Exhibition TextThis project consisted of memory and feelings. The photo represents a memory and the painting represents the feelings that the memory provokes. This memory specifically is from coming home from school and seeing my little brother laughing and making faces. It was annoying, but it soon made me join in the fun which was definitely memorable though insignificant. These memories are often my favorite. The memories that are just kind of there, but they put a smile on my face.
Planning |
Car Ride
61 cm x 91.5 cm Mixed Media September 2017 |
Inspiration
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Inspiration for this piece came from Rosie Hartmann. She is an abstract artist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her signature works are a combination of photography and abstract painting, both of which she has had much experience in. Some of these mixed media pieces include "time" and "longing".
Rosie Hartmann's process and purpose has very much to do with emotion and capturing a moment in time. She begins with the photography portion of the work. The photography captures the view of a specific memory. It captures the action or essence of the experience, but sometimes an image isn't enough to reexperience that moment. What is often lost in a photograph is the memory of the feelings and emotions which makes the abstract painting portion of her art extremely impactful. After capturing an image of a certain memory, Hartmann begins the abstract painting. She is able to capture the emotion of a memory through the use of color, pattern, and form in her abstract painting. She then uses a photo editing software in order to overlay the photo onto her painting. She works with the contrast, brightness, and the transparency in order to see the photo while also being able to experience the painting without one getting in the way of the other. Some important aspect of her art include the balance and composition of her photography and the color composition and pattern of her abstract painting. With all of these combined, her pieces become complex artworks with balance, color, and unity. |
Process
ReflectionThe composition of this piece is extremely vibrant and the photo is clear and easy to see. This is both good and bad as I wanted the bright colors because it is a fond memory, but the contrast between the photo and the painting is too strong. My goal was to have them coexist without a significant separation between the two mediums.
CritiqueThis piece has a strong connection to my inspiration, Rosie Hartmann. Much of Hartmann's work consists of abstract and sometimes almost surreal paintings which provide a background on the feelings that occurred or connect to photographs that she took. I too used painting in order to convey feelings along with a photograph that contains a memory of those feelings. The conceptual qualities of my work are similar to my inspiration, but the formal qualities are quite different. Hartmann's color pallet includes many dull and darker hues whereas I intended to use vibrant and brighter colors in my work.
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The first step in creating this piece was choosing a photo that I had taken which also included an emotion or emotions that I could vividly remember. Whether it had a significant impact on my life or it was just a moment that I still remembered played a large role in the choosing of the photograph. Once I had chosen a photograph, I then worked on finding a way to convey the emotions I had felt in that moment as my intention was to have an image to represent both the moment physically and emotionally. I narrowed it down to three photos. The first was an x-ray from when I had broken my, the second from a castle in Colorado, and the third from a car ride home from school. I ended up choosing the small memory which was the car ride home with my little brother.
The second part of the project involved conveying the emotion of the moment. The best way to do so was in an abstract manor. I used an abstract painting style similar Rosie Hartmann in order to do this. I used color and pattern in order to provoke certain feelings. I experimented with different colors and patterns in order to find what I thought would be best for the chosen photograph. More specifically, I used bright colors in a circular motion in order to convey more positive feelings. I specifically remember feeling relaxed and happy in that moment and I associate bright colors and curved forms to these emotions. Finally I combined the two parts into one using Gimp. Through Gimp I was able to layer the photo over my painting in order to create once cohesive piece. The unity of the physical moment and the emotional attachment brings it all together to experience the moment in its totality. ACT Connection1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between you inspiration and its effect upon your work.
My inspiration, Rosie Hartmann, had a direct impact on the process of creating and finding the meaning behind my work. Like Rosie, I have taken many photos in my life which I have a connection to. I then used abstract painting in order to demonstrate the feelings and emotions of the moment the photo was taken. 2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration? Rosie Hartmann views her photography as a large part of her work, but the painting is just as important. Her has been taking photographs her whole life and the paintings help to emphasize what she want the observer to feel and experience. 3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, ect. while you researched your inspiration? All photos taken have a connected feeling from the moment it was taken. Then emotions may be different for everyone that views the photo, but the photographer knows the feeling best because it is taken from his perspective. 4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research? The central idea is memory. Both the photographs and the painting help to contain a memory holistically through the photograph and the emotional paintings. 5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research? When looking at my inspirations artwork, I had to infer the feelings and emotions of her pieces through her use of color, value, shape, and overall design. These inferences had to be made but they may not always be accurate because of the overarching factor of differing perspectives. |
Hartmann, Rosie. "Rosie Hartmann" 09/10/17 www.rosiehartmann.com
Hartmann, Rosie. "Time" 09/10/17 www.rosiehartmann.com
Hartmann, Rosie. "Longing" 09/10/17 www.rosiehartmann.com
Hartmann, Rosie. "Time" 09/10/17 www.rosiehartmann.com
Hartmann, Rosie. "Longing" 09/10/17 www.rosiehartmann.com