ViandeSize : 22.8 cm x 15 cm
Medium : Block Ink Printing Completion Date : January, 2019 |
Exhibition Text:
Viande was carved out of a linoleum sheet for a water based ink print on paper. The block print has been inspired by the painting "The Dream" by symbolism artist Henri Rousseau with his jungles settings and creatures as well as specific details from Steven's Prince "Wailing Wall". The image of my block print intends to showcase the idea of self-made vulnerability brought upon ourselves as we assume our demise. This piece was also a result of a time during artist block. |
ARTISTIC
I N S P I R A T I O N
Detail from Wailing Wall: Song for Quin by Steve Prince (2009). Retrieved from,
https://thejesusquestion.org/2015/07/21/from-my-private-collection-wailing-wall-song-for-quin-by-steve-prince/ |
The Dream by Henri Rousseau (1910). Retrieved from,
http://www.henrirousseau.net/henri-rousseau-paintings.jsp#prettyPhoto[paintings]/43/ |
The inspiration for my block print came from two different medias of artistic expression. One of them being a specific detailed portion of a figure from a Steve's Prince block print "Wailing Wall".
The shape and expression of the figure was what had caught my attention. The usage of space outside and inside of the shape would be something I was seeking to employing in my own work.
I wanted to include a significant amount of detail to the main figure of my piece later in my planning.
As for the expression that I was talking about, I am going to use the same facial expression of an open mouth but with filled with a invocation of fear and distress.
The arm raising up will also appear in my work but at a much lower position with the other arm tight to the side of the body's thorax.
My second inspiration was a painting by French artist Henri Rousseau. From Rousseau's piece I will be using the idea of the disproportional and bizarre lions. The eyes wide open and a unrealistic persona. Due to the setting to my print, I will also present a tropical and/or jungle like prints in my piece similar to those in "The Dream".
The shape and expression of the figure was what had caught my attention. The usage of space outside and inside of the shape would be something I was seeking to employing in my own work.
I wanted to include a significant amount of detail to the main figure of my piece later in my planning.
As for the expression that I was talking about, I am going to use the same facial expression of an open mouth but with filled with a invocation of fear and distress.
The arm raising up will also appear in my work but at a much lower position with the other arm tight to the side of the body's thorax.
My second inspiration was a painting by French artist Henri Rousseau. From Rousseau's piece I will be using the idea of the disproportional and bizarre lions. The eyes wide open and a unrealistic persona. Due to the setting to my print, I will also present a tropical and/or jungle like prints in my piece similar to those in "The Dream".
“The Dream (1910).” American Gothic, Grant Wood: Analysis, www.visual-arts-cork.com/paintings-analysis/dream-rousseau.htm.
In terms of the meaning (and metaphor) of the inspiration, I would say that, there were subtle impacts to my work.
Even though the feelings are not as extreme as wailing figures or political statements of broken systems, my piece carries some emotion to it. I was not completly sure of what I was going to do with it but I decided to just let things flow as they came.
Said inspiration to create a figure comforting their demise with an expression of stereotypical fear gestures made by women was inspired by Prince's. His piece holds a much bigger and serious topic which can not and should not be taken away. However because I was attempting to connect my work to my theme I decided that self imposed ideologies of a demise was part of the human with all of its existential dilemmas.
Even though the feelings are not as extreme as wailing figures or political statements of broken systems, my piece carries some emotion to it. I was not completly sure of what I was going to do with it but I decided to just let things flow as they came.
Said inspiration to create a figure comforting their demise with an expression of stereotypical fear gestures made by women was inspired by Prince's. His piece holds a much bigger and serious topic which can not and should not be taken away. However because I was attempting to connect my work to my theme I decided that self imposed ideologies of a demise was part of the human with all of its existential dilemmas.
