Artwork: Block print
Title: Spending Time Together
Size: 44cm x 30cm Medium: Linoleum/ Relief Ink Completion: January 22, 2019 Exhibition Text Life is too short, spend lots of time with people that you love and care for. This block print piece is based on my fear of losing someone that I love and care for. I think it is very important to spend lots of time together and show them that I care and blessed to have them in my life while I am the chance. It is essential to show someone that I appreciate them and happy to have them in my life. I was inspired by Rain Rustle and Couple Under One Umbrella by Leonid Afremov. |
Meaning
Four years ago I lost one of my best friends. He was a year or two older than me. He was one of the best people that I met in my life. He was smart, nice, kind, have a good heart, and have good intention for others. We always used to compete in Sunday school. I always used to get first place in everything such as bible tests, writing our native language, dancing, etc. before he came to my church. Once he came to my church, he took my place. We both loved competition, and happy to have someone who we can compete.
One summer, we had a Sunday school picnic that was only for the junior. Everything was fine, and we had a great time. However, it was the last time I saw him for the rest of my life. After losing him, I was afraid to get too close to people because it was very difficult to let go of someone that I loved and cared about. I had a hard time getting rid of all these negative thoughts that trapped me. I wish I had more time to tell him how much he means to me, how blessed I was to have a friend like him and spend more time with him.
I decided to let others know that I am blessed and happy to have them in my life. I am working on bringing out the best in people and spend quality time with them because I never know when will I last see them.
One summer, we had a Sunday school picnic that was only for the junior. Everything was fine, and we had a great time. However, it was the last time I saw him for the rest of my life. After losing him, I was afraid to get too close to people because it was very difficult to let go of someone that I loved and cared about. I had a hard time getting rid of all these negative thoughts that trapped me. I wish I had more time to tell him how much he means to me, how blessed I was to have a friend like him and spend more time with him.
I decided to let others know that I am blessed and happy to have them in my life. I am working on bringing out the best in people and spend quality time with them because I never know when will I last see them.
Planning
Inspirations
Afremov, Leonid. Rain Rustle. Oil on canvas. Web. 17 Jan. 2019
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Rain Rustle by Leonid Afremov is a romantic moment, two people holding and walking in the rain. Many people consider rainy weather to be dull, others prefer to set out on a quiet walk down an empty street. When I looked that this piece, I was in love because of this kind of symphony of colors that transforms the wet street or park into a magical forest. I always wanted to take a long walk or have a romantic date in this kind of setting and weather. I was inspired to create a romantic scene like Rain Rustle because I enjoy spending time on my own or with people that I love. I got an idea of creating two people holding hands while walking on a street. This is to show how spending time with people that I love is so important to me because I do not know what the future holds, I think it is a good idea to be together as much as we can when we have a chance.
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Couple Under One Umbrella by Leonid Afremov is my second inspiration for my piece. This piece is also a couple sharing one umbrella walking on a street on a raining day. I think that rain is the most romantic weather. I liked how the artist captures the mood, the emotions, and use splashes of color and wide strokes. I wanted to capture the mood and the emotions of spending time with people that you love and care for. However, since my piece is going to be black and white, I am going to aim for creating a romantic setting. This is because just using black and white limited the sense of roman and the magical setting. |
Afremov, Leonid. Couple Under One Umbrella. Oil on canvas. Web. 17 Jan. 2019
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Planning Sketches
This was my first sketch for this project. I thought I should include lights to brighten up the mood and scene. This sketch was very simple, however, I think it would be better to add more details.
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This was my second sketch and I chose this for my final piece because I think I had enough details, and I could feel the emotions that I was aiming for.
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This was my third sketch, and I loved this so much. I loved all the details and everything is just balanced out. However, it would be nice if I included people.
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This was my last sketch, and I did not really like this one because when I look at this I rather imagine a scary forest than a romantic place.
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Experimentation/Techniques
This is my second print, and the ink is more visible because I put a good amount of pressure and the ink. I also used only one layer of paper because I think the ink could actually get into the paper more. However, there are some areas that are more visible than others. I guessed applying enough pressure evenly could affect how much the ink could get onto the paper. |
This is my first experiment, the first print that I produced. I applied a small amount of block print ink. Also, when I printed I put another layer of paper to secure the first layer that was on top of the linoleum. However, the print did not come out the way I wanted to. I did put enough pressure, and maybe I should add more ink to it. |
Process
First, I sketched the image. Once I have the image ready, I then transfer it to the linoleum by shading the back of an image using
pencil and traced it on the linoleum. This gives me an outline of where to crave. Then, I put a small amount of ink onto an ink tray and rolled it out with a brayer. It is important to have a thin, even layer because I wanted to apply the ink evenly to the block.
After that, I moved the block to a clean area to print a clean and nice image. I placed a paper on top of the block and pressed it down with barren. The more pressure is applied, the stronger the color.
