Van Gogh, Self Portrait, 1889.
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- Inspiration- One of the inspirations for my painting was Van Gogh's self portrait (see left). I was attracted to the way he painted himself in a whimsical manner through his chosen color pallet and the brush strokes he used. I found this style very beautiful and though it wasn't really a style I had experience with, it interested me.
Though I knew I wanted my color pallet to be more vibrant then that of Van Gogh's self portrait, I was confident that I wanted to implement the unity evident in Van Gogh's piece into my artwork. Furthermore, I decided to do more background research and found this painting was made in the Post Impressionist era. The characteristics seen in the self portrait reflected the values of the movement.
These values are: They continued impressionist values of: -Using vivid colors -Often thick application of paint and real-life subject matter Post impressionism implemented: -Were more inclined to emphasize geometric forms -Distort form for expressive effect -Use unnatural or arbitrary color |
- Experimentation and Process -
I traced the shape of my silhouette onto the painting by printing out a 4'x4' copy of my reference picture and cutting out the pieces and tracing at the cuts to create a rough sketch to follow later. I then colored the background dark purple to compliment my olive skin tone and light blue clothes. I picked a picture that wasn't head on so that I would do something different then the average self portrait and had more emotion in it.
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I color matched the colors in my hair and then mixed those colors to use for the hair. Though my hair was straight in the reference picture, I wanted to paint it slightly wavy as it normally is given this portrait represents me. The picture to the right showing the colors I picked from my hair is pretty much in lines with the heights at which I took the swatches from. From this is I found that the top of my hair was nearly jet black and the bottom was more of a warm caramel brown. I started with the top of my head, painting squiggly, textured lines beginning at my roots and running down my scalp. I lightened my colors the lower I went on my head.
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After finishing the hair, I repainted the face, using more olives tones instead of purple ones (this photo doesn't represent this well) and paying attention to the colors from my reference photo. I did minimal blending, trying to merely stamp the paint on with a flat brush. This went back to my inspiration for this piece.
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- Critique -
Overall, in this project more than any before, I took reference from my inspiration more than ever before. I constantly went flipped between my reference picture and inspiration picture when painting. Because of this, technique wise, the paintings, mine and my inspiration, were very comparable. In addition, the poses themselves were similar. Both pictures were of people facing slightly to the right though my image had a little more emotion.
The background in my piece was almost completely one color unlike Van Gogh's. His image features a swirly background with different monochromatic colors. Mine was solid purple. Furthermore, the colors in Van Gogh's face and body are monochromatic shades of blue and orange whereas mine are not monochromatic. |
- Reflection -
Overall, this process was very nice in that it introduced me to a new style of blending. I was especially challenged by the skin and making the colors look natural and blended without the natural paint blending that I was used to. I loved doing the hair. It was fun creating individual strandsthat made up a greater imagine using different colors. Overall, I was proud of my time management and dedication when it came to replicating my inspiration photos.
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Act Questions:
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
The cause and effect relationships between my artwork and my inspiration can be identified through the style and technique I used when painting my self portrait. I often referenced the inspiration painting in order to align my technique with how Van Gogh painted his self portrait.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Van Gogh painted this self portrait to represent him and create a realistic depiction of himself. In just ten years, he produced over forty-three self-portraits.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered how painting oneself, especially repetitively can be damaging to ones self imagine and identity.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
How one can represent themselves through a self portrait using different elements and principles of art.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Through my research I inferred Picasso's reasoning for painting this piece based off quotes I found. For instance, Picasso said to his sister, "I am looking for a deeper likeness than that obtained by a photographer." This gives us a sense for why Picasso painted this self portrait.
The cause and effect relationships between my artwork and my inspiration can be identified through the style and technique I used when painting my self portrait. I often referenced the inspiration painting in order to align my technique with how Van Gogh painted his self portrait.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Van Gogh painted this self portrait to represent him and create a realistic depiction of himself. In just ten years, he produced over forty-three self-portraits.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered how painting oneself, especially repetitively can be damaging to ones self imagine and identity.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
How one can represent themselves through a self portrait using different elements and principles of art.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Through my research I inferred Picasso's reasoning for painting this piece based off quotes I found. For instance, Picasso said to his sister, "I am looking for a deeper likeness than that obtained by a photographer." This gives us a sense for why Picasso painted this self portrait.
Bibliography:
Van Gogh, Self Portrait, 1889.