P R O C E S S
&
I N T E N T I O N S
01. Creative Ideas & Brainstorms
While I was brainstorming and jotting down ideas, I realized that I was blank. For the first time in the entire year I ended up in an artist block... I had no clue of what I wanted to do for my piece and the ideas were not running. As it can be seen in my notes, I was stressing a little about being stuck with the process, so I simply began creating and sketching anything... This project will not be one of my best as I was beginning to get tire out with having nothing be made. |
02. Into Planning
Planning Sketches
NOTES
around the border of sketch. |
|
For the original and first sketch, I drew a woman reacting by her "stereotypical" human nature when in danger. Partly because I took that as an inspiration from Prince's piece. The feline in the image is not attacking her but staring at her be human...
The feline is instead mimicking her expression. He shadows her by opening his jaw, showcasing his "colmillos" as she assumes her death. The expression of the "tiger/feline" is rather monotone, expecting more from the screaming figure. Kind of waiting for something to happen to be amused. |
03. Working with Linoleum
04. The Printing
|
i. Using a pallet knife, I mix the water soluble block printing ink for a better consistency before applying to the carved plate.
[ If the consistency of the ink wasn't "running" enough I added water. However I had to be careful to not add too much water or the ink would be damaged. ] ii. After prepping the ink, I laid out a "strip" of ink on to the ink tray and began to roll it out to equally spread out the ink onto the brayer. |
iii. After rolling out the ink and all of the surface of the brayer is covered I moved onto the plate placed on top of a newspaper and began applying the ink onto the area of the plate. |
iv. Once the ink was on the plate, I placed printing paper on top of the inked linoleum piece and using a barren with a bamboo sheet I applied pressure to transfer the a final print of the image. |
Notes of Experimentation
with the ink :
with the ink :
print 01:
- Not a lot of pressure was applied with the barren - A medium amount of ink was placed on the brayer as it was the first trail - Plate was washed prior to final printing process |
print 02:
- A significant amount of pressure applied to pick up as much of the ink as possible - Print made after the first trail, no ink was added to plate prior to printing - Plate wasn't washed before printing |
print 03:
- Great amount of pressure was applied with barren - More ink was applied to the plate - Unwashed plate was used |
print 04:
- Another print made with a lot of pressure on barren - Added a thin coat of ink onto plate after 3rd trial - Plate was not washed before the printing |
C R I T I Q U E
The Dream by Henri Rousseau (1910). Retrieved from,
http://www.henrirousseau.net/henri-rousseau-paintings.jsp#prettyPhoto[paintings]/43/
http://www.henrirousseau.net/henri-rousseau-paintings.jsp#prettyPhoto[paintings]/43/
Detail from Wailing Wall: Song for Quin by Steve Prince (2009). Retrieved from,
https://thejesusquestion.org/2015/07/21/from-my-private-collection-wailing-wall-song-for-quin-by-steve-prince/ |
SIMILARITIES
|
DIFFERENCES
|
R E F L E C T I O N
First things first, I found my self in artist block from beginning to end with this block print project.
I had difficulties coming up with ideas and I am not so sure how I feel about my final piece because I do not feel like I had a connection with it, I had an intend but no clue as to how to portray it. Within my notes of the early stages of the project you can see that I was also getting frustrated as i wrote over and over again "block". Besides the artist block I would say that the process was fairly simple to accomplish.
I enjoyed experimenting with the different gradations that the ink could bring the piece as well as understanding the nature of the linoleum plate.
The thin lines and curves of the outline were a little bit challenging because of the way in which the carving tool had to follow on a much solid platform.
What satisfied my completion of project one was the balance that there was between negative and positive space. There was a nice equivalent and fair amount of both shown in Viande which I find, is essential to block prints in which those two elements make up the overall print. Even the the content may not have been one of my best, I am still happy with the similarities that it shares with the pieces of inspiration (The Dream by Henri R. and Wailing Wall by Steve Prince).
