Choice Piece
A new world, A new life, A new adaption
Charcoal piece February 2020 Exhibit Text This artwork is inspired by the Italian culture. It represents me in the culture and taking part in it. I wouldn’t exactly be completely wrapped in the culture. It shows me more hidden in the back of it. But I want it to still show I'm there and "part of" the culture. This piece is inspired by "The Son Of Man". I was also inspired by my step dad and his parents. His parents originated from Italy. My step dad suggested I make an art piece representing them and me. So I came up with this artwork theme. |
Inspiration
For this piece, I wanted to represent a new root, a root I never thought of adding. Five or Six years ago, I was introduced to a new culture I knew nothing about. My mom started to date a guy that was Italian. They're engaged now, but having a step father and being part of a new culture was different for me. The Italian culture is very different from my Mexican and Puerto Rican roots. So for this piece I wanted to show the new culture I take part of. I actually was inspired by my step dad. One time at dinner he told me I should draw pasta for a art project. To show and represent the Italian culture. I didn't exactly know how I could create something with pasta and make it connect to me through art. I'm happy and proud and grateful to be part of this culture and to even represent it in my art. Not only did my inspiration come from my step dad, I also want to do this for another tribute. My step Italian grandparents are important to me. My step grandpa recently died and I want to do this for him, my step grandma and my step dad. I want this piece to show that I'm grateful for them and I want this piece to show my fondness of this culture. So for this art piece I was inspired by of course pasta and I was inspired by the "The Son Of Man" By Rene Margritte. I was particularly inspired by this piece because The apple is the main focus and the man is in the back of it. I feel like his clothing also represents who he is. The background also plays a big symbol maybe where the man lives or is located. So for my piece I wanted me to be in the background, of the pasta to show I'm not fully "committed" to the "pasta". I wanted to show this because the Italian culture isn't my roots, but it's something that is apart of me. So then since I felt like the clothing the man was wearing was significant. So I decided to have no clothing on, but only wanted to show my shoulders, but also make it obvious that I wasn't wearing anything. I chose to represent myself that way, because being naked is being fresh or new, kinda like a baby they come out naked and are exposed to the new world. I didn't want to represent myself as a baby, But I wanted the new world exposed concept. Then to also use symbolism like I usually do, I didn't want to get rid of the hat idea because I felt like it would be perfect to put a Italian chef hat. Then since the background is a importance, I wanted the background to have the building structures of houses or buildings in Italy. |
Planning Sketches
My first sketch I really wanted to focus on the neck and shoulder. I wanted to practice more contour and shaping. I really wanted sharp and defined contour within the neck and collarbones. I also wanted to practice shading. This first sketch is just more practice for me, to prepare for the charcoal.
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The second sketch, I wanted to focus on the pasta, head, and hair. This part of the sketch has taken the most time. Mainly because I never really draw food nor have I ever drawn pasta. The face behind the pasta and the hair was quite easy, because I'm used to drawing those things. The pasta, I really wanted to plan because I needed to practice on how to shape and shade the noodles. I had to practice making a 3-D shape with the meatballs. I also had to practice drawing the bowl. This sketch was a preparation for the final charcoal piece. This all had to be planned and sketched.
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Then my third sketch, it didn't take that long, because I only had to focus on the chef's hat. I also practiced more contour and shading for the hat. I also practiced more blending and lining. This hat took lines and contour to shape the hat. Then I had to practice lighting and contrast with the hat.
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Process
Experimentation For this artwork I really experimented with the contrast and shadows on the body/skin tone and the chefs hat. In my two examples of my previous works, I feel my shadows and blending techniques were incredible. I wanted to use those skills in my new work. It's been awhile since I used charcoal. The two examples are from the summer. Besides experimenting with blending. I also brought back old skills from freshman year. We learned how to draw buildings, so I wanted to bring those techniques back. The buildings are meant to represent old buildings in Italy. I also experimented with the pasta, I never drew food before nor pasta. So having to draw the pasta was a bit tricky. I wanted it to look realistic and not just lines. So I practiced on how to draw the shapes of the "noodles" and how to define them. Again since I never drew food, and pasta. When adding the paint, I had to practice on how to make the noodles pop, But also have the pasta sauce blend through. |
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Process
The process was quite simple. It was just taking my time and steps and with those steps came the experimentation. So for the final piece I referenced my sketch. I started with the neck and body, then moved onto shaping the head. Once I finished that I focused on contouring and shaping and shading the body. I also focused on the collarbones when doing so. I didn't get into much depth in the begininng with the body. Then when I finished the shaping the head, I added the plate. Then I started constructing the chefs hat. Once I finished the chefs hat, I connected it to the head and got into depth with the shading of the head/face and chefs hat. Then I focused on creating myself into the image, I added ears and my hairstyle. After that I focused on creating the background and the Italy style buildings. The very last step I did was adding paint, I worked on the pasta. Before painting in the details of the pasta and painting the green leaf, I outlined and actually drew in the pasta at this point. After painting the pasta and plate. I wanted a bold background, to bring out the charcoal buildings, So I did a blue hue.
