Title: New beginnings
Size: 18 x 18 Medium: Acrylic paint and obtained objects on a canvas Completion: March 2022 Exhibition Text:
The original intention of this piece was to portray the transition into something new. This can be seen through the symbolism that corresponds with the two trees and how together they represent hope and new life. This can be seen in the way that the two trees meet to make a new flower. This piece was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh and Tokuriki Tomikichiro. The piece was made using acrylic paint, hot glue, and obtained objects on a canvas. |
Inspiration
For this piece, I was inspired by ¨Almond Blossom¨ by VIncent Van Gogh. In the Van Gogh piece he painted an Almond Tree on a blue background, the painting was meant as a gift for his nephew. He chose an Almond Blossom because of its symbolism of new life and how Almond trees blooming shot the beginning of spring. For Lake Kawaguchi by Tokuriki Tomikichiro, this piece depicts the Lake that's in Japan and Cherry Blossoms. Cherry Blossoms symbolizes renewal as well as the spring season. Both of these pieces are an inspiration for my piece because of the symbolism and meaning behind the trees. Since both of the trees represent spring and renewal of life. Spring is a season that has a feeling of short lasting, a transition from dull dreary winter to vibrant hot summer. For this piece I wanted to have the representation of both trees and how a fresh start even in the middle of the school year is needed to finish strong. To do this I will take inspiration from both pieces by painting Almond and Cherry Blossom trees. At the bottom I will have a flower that will incorporate both colors so that it looks like the leaves blending fused together to produce a new flower.
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Planning
After I found my Inspiration, I began to start planning how I wanted my piece to look. I first make rough drafts of the ideas in my head. Some of these can be seen in the Experimentation section. This rough draft helped me a lot even though it's unfinished, it makes sense to me since I was having trouble mentally making an image. In the drawing I have branches from an Almond Blossom tree drooping in the left corner. Once I saw this, it helped me make sense of how I wanted this piece to look like. After I was satisfied with what I wanted to do, I began to draw grids for the different paints I wanted to use. I learned from previous pieces that if I have the colors I need already mixed, I won't have trouble later on when I'm in the process of painting and trying to color match the paint. I made rows for the colors I was going to use on the sky, flowers, vines, and branches. Once I was happy with the colors, I mixed a larger amount in cups and prepared my workstation from the actual making of the piece.
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Process
To begin the process of creating this piece, I first sketched a grid on the canvas. I did this so that I would be able to have a center proportion later on when I drew the branches and flowers. Before I began painting my background color I needed to have a base-wash.Doing this allows for the true color of the paint to show and it adds a layer between the canvas and the paint. To do this I used the background color and some water then applied it onto the canvas. After I did that, I applied the color normally on top of the base coat. I added another layer so that it would be opaque.
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After that, I started painting the branches on both sides of the upper corners, so that it would look like the branches are down. I used a round brush so that it looked like the sides of the branches rounded off and that I could have more control on the length and thickness of the branches. After I made the branches, I began on the white flowers. For this I used other round brushes so that I could round off the edges. I made many sizes and put them in various places so that later I could add the fake flowers on top of them. Next, I painted the flowers from the right corner. To do this I used a flat fan brush so that it could look like the inspiration. Lastly, I added the flowers, on the left side I took apart white flowers and hot glued them back together. I then hot glued it onto the white flowers on the canvas. I took a flower that had a mixture of pink and white petals and tore apart some petals so that it would look like the petals are falling from the flower.
Experimentation
When making my planning sketches, I couldn't think of how I wanted to portray what I wanted. Which led to different variations of the piece that I have now. One of the ideas was instead of having branches of Almond Blossoms, have the flowers on vines and make them come out from the left side of the canvas.
