information.” PeoplePill, https://peoplepill.com/people/damselfrau/.
“The Intrigue - James Ensor.” KMSKA, https://www.kmska.be/en/collection/artworks/the-intrigue.
“The Mysterious Masks of Damselfrau.” Design Indaba, https://www.designindaba.com/articles/creative-work/mysterious-masks-damselfrau.