The process was quite simple. It was just taking my time and steps and with those steps came the experimentation. So for the final piece I referenced my sketch. I started with the neck and body, then moved onto shaping the head. Once I finished that I focused on contouring and shaping and shading the body. I also focused on the collarbones when doing so. I didn't get into much depth in the begininng with the body. Then when I finished the shaping the head, I added the plate. Then I started constructing the chefs hat. Once I finished the chefs hat, I connected it to the head and got into depth with the shading of the head/face and chefs hat. Then I focused on creating myself into the image, I added ears and my hairstyle. After that I focused on creating the background and the Italy style buildings. The very last step I did was adding paint, I worked on the pasta. Before painting in the details of the pasta and painting the green leaf, I outlined and actually drew in the pasta at this point. After painting the pasta and plate. I wanted a bold background, to bring out the charcoal buildings, So I did a blue hue.
Reflection
My choice piece, I really much enjoyed because I got to do something I love and be creative. I also got to use a lot of symbolism, which I really much love and got to express this culture. I feel honored to be able to represent and display the culture through my lenses. I also feel like my piece represents my inspiration really well, the main focus I got from my inspiration was the apple. So I wanted to make the main focus for my piece to be the pasta. I probably did a technique that isn't often used or "forbidden" in art. But for this piece I felt charcoal was too dull and all blended with each other hue wise. So to really make that pasta pop, I painted the noodles, the leaf, and the sauce. Although a big difference is the background, in the original it portrays emptiness. All there are is clouds and a blue sky. I created another type of emptiness with my piece, Yes there's buildings, But I feel myself in the piece isn't one with the buildings. I wanted to portray myself there in the Italian life, but not connected, to show the emptiness in a different way. I kept the hat idea from the original, to move into my piece. I felt like keeping the hat Idea was perfect to add a chef's hat to represent the Italian culture. Although a chef's hat isn't "formal" I kept the concept and made it my own. Overall I'm proud of this piece and I put my heart into it.
My choice piece, I really much enjoyed because I got to do something I love and be creative. I also got to use a lot of symbolism, which I really much love and got to express this culture. I feel honored to be able to represent and display the culture through my lenses. I also feel like my piece represents my inspiration really well, the main focus I got from my inspiration was the apple. So I wanted to make the main focus for my piece to be the pasta. I probably did a technique that isn't often used or "forbidden" in art. But for this piece I felt charcoal was too dull and all blended with each other hue wise. So to really make that pasta pop, I painted the noodles, the leaf, and the sauce. Although a big difference is the background, in the original it portrays emptiness. All there are is clouds and a blue sky. I created another type of emptiness with my piece, Yes there's buildings, But I feel myself in the piece isn't one with the buildings. I wanted to portray myself there in the Italian life, but not connected, to show the emptiness in a different way. I kept the hat idea from the original, to move into my piece. I felt like keeping the hat Idea was perfect to add a chef's hat to represent the Italian culture. Although a chef's hat isn't "formal" I kept the concept and made it my own. Overall I'm proud of this piece and I put my heart into it.
The ACT Responses
1) Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
My inspiration and art piece both have food on the face and the bodies are behind the scenes. Also they both have very strong backgrounds.
2) What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach is being hidden or in the background, not exactly bold or outgoing in any sort.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
The kind of generalizations and conclusions I discovered during this project, I discovered the symbols of the Italian culture. I use symbolism a lot in my work. So I when researching I found popular and known symbols.
4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea or theme around my inspirational research was being hidden or in the back, not fully there or involved.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Some inferences I made while researching, was that Rene Margritte usually keeps things unknown or hidden in his art. That's exactly what I wanted for my artwork.
1) Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
My inspiration and art piece both have food on the face and the bodies are behind the scenes. Also they both have very strong backgrounds.
2) What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach is being hidden or in the background, not exactly bold or outgoing in any sort.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
The kind of generalizations and conclusions I discovered during this project, I discovered the symbols of the Italian culture. I use symbolism a lot in my work. So I when researching I found popular and known symbols.
4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea or theme around my inspirational research was being hidden or in the back, not fully there or involved.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Some inferences I made while researching, was that Rene Margritte usually keeps things unknown or hidden in his art. That's exactly what I wanted for my artwork.
Bibliography
Moen, John. “Africa.” World Atlas - Maps, Geography, Travel, 7 Apr. 2017, www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/italy/itsymbols.htm.
The Son of Man, 1946 by Rene Magritte, www.renemagritte.org/the-son-of-man.jsp.
Moen, John. “Africa.” World Atlas - Maps, Geography, Travel, 7 Apr. 2017, www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/italy/itsymbols.htm.
The Son of Man, 1946 by Rene Magritte, www.renemagritte.org/the-son-of-man.jsp.