I had difficulties coming up with ideas and I am not so sure how I feel about my final piece because I do not feel like I had a connection with it, I had an intend but no clue as to how to portray it. Within my notes of the early stages of the project you can see that I was also getting frustrated as i wrote over and over again "block". Besides the artist block I would say that the process was fairly simple to accomplish.
I enjoyed experimenting with the different gradations that the ink could bring the piece as well as understanding the nature of the linoleum plate.
The thin lines and curves of the outline were a little bit challenging because of the way in which the carving tool had to follow on a much solid platform.
What satisfied my completion of project one was the balance that there was between negative and positive space. There was a nice equivalent and fair amount of both shown in Viande which I find, is essential to block prints in which those two elements make up the overall print. Even the the content may not have been one of my best, I am still happy with the similarities that it shares with the pieces of inspiration (The Dream by Henri R. and Wailing Wall by Steve Prince).
ACT
R E S P O N S E S
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
Besides the formal aspects of my inspirations I would say that the emotion captured from "Wailing Wall" has transcended into my piece at a much superficial and not as deep of a statement. His work regarding the human being as bones and flesh were also am effect on my work as the screaming figure has her spine and back muscles showing.
As far as the effect that Henri R. had on my artwork have to do with the solid and not as expressive facial features of his figures. The second figure in my block print is a "human" with a lion head. It has no particular expression on it and seems to be waiting on the woman to stop acting...human.
Besides the formal aspects of my inspirations I would say that the emotion captured from "Wailing Wall" has transcended into my piece at a much superficial and not as deep of a statement. His work regarding the human being as bones and flesh were also am effect on my work as the screaming figure has her spine and back muscles showing.
As far as the effect that Henri R. had on my artwork have to do with the solid and not as expressive facial features of his figures. The second figure in my block print is a "human" with a lion head. It has no particular expression on it and seems to be waiting on the woman to stop acting...human.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
When I was doing my research for my piece it seemed that the author explained Prince's print of the "Wailing Wall" is a sentimental piece as much as it was a politically engulfed artwork. As far as "The Dream" by Henri, the author spoke of it as one of his best works. The author also quoted a previous artist/critic and said that even though Henri was not accepted by the artistic community of his time; "The Dream" was an exotic painting and that "no one will laugh this time".
When I was doing my research for my piece it seemed that the author explained Prince's print of the "Wailing Wall" is a sentimental piece as much as it was a politically engulfed artwork. As far as "The Dream" by Henri, the author spoke of it as one of his best works. The author also quoted a previous artist/critic and said that even though Henri was not accepted by the artistic community of his time; "The Dream" was an exotic painting and that "no one will laugh this time".
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Conclusions that I made about people and ideas is that there's political statements found within some of the most exotic paintings or honor pieces. Aesthetics are nice but the truth is that these ideologies of injustice and governmental value have been made permanent reminders in the works of the artists. Other times it can just be seen for the sole aesthetic purposes by viewers.
Conclusions that I made about people and ideas is that there's political statements found within some of the most exotic paintings or honor pieces. Aesthetics are nice but the truth is that these ideologies of injustice and governmental value have been made permanent reminders in the works of the artists. Other times it can just be seen for the sole aesthetic purposes by viewers.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
Once again the central idea of my inspirational research has regarded the human fragility and nature to assume our own demise as a bag of blood and bones. Said "slaughter" and vulnerability of the "weak creature" is again believed to be due to the jungles of broken systems.
Once again the central idea of my inspirational research has regarded the human fragility and nature to assume our own demise as a bag of blood and bones. Said "slaughter" and vulnerability of the "weak creature" is again believed to be due to the jungles of broken systems.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
My inferences while researching was that the meaning of a piece doesn't always have to be very elaborate, simplicity can carry just as much meaning which I can't seem to understand just yet as I've also concluded that my work revolves in pure complexity.
My inferences while researching was that the meaning of a piece doesn't always have to be very elaborate, simplicity can carry just as much meaning which I can't seem to understand just yet as I've also concluded that my work revolves in pure complexity.