Artwork: Self-Portrait
Title: Self
Size: 91.44cm x 91.44cm Medium: Acrylic on canvas Completion: April 2019 Exhibition Text Self is a self-portrait that is an acrylic painting on hand-stretched canvas. This piece portray a theme of one’s own identity. All these ups and downs in my life have made me who I am as a person. In life, there will always be good and bad times, however, it is my responsibility to encourage myself to keep going. This piece was inspired by The Son of Man by Rene Margret and The Kiss by Edward Munch. |
Planning
Inspiration
Magritte, Rene. The Son of Man. Oil on canvas. Totally History. Totally History, 17 Jul. 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2018
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Before I started my digital collage, I needed the inspiration to get ideas. My first inspiration was The Son of Man by Rene Magritte. I really like his idea of the human mind. I think it is fascinating to see an object on a person's face because this actually makes my mind wander asking for an answer. I wanted to have something on my face just like The Son of Man to emphasize mystery. I wanted to have flowers on my lips or covering my lips because this will attract the audience. These flowers on my lips represent how I encourage myself to keep moving in life. There will always be people or situations that would crush me into pieces just like how I always have people who support and help me to be a better person.
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My second inspiration was The Kiss by Edvard Munch. I really like how of often use thicker lines to over outline the figures. I wanted to apply this idea in my piece. I wanted to create outlines that are thick with multiple colors to represent how my past will always follow and be a part of me. I think things that I did in the past no matter how good or bad they were, they make me who I am as a person today. I think as I grew older, things that I value such as love, friendships, education, etc. started to change because my past experiences taught me many lessons. I think these thick lines with multiple colors emphasize the idea of how things that I went through in my life are important to be a person who I am today. |
Munch, Edvard. The Kiss. Oil on canvas. Web. 28 Mar. 2018.
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Planning Sketches / Experimentation and Techniques
I always need a reference for my artworks. This is because drawing and sketching are not my strongest. So I need a technique that I can use for this project. So, I took pictures and use it as my reference. I planned to use the grid method of this self-portrait.
This is a sketch that I drew just to see if it is a good idea to have flowers in my mouth.
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These are the swatches that I create because I think it is important for future use. I think this will be helpful when I actually paint my self-portrait. Just in case if I ever forget something, I could always look at my swatches and create the same exact color.
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I did not know how to create a skin-tone, so I searched it up online. I found out that red, yellow, blue and white create a skin tone. I added more white and yellow to make the color brighter and to match my skin tone as well.
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Process
First, I created a canvas. To do this, I used the wooden stretchers to create the frame. I used a manual staple gun to staple the corners and used the hammer to secure them. Then, I added the canvas and stapled the edges and corners using the manual gun. I cut the extra edges with a scissor. After that, I applied one layer of thick gesso to the canvas and let it dry.
Third, I created eight squares by eight squares on the canvas to match up with the reference image. I used a very long ruler for this because the canvas is huge.
Fifth, I painted the face first using the skin tone that I created during my experimentation. Painting facial features are very challenging because it took me three days to complete the face. I swatches the skin tone and the eyebrows very often to make the image to look like me since this is a self-portrait. I used Royal Soft-Grip 3/4, 8, and 4 brushes for this entire self-portrait.
The last step was to complete the background. I used multiple colors to create shadows and thick outlines of the figure which were inspired by Munch. These multiples colors represent the good and bad things that happened to me in the past. I know there will be good times and bad times in life because it is just life. There is no explanation. The shadows and thick outlines of the figure symbolize my past me. I think my past will always follow me in the future no matter what because I can't completely erase my past.
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Second, I drew square shapes to my image because I wanted to use a grid method for this project. The image was eight squares by eight squares. I was inspired by Rene Margret to put flowers on my mouth because I need me to encourage myself to keep going.
Fourth, I drew the image on the canvas very lightly with a pencil. It is important to draw the image lightly because I do not want the pencil marks to be visible when the paint is applied.
Sixth, after the face is done, I moved on to the shirt. I used white, blue and black. I used blue and black to outline and create shadows for the figure. The color white is for the main color of the shirt. Then, I also drew the hair using black as my main hair color and applied white and blue as a highlight.
This is the final piece.
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Reflection
Critique
I am happy with the final result of this self-portrait. There are many challenges during this process. One example was painting facial features because the image doesn't look like me at all. This was because I messed up the shape of my eyebrows. My eyebrows were supposed to be straight, however, I gave them an arch to make them on fleek. My skin tone was off because it was too dark or too light. So, I decided to draw the eyebrows straight and add white or brown to match my skin tone. It took me three days just to finish painting my face. I had to be patient and paint until I am satisfied. There are many successes during the process as well. One example was the nose. I am so proud of myself for getting my nose right because it does really look like mine. Another example is blending because I used water to blend the colors. I learned this method during my sophomore year in art history. If I could redo this project, I would get more brushes and create more swatches.
Compare and Contrast
"The Son of Man" by Rene Margret
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Similarities
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Differences
The Son of Man
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"Self" by Jacinta Tial
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"The Kiss" by Edvard Munch
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Similarities
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Differences
The Kiss
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"Self" 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?
The Son of Man by Rene Margret have an apple on his face and left the audience wondering just like him I applied flowers on my lips to attract the audience as well. The Kiss by Edvard Munch have thick outlines around the figures, and my piece also has that thick outlines around my figure.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research talks about Rene Magritte's life and how his works are thought-provoking and disturbing the viewer. This portrayed an overview of who Rene was and how he challenged the people to view art from a different perspective.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
While researching my inspiration, I discovered that surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s and the two main branches are improvised art and hallucinatory scenes. Also, expressionist made paintings that were non-representational, representational through emotions.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central themes around my inspirational research are the power of the imagination and the unconscious mind and the emotions.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research, I inferred Rene Magritte's paintings are very mysterious and give the unsettling thoughts and feelings. I also inferred that Edvard Munch must have paint The Kiss based on his experience.
The Son of Man by Rene Margret have an apple on his face and left the audience wondering just like him I applied flowers on my lips to attract the audience as well. The Kiss by Edvard Munch have thick outlines around the figures, and my piece also has that thick outlines around my figure.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research talks about Rene Magritte's life and how his works are thought-provoking and disturbing the viewer. This portrayed an overview of who Rene was and how he challenged the people to view art from a different perspective.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
While researching my inspiration, I discovered that surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s and the two main branches are improvised art and hallucinatory scenes. Also, expressionist made paintings that were non-representational, representational through emotions.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central themes around my inspirational research are the power of the imagination and the unconscious mind and the emotions.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research, I inferred Rene Magritte's paintings are very mysterious and give the unsettling thoughts and feelings. I also inferred that Edvard Munch must have paint The Kiss based on his experience.
The Kiss, 1897 by Edvard Munch. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2019, from https://www.edvardmunch.org/the-kiss.jsp
The Son of Man by René Magritte – Facts & History about the Painting. (2013, July 17). Retrieved April 14, 2019, from http://totallyhistory.com/the-son-of-man/
The Son of Man by René Magritte – Facts & History about the Painting. (2013, July 17). Retrieved April 14, 2019, from http://totallyhistory.com/the-son-of-man/