I also experimented with the colors I was going to use. If I had decided to make grass, I mixed different hues of green until I was satisfied with one. However I didn't end up making a ground.I also experimented with different colors of blue for the background and made a rough draft of what I wanted the painting to look like. |
Critique
Similarities
- A similarity between Van Gogh's piece and mine would be that they both have blue backgrounds, however different hues. This is because my inspiration came from him to have a blue background but I wanted something that would fit both the Cherry and Almond Blossom. A similarity between Tomikchiros piece and mine is that while both have Cherry Blossoms, the color I was inspired to use came from his background. Since I planned on having a darker background, I thought that the pink he used would either look too alike with the Almond Blossoms or they wouldn't have the emphasis I wanted of something looking at it and knowing it's a Cherry Blossom.
- A similarity between all three pieces is the symbolism in the trees. Both Cherry Blossoms and Almond Blossoms symbolize renewal and transition and are incorporated in my piece.
Differences
- A difference between my piece and Van Gogh's piece is that I did not put the tree in my piece, just the branches. In his piece the tree is viewed as coming from the bottom right and up. I did not add the trunk of the tree because I wanted it to look like the canvas was taken from the top middle, where some branches end while you are still looking up at the sky.
- A difference between my piece and Tomikichiro´s is that it has more than just Cherry Blossoms, it also depicts Lake Kawaguchi. My piece only depicts the trees along with a sky background. I did this because I wanted the attention to be on the trees and ambiguity of it.
Reflection
Overall, I think that because this piece is different from all of the other pieces that I have done I like it for that reason. I enjoyed making this piece because it's simple. There are not many other things to look at besides what's there so I tried my best to put enough detail and technique into the components. I did have some challenges with painting the Cherry Blossoms, I would add too much paint or layer in one area and not enough in another to where it looked awkward. However, I fixed my problem by starting over in some areas. I believe by doing this piece, I have found a new skill in connecting my pieces by meaning and look regarding inspiration. When people look at my piece, I hope that they will recognize the trees and understand that there is meaning behind them and the simplicity of the piece.
Connecting to the ACT
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
A cause and effect relationship that I am able to identify between my inspiration and its effect on my artwork is that I was able to put a plan together of what I wanted my piece to look like. Without my inspiration I wouldn't have been able to figure out how I wanted to place the components I wanted.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author was to show symbolism in their pieces. The trees have meanings of renewal and showing that a new time has come. One of the reasons why I choose these two pieces as my inspiration.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
A generalization or conclusion I have discovered while researching for my inspiration was that many inanimate or living objects have similar meanings within the same cultures and out.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around the research around my inspiration was finding something that I could relate to now.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research is that the symbolism and meaning that correspond with the trees were a major influence in the pieces.
A cause and effect relationship that I am able to identify between my inspiration and its effect on my artwork is that I was able to put a plan together of what I wanted my piece to look like. Without my inspiration I wouldn't have been able to figure out how I wanted to place the components I wanted.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author was to show symbolism in their pieces. The trees have meanings of renewal and showing that a new time has come. One of the reasons why I choose these two pieces as my inspiration.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
A generalization or conclusion I have discovered while researching for my inspiration was that many inanimate or living objects have similar meanings within the same cultures and out.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around the research around my inspiration was finding something that I could relate to now.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research is that the symbolism and meaning that correspond with the trees were a major influence in the pieces.
Bibliography
“Almond Blossom - Vincent Van Gogh - Google Arts & Culture.” Google, Google, artsandculture.google.com/asset/almond-blossom-vincent-van-gogh/dAFXSL9sZ1ulDw.
“Lake-Kawaguchi-Tokuriki-Tomikichiro.” Blossom & Berry, 13 Sept. 2021, www.blossomandberry.com/lessons/welcome-10/lake-kawaguchi-tokuriki-tomikichiro/.
“Lake-Kawaguchi-Tokuriki-Tomikichiro.” Blossom & Berry, 13 Sept. 2021, www.blossomandberry.com/lessons/welcome-10/lake-kawaguchi-tokuriki-tomikichiro/.