Exhibition Text:
This piece was changed many times throughout planning, most specifically the artistic inspiration. I started out with Vincent Van Gogh and it evolved from there. I was going to do Van Gogh's self portrait, but decided against this because I didnt like the brush strokes. I also considered Magritte, but I wanted a more fauvist-look to the portrait. I experimented with many different poses for my paintings. I was going to do a full body but put emphesis on my face. I was also going to do straight-on, but decided to stick to what Matisse did so the connection is more clear. I also liked Matisse's dark colors and pastels used throughout the piece. I thought those colors complemented each other and it looked very nice.
Artist Inspiration:
The artist I chose to emulate is Henri Matisse. Henri Matisse is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Matisse focused mostly on fauvism and impressionism. Henri Matisse was originally trained as a lawyer, but later discovered his love for art at twenty-one. Matisse was known, at first due to his academic-take on art, for having dry art. Or art without a meaning/style. He later experimented with different styles, including Neo-Classicism and Impressionism. Matisse was influenced by artists such as Monet. I chose Matisse's piece, called Self-Portrait In a Striped Shirt, because it was a art movement I really liked. This art movement is fauvism. The piece is oil on canvas and was completed in 1906. I chose this particular self-portrait because I liked the way his body faced and I liked the colors used.
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McGavin, Ken. "Henri Matisse Self-Portrait." TheUntappedSource.com, 1 June 2014. Web. 6 Dec. 2016.
Journaling, Process and Planning:
Planning:
I went through many ideas while completing my self-portrait. I had three main artists: Matisse, Van Gogh and Magritte. I decided on Matisse because his self-portrait was exceptional to me and I thought that the colors was complementary. I decided against Magritte and Van Gogh because I didnt like the style associated with the paintings and I was keen on doing fauvism. I was orginally going to do a full body or head-on, but decided to do what Matisse did. I put my body head because it was easier, but the connection between the two pieces was a little lost. I was oringally thinking about doing mainly primary colors, but decided against this because pastel and dark colors were more appealing to the eye.
Planning Sketches:
This first photo I drew is of me, full body. This was my original idea because I liked the idea of a full body. I decided against this because I wanted to do Matisse and his painting was not full body. I also didnt want to paint my whole body and it was easier and more time-saving to not complete this drawing.
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The second drawing is the one I decided not to do. I did not chose this one because it was very hard to draw directly onto my canvas.
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This last drawing is a drawing that was head on. I made this a full face to properly emulate Van Gogh. I decided to use this one because I quite like the way it was face forward. I would have liked the pose to be slighty turned because it somehow gave it a different meaning, but it did not work out.
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Experimentation:
On a separate sheet of paper, I experimented with different colors. I was originally going to use mainly primary colors. I decided against this because it looked very basic.
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This is a picture of me side ways. I decided not to go with this since I found it hard to emulate and draw.
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This last image is me experimenting trying to draw my face onto the board. I experimented with head-on, and side.
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Actual Process/Tools:
These are the three tools that I used in my process. I used paintbrushes, paint, canvas and gesso.
Step #1: I made my canvas. To make a canvas, you have to get four boards and place them together. You used actual canvas and stretched across the four boards connected in a square. You staple the canvas to the board, tight but not too tight. Then, you cut off the excess and gesso it to tighten it.
Step #2: I planned out my painting and took a picture of me in the correct pose.
Step #3: I drew my picture onto my canvas.
Step #4: I then painted my piece.
Step #2: I planned out my painting and took a picture of me in the correct pose.
Step #3: I drew my picture onto my canvas.
Step #4: I then painted my piece.
Comparison:
McGavin, Ken. "Henri Matisse Self-Portrait." TheUntappedSource.com, 1 June 2014. Web. 6 Dec. 2016. |
My piece and Matisse's were very similar. We have the similar poses as well as the same color scheme. We both used pastel colors and dark colors around different areas. Our pieces were both similar with the affect that it has. Matisse's piece seems dark, mysterious. With the use of the colors and the pose, it leaves a mysterious feel to it. Our pieces are different because Matisse's colors are in different areas.
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Reflection:
I belive that my piece turned out very well. I think that my piece properly emulated Matisse and The Self-Portrait with a Striped Shirt. I think that the color scheme was correct and the pose was close to Matisse's. A problem I went through was the colors. I could not properly blend certain colors together nor make the soft manila-white color in the background. Another problem I went through was the pose. I could not properly pose my body the way Matisse did and it frustrated me. One thing I believe I did right was the overall composition. I think that it properly and effectively demonstrated Fauvism. Another problem was the pictures because I did not like the majority that I took. I thought that my face looked warped due to the angles. I also think that my piece could have had darker sections near the neck area to create more of a shade illusion. I think that my piece was successful overall and I am proud of what I created. I dont think it looks very much like me, and I would project myself rather than draw myself directly on the board next time.
ACT Questions:
1)Since Matisse used a sideways/slighty turned pose, I did as well. I also used the pastel colors and dark colors he used.
2) The author is a frequent user of the art movement fauvism, the art movement I used. Matisse liked fauvism because he was able to express himsellf with semi-abstract styles.
3) I found out that fauvism is more diffucult of a style to paint, in my opinion. It was harder to get the paint to layer correctly and not blend.
4) The central theme was fauvism.
5) I made the conclusion that Matisse was very gifted at painting and that fauvism is harder than it appears to recreate.
2) The author is a frequent user of the art movement fauvism, the art movement I used. Matisse liked fauvism because he was able to express himsellf with semi-abstract styles.
3) I found out that fauvism is more diffucult of a style to paint, in my opinion. It was harder to get the paint to layer correctly and not blend.
4) The central theme was fauvism.
5) I made the conclusion that Matisse was very gifted at painting and that fauvism is harder than it appears to recreate.