Choice Work
Migraine 25.5cm x 25.5cm Gouache and Pen on Canvas February 2021 This work shows an abstract take on what I experience when I have migraines. With the medium of gouache, there is a variation of tones representing how uneven my sight can be during a migraine. Inspired by Helen Frankenthaler, this painting utilizes color and shape to describe the feelings of confusion and misinterpretations that my migraines bring. |
Inspiration
Mountains and Sea
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Abstract artist Helen Frankenthaler made a name for her self with the painting Mountains and Sea. She used thinned oil paint to soak through unprimed canvas and stain it. The staining gives the work a much different look then regular if opaque paint was used, it blends in to the canvas. The disorganized look of Mountains and Sea is what drew me to it. The idea of that you don't know what your quite looking at, but is still beautiful, is what I wanted to go for in my own work. I saw what is experience during migraines in this work, its chaos and soft feature is similar to what I wanted to achieve in Migraine. |
For Trojan Gate Frankenthaler, who doesn't use black frequently, wanted black to be a shape rather then a line and something to enclose other shapes. This work also uses her liquid color on canvas method, utilizing the dynamic movement of a more liquid medium. I enjoy how harsh and obstructive the black shape is in this work. It is an unexpected element that captures the attention of the viewer. This part of the painting is something I wanted to include in my work, but in a less jarring fashion. |
Trojan Gate
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Planning
As I was planning this work I wanted to get get across the idea of a messy mind set, that is why I chose Helen Frankenthaler and her abstract work. That is also why I chose the medium of gouache, to try and replicate the see through stain in Frankenthaler's work. My sketches were more about getting the color ideas on the paper, instead of reflecting the texture I wanted to achieve. Over all I wanted a painting that either directly showed what I see during a migraine, or a representation of what I see. For an exact model of what I see is the top left sketch on the image to the right. I felt that an exact replication of optical blurriness would not show the emotions behind the headache.
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Experimentation
My first take on Migraine was not what I wanted the work to be. I felt it was inconsistent with what I wanted and was also sloppy. I found there was too many sharp lines and shapes around the edge that did not go with my idea of a more organic and fluid work. The many colored organic shapes was on par with my idea, but the gouache was too thick and too opaque. I also did not leave room for the white center shape, representing my small range of sight. Over all I thought this version was not what I had in mind, so I chose to start over and go back to one of the other sketches I drew. |
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Process
The first step I took was creating an outline where I wanted the lines to encase the shapes in the painting, allowing me to plan where the shapes would go. I then started to making shapes with the watery gouache, while adding more or less pigment to different parts of shape to create different tones. I continued this using the lines as borders, building up the hues around them. This process keep on going changing colors until all of the lines were used. Then I used black to fill in the border, tracing closely to the shapes. The black cutting everything else off, bring more attention to the center point.
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I then used a very watery red to section off the middle, representing the small amount of vision I have during migraines. After that I brushed, more like pushed, the watered down red around the shapes careful not to damage their integrity. Along the way I added more pigment to build up the texture and verity in the background. I then used water to blend out the center point to make it more obstructed and not such a harsh line. Then I realized the solid black border was not doing it for me, and wanted to add texture, I used a watery light grey and paper towel. Painting the grey over the black, then blotching some of it away with the paper towel. This technique left splotches of varying tints. This more accurately illustrated the spots and "sparkles" on the peripheral of my vision. |
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Reflection
I have never done an abstract piece before, so it was a learning curve for me. I like to be precise with my work and add detail, which is very contrasting to abstract art which is very free and fluid. I was really out of my comfort zone with this work, which I think has helped me improve. With learning more from Frankenthaler's art and how she created it I gain inspiration to create a painting that only used shape and hue to express my message. While I had difficultly letting lose and being more free in my creation of Migraine, I think I loosened up slightly. Although that, I do wish it was more sporadic and closer to Frankenthaler's art and her technique of pigment soaking through the canvas. The challenge of this is seen with my first attempt at Migraine. In the end I believe I have captured my idea well and improved as an artist by trying a new form of art.
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Critique
Mountains and Sea
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Migraine
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Similarities
-Abstract art based on color and shape rather than exact meanings. -Shapes are see through. -Both aim to capture a moment of imagery and it's feeling, Frankenthaler's focus was a scenic landscape and mine was a migraine Differences -Frankenthaler uses different mediums and techniques. -Mountains and Sea is all about fluidity and the artist not completely dictating the art, while Migraine is more precise and planned. -Shapes are more lose in Frankenthaler's work. |
ACT Responses
1) Clearly explain and describe how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
My inspiration was Helen Frankenthaler, her works influenced my art and how I approached it. Frankenthaler's art and techniques allowed me to develop new ideas and interests I would not have found otherwise. Her art has given me the opportunity to try a new form of art. 2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration? The authors try to take an unbiased view on the work and the artist, they take a positive look on the art. 3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration? One generalization about people I have come to is that everyone can see something in a different light and interpenetrate the work contrasting to someone else. 4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research? My main idea was capturing the emotions I feel and also what I see during a migraine. 5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research? I made the assumptions that the authors know much about the works, and that all of the information is correct. |
Bibliography
After 'Mountains and Sea': Frankenthaler 1956–1959: Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus/en/exhibitions/after-mountains-and-sea-frankenthaler-1956-1959.
Frankenthaler, Helen. “Helen Frankenthaler. Trojan Gates. 1955: MoMA.” The Museum of Modern Art, www.moma.org/collection/works/79081. |