Triptych
Photos of Paradise
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Exhibition
This piece represents my hometown and how it helped me grow in my artistic abilities. I love photography and this site is where I first truly felt like photography could be something that I could do and have come to love. This piece uses techniques of finger painting for texture used by Iris Scott and an added touch of impressionism within the piece as well. |
Planning
For this project, I planned to have 3 scenes of this nature reserve in the area where I grew up. I grew up called "Paradise Springs" in Eagle, Wisconsin. It was the place where I first remember having a higher appreciation for the world around me. I I would rather go see sights than do activities when I travel and I believe this is where that began. I also believe this place and it's impact on how I look at the world and see beauty in everything had an impact on my photography greatly. I remember taking my little dollar store disposable camera here and taking pictures of this seemingly magical place. I planned not to have the canvases overlap, I wanted to capture three separate scenes but connected through setting and meaning.
Inspiration
I used three pictures from local photographers to guide my paintings. I used 2 photos from Jennifer Rondinelli as well as a photo from Michael Burmesch. It was important to me to make sure I added a touch of photography into this piece because of the fact that this is the place that my love for photography came from. I am extremely pleased with the photos used, mostly because I feel they most accurately represent the beauty of "Paradise Springs" that I remember from my childhood. I also used Iris Scott as my inspiration for the techniques used in my piece. Iris Scott uses a technique of finger painting to create an impressionist vibe to her piece. She calls this specifically internalism. iris Scott is a self taught painter, she spent most of her childhood learning the rules of art so she could eventually stray away from the rules and start creating art that is not only specific to her but one of a kind. She makes videos and even published a book explaining how to finger paint so that future artists can practice this technique as well. I feel Iris Scott was a perfect artist inspiration because not only does she use a childish technique of painting but she uses positive and childish subject matters in her pieces, which is significant considering the metaphor of my piece revolves around my childhood and my development as an artist.
Process
For my process, I decided to do one panel at a time in order from the panel I had the most inspiration to the panel in which I had the least inspiration hopes of finding a way to connect them at the end more as I gained more ideas as I continued along. The process in which I painted was very important not only to the metaphor but for my artist inspiration as well. It's the revival of a childish technique and advising it in order to help show that the metaphor behind this piece was an important part of my childhood.
Experimentation
While I was trying to put my inspiration picture into proportion I realized I had to change the composition of my pictures. So I cropped them into the generally shape of the canvas I was working with so I could visualize the composition. I also experimented with the technique of painting with my fingers like my artist inspiration it took actually a lot of paint on my fingers to create the texture I wanted to have in my piece. I also realized that you have a lot more control of the painting when you are using your fingers and therefore it was very different to use and took some getting used to. I also had never done impressionist painting so I needed more practice and therefore there were many layers of mess up impressionist techniques underneath the finished painting. I ended up not using the picture of the bathhouse's exterior and instead decided to showcase the site's impact on my photography instead by painting a camera in the center bridging the two scenes.
Critique
Looking back on the technique that I was using to create this piece, I noticed that although I was not as skilled as Iris Scott at it, I could still recognize the similarities in the pieces, such as the detailing and the ability to make certain textures and strokes that you could tell were clearly made by fingers yet did not have a childish vibe to my piece. I can clearly see the connection between my panels and the pictures I used. with the recognizable scenes and impressionist vibe to the pieces.
Reflection
Overall, I believe that my metaphor was easily understood and successful, given the scenes of Paradise Springs as well as the panel in which I feature my camera and a part of myself. I feel as though the process was a little difficult in terms of managing my time given that so many projects were introduced during this period.
ACT Reflection
1. While analyzing my work and Iris Scott's work, I can clearly see the connection with technique by seeing the same textures and strokes as seen in Scott's pieces.
2. The overall approach of Iris Scott, is what she calls, "internalism", she takes what she feels in her heart and flows that energy to her fingers and uses her fingers as brushes.
3. Through my research, I have discovered that people tend to create artwork based on their personal experiences and feelings in order to create work that's personable.
4. My central idea was development and reviving childhood techniques in a more sophisticated way.
5. I made the inference that Iris Scott is not afraid to be in touch with her childish side.
2. The overall approach of Iris Scott, is what she calls, "internalism", she takes what she feels in her heart and flows that energy to her fingers and uses her fingers as brushes.
3. Through my research, I have discovered that people tend to create artwork based on their personal experiences and feelings in order to create work that's personable.
4. My central idea was development and reviving childhood techniques in a more sophisticated way.
5. I made the inference that Iris Scott is not afraid to be in touch with her childish side.
"PAINTINGS." IRIS SCOTT. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.
"About." Iris Scott. N.p., n.d. Web 6 Jun. 2017.
"About." Iris Scott. N.p., n.d. Web 6 Jun. 2017.