Calain
Chalk Pastel on Illustration Board December 2022 Exhibition Text: The original intention of this piece was to depict native plants found in Somalia. This can be seen from the various types of plants that outline the nation. The piece was inspired by numerous Joy Adamson pieces, one being, “Ruttya”. The piece was made using chalk pastel on an illustration board. |
Inspiration
For this piece, I was inspired by many aspects. One of them is Joy Adamson's piece “Ruttya”. This piece is a watercolor painting of a plant that is native to Kenya. Most of Joy Adamson's pieces are mostly about Kenyan and the people and plants that reside there. From this piece, I was inspired to look into the native plants from Somalia. They are the Boswellia, Commiphora, aloe, and acacia trees. Even though there are many other plants that resided within the nation, these are some of the most widespread ones. I plan to use these plants in my piece to outline the country's geographical shape. The overall idea is to make it look like the plants were placed in the shape of the country.
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Planning
For the planning process of this piece, I first started by researching the different types of plants and picked four of them. I started by sketching each plant and trying to figure out their shapes for later when I begin the process of the piece. I also practiced drawing the shape of Somalia. It has a shape of seven to an extent. So drawing it was not a hard thing to do. For the piece, I plan on having the outline of the country centered on the board and outlining it with the different plants. I also played around with the colors to use and how to make it look like inspiration.
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Process
To begin the process of the piece, I started by drawing the outline of the country. I then started to draw each plant individually starting with the Boswellia. I started to draw the branches on the outline and have some of them stick out to make it look more real. I then moved on to the Commiphora, which has shorter leaves, and started at the opposite side of where the other plant. I drew the khana leaves next and made them extend along the left side stacking on each other. I then also drew the acacia tree branch which consists of circular buds. Lastly, I drew the aloe leaves on the top and left side to complete the sketch. I then moved on to coloring the piece using chalk pastels.
Since I wanted to connect the inspiration to my piece, I used a tan-colored chalk pastel that closely resembles the background of the inspiration. I covered the entire background of my piece with the tan and blended it out with my finger to make it smoother. I then moved on to the Boswellia, which consists of using brown chalk to color the branches and green chalk for the leaves. They are oval-shaped and vary in size. I used both colors and a darker green to add contrast and blended it with my finger, I then moved on to the Commiphora. This consisted of brown branches and smaller light green leaves which I used to color the plant. I then moved on the khana leaves and used a darker green and light green to add highlights and contrast. I moved on the aloe leaves and used green and light green as well to highlight the different areas. Lastly, I started by moving on to the acacia tree. This one consists of yellow circular buds and brown branches. I started by making circular movements to fill in each circle I drew and then blending them out with my finger. I also used an orange to add highlights so that it wasn’t all one color. Once I was finished I used a brush to clean around the edges of each plant so that the area that smudged onto the background won’t be so opaque and I can go over it with the same tan as the background to clean it up. Lastly, I decided to go in with a drake tan in the middle section so that it differs a bit. |
Experimentation
For this piece, I experimented with different positions of the plants. I couldn’t decide where to put which plants and or how I should go about it. I first decided to put the aloe on both sides so that they would be parallel. However, I did not like the way they looked. So I decided to play around with the composition some more and ended up liking what I got in the end and used that format for the piece.
I also experienced the different colors to use for the leaves and background. I choose a couple of greens from my pack of chalk pastels and played around with the dark and light ones to see how they would react to each other. After that, I debated on whether or not I should make the inside of the county outline a different color or not but decided on it because it would add some differentiation. |
Critique
Similarity:
A similarity between my piece and the inspirations is that both consist of plant life and both highlight plants. Also, the background of both pieces is similar because I took inspiration from them and decided to do a tan background. Also the plans in both pieces all most likely have the same endurance to harsh dry weather because both countries where the plants are based are in Africa where there are harsh, dry, weather conditions.
Difference:
A difference between my piece and the inspirations is that the inspirations plant in the piece is based on ones in Kenya and the plant life there. However, my piece consists of plants from Somalia its neighboring country because it is my culture. Another difference between my piece and the inspirations is that my piece has more than one plant while the I separation only has one.
A similarity between my piece and the inspirations is that both consist of plant life and both highlight plants. Also, the background of both pieces is similar because I took inspiration from them and decided to do a tan background. Also the plans in both pieces all most likely have the same endurance to harsh dry weather because both countries where the plants are based are in Africa where there are harsh, dry, weather conditions.
Difference:
A difference between my piece and the inspirations is that the inspirations plant in the piece is based on ones in Kenya and the plant life there. However, my piece consists of plants from Somalia its neighboring country because it is my culture. Another difference between my piece and the inspirations is that my piece has more than one plant while the I separation only has one.
Reflection
Overall, I am content with how the piece came out because it was exactly how I wanted it to be. I was able to produce an idea from my inspiration, develop it in the planning, and follow through with it in the process. I did struggle with choosing how to lay out the plants and what would be best for the composition. Overall, when people look at my piece. I hope that they can evidently see that the plants are in the shape of a country and connects to a certain theme.
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?
I am able to identify the cause and effect relationship between my inspiration and its effects on my artwork because I was able to formulate ideas and produce them through the process.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author regarding the inspiration was to depict the plant life within Kenya individually.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
A generalization or conclusion I discovered about ideas and cultures is that plant life is extremely relevant in many different cultures.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
A central idea or theme around my inspiration research was looking for something that would be able to allow me to follow through on my ideas.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research was that the artist really enjoys depicting different people, plants, and animals within the country of Kenya.
I am able to identify the cause and effect relationship between my inspiration and its effects on my artwork because I was able to formulate ideas and produce them through the process.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author regarding the inspiration was to depict the plant life within Kenya individually.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
A generalization or conclusion I discovered about ideas and cultures is that plant life is extremely relevant in many different cultures.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
A central idea or theme around my inspiration research was looking for something that would be able to allow me to follow through on my ideas.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research was that the artist really enjoys depicting different people, plants, and animals within the country of Kenya.
Bibliography
“Ruttya - Joy Adamson - Google Arts & Culture.” Google, Google, https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/ruttya-joy-adamson/SAFHwat23YRBhg.