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Next, I started to carve the image using a Speedball linoleum cutter. I used a very small-tipped knife for craving outlines and details. I carved away the parts that I did not want to print because whatever surface is untouched will be what prints onto the paper.
Next, I transferred the ink to the block and rolled it out with a brayer to evenly spread the ink across the block. I applied around three to four layers of ink.
Last but not least, I removed the paper slowly from the block and place it nicely on a drying rack to let it dry.
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Reflection
Critique
I am happy with how my final piece turned out because I put a good amount of ink, and the details are fine. One thing that I do not like about this piece is the visible straight line that is in the middle which is an edge of the block. That line kinda makes the piece separated. The hardest challenge that I faced in making this piece was applying ink. I thought I applied enough ink, but the ink did not spread as even as I wanted it to be. Some areas contain more ink than others which creates an image of a romantic night. This artwork is successful because I achieved that emotion and the mood that I aimed for without using colors. Additionally, I think it was fun to crave the linoleum because I only used Speedball that has a small-tipped knife for the details. The sketching, craving, and the process went well.
Compare and Contrast
"Rain Rustle" by Leonid Afremov
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Similarities
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Differences
Spending Time Together
Rain Rustle
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"Spending Time Together" by Jacinta Tial
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"Couple Under One Umbrella" by Leonid Afremov
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Similarities
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Differences
Spending Time Together
Couple Under One Umbrella
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"Spending Time Together" by Jacinta Tial
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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?
Leonid Afremov painted romantic scene such as couple walking to a park holding hands or sharing an umbrella. He applied impasto which is when he uses palette knives and oil paints to create wet effect. Just like Leonid Afremov, I created a romantic scene like a couple walking and holding hands.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author wrote Leonid Afremov biography. Afremov was a struggled artist when he came to America. He and his son visited gallery to gallery in New York, and found galleries that Liked and purchased paintings. However, Afremov was forced to paint limited themes. Then, his son was introduced to eBay by one of his friends, and they sell Afremov's paintings online. This creates an opportunity for him to paint whatever his want.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
While researching for my inspiration, I found out that Leonid Afremov is a Russian-Israeli modern impressionistic artist known for working with mainly a palette knife and oils, and for being self-representing artist. His works are mainly landscapes, city scenes, seascapes, flowers and portraits.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea or theme around my inspirational research is romantic moments on a raining day. Leonid Afremov created many breathtaking painting of autumn parks with couple walking, and created a warm feeling by using vibrant colors and lights.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research, I thought Leonid Afremov might have a great life without any struggles because his works are mainly landscapes, city scenes, seascapes, flowers and portraits. His works presents positive feeling and romantic scenes. However, he was a struggled artist before fame.
Leonid Afremov painted romantic scene such as couple walking to a park holding hands or sharing an umbrella. He applied impasto which is when he uses palette knives and oil paints to create wet effect. Just like Leonid Afremov, I created a romantic scene like a couple walking and holding hands.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author wrote Leonid Afremov biography. Afremov was a struggled artist when he came to America. He and his son visited gallery to gallery in New York, and found galleries that Liked and purchased paintings. However, Afremov was forced to paint limited themes. Then, his son was introduced to eBay by one of his friends, and they sell Afremov's paintings online. This creates an opportunity for him to paint whatever his want.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
While researching for my inspiration, I found out that Leonid Afremov is a Russian-Israeli modern impressionistic artist known for working with mainly a palette knife and oils, and for being self-representing artist. His works are mainly landscapes, city scenes, seascapes, flowers and portraits.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea or theme around my inspirational research is romantic moments on a raining day. Leonid Afremov created many breathtaking painting of autumn parks with couple walking, and created a warm feeling by using vibrant colors and lights.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research, I thought Leonid Afremov might have a great life without any struggles because his works are mainly landscapes, city scenes, seascapes, flowers and portraits. His works presents positive feeling and romantic scenes. However, he was a struggled artist before fame.
Works Cited
Leonid Afremov Bio. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2019, from https://afremov.com/Leonid-Afremov-bio.html
RAIN'S RUSTLE IN THE PARK - PALETTE KNIFE Oil Painting On Canvas By Leonid Afremov. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2019, from https://afremov.com/rain-s-rustle-in-the-park.html
COUPLE UNDER ONE UMBRELLA - PALETTE KNIFE Oil Painting On Canvas By Leonid Afremov. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2019, from https://afremov.com/couple-under-one-umbrella.html
RAIN'S RUSTLE IN THE PARK - PALETTE KNIFE Oil Painting On Canvas By Leonid Afremov. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2019, from https://afremov.com/rain-s-rustle-in-the-park.html
COUPLE UNDER ONE UMBRELLA - PALETTE KNIFE Oil Painting On Canvas By Leonid Afremov. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2019, from https://afremov.com/couple-under-one-umbrella.html