Illustration - Project #4
Title: Here Lies Mother Earth
Date of Completion: May 2023 Materials: Gouache Paint and Canvas Board Size: Exhibition TextThis piece has a message behind it that I feel very passionate about. I created contrast through two images that display the devastation that ecosystems across the planet are experiencing as a result of humans exploitation. One side of the piece is a lush rainforest teaming with biodiversity, and the other a barren wasteland overtaken by loggers and construction vehicles, where the forest once stood. This illustration was created using gouache paint that I bought and canvas board.
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Inspiration
Chester don Powell is well know for commercial art creations and many of the famous National Park Posters. They were originally paintings that consisted of bold form and a very stylized appearance. He accentuates the shadows and highlights through crisp lines and bright coloration. Each of the national park paintings he created has the same style which creates cohesion and visual appeal for the paintings as a collection. I wanted to incorporate his use of line and style into my own illustration. The way in which he defined natural elements through line and a bold depiction of lighting was a large inspiration for my piece. |
Yosemite National Park poster by Chester don Powell
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Grant Teton National Park Poster by Chester don Powell
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The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali is a Surrealist piece created in the year 1931. This Surrealist painting possesses a very different theme and tone then the piece I wished to create. While this piece was created by Dali using oil paint I feel as though the general style is something that was very inspiring to the style I wished to display in my own piece. The lines in this piece are sharp and many are simplified. The gradients and shading are smooth and do not feel organic. Using gouache in my piece instead of oil paint effected my ability to replicate the style of this piece entirely however I pulled inspiration from Dali's use of lighting in particular and applied it to my own piece.
The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali
Planning
Planning Page 1
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When considering a theme of opposites numerous ideas came to mind, most of which centered around the way in which humans hae negatively impacted natural ecosystems. On my first planning page I made a list of all the general ideas that came to mind including overfishing, the effects of natural disasters, and factory farms compared to organic farming. I began looking at photography pertaining to each of these topics and felt that I would not be able to achieve the desired effect pertaining to theme of nature to human relationships. On planning page 2 I made some thumbnail sketches on some of my potential ideas. When brainstorming further I felt interested in a topic about the rainforest and the devastating deforestation that is destroying rainforest ecosystems. I began further expanding on this topic and began referencing my inspiration for how I could portray this environment. I realized this would be a challenging piece due to the density and lushness of all the rainforest images I was referencing. I though this would be an interesting opportunity to create contrast between my two images. I also decided during my planning phase that I wasnt to do a painting, however I wanted to try guache for the first time. In order to determine what brand and type to get I did some research and learned that Liquitex Acrylic Gouache is a great brand of gouache paint that would produce the results I was invisioning.
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Planning Page 2
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Process
Background Coat
To begin the painting process I chose to begin with the left side which would be the rainforest. The first step I did was to paint that section with a green coat. I did this because I was unfamiliar with Gouache paint and thought it might help strengthen the opacity of the piece and allow me to have to paint fewer layers. The next phase was where I began filling in the general shapes of the piece. Beginning with the dark green patches that came through from behind the forms of the trees, During this step I experimented with how much water to add to the gouache. Mixing Colors Next I began filling in the trees which required me to mix my own brown tones with the red yellow and blue gouache paint I had purchased. I had a very easy time mixing colors for this entire piece and the process was much easier than the other paint mediums I had worked with in the past. This is partially due to the actual bottles which the paint came in because they each had a small nozzle on the top that allowed me to perfectly control how much of each color I wanted to pour out at a time. For the trees I mixed one shade of dark brown for the base color. Then for the grooves and texture colors I slowly added more red and yellow to the original dark brown color. |
Tree Details
After I thought I had finished filling in the tree trunks I realized the shadows and highlights were not as bold as I wanted. Based on all rainforest tree photos that I had previously looked at, their bark has thick grooves and indents as well as large roots that all created shadows on the trunks. In order to create these shadows and I mixed separate light browns and dark browns and went in with those colors that accentuated the roots and tree trunk texture. During this stage I also added a tall tropical plant with large leaves.
Right Side
To begin the right side of my illustration I began filling in the background color similar to what I did to start the left side of this piece. I found that this part of my piece was very difficult for me and I had a hard time with the simplicity of my design. This is partially due to the fact that I am much more used to organic and natural elements and painting something like a truck was very out of my comfort zone. I struggled with the medium to be able to create enough dimension and shading and ultimately I felt this side of the piece appears unfinished and unrefined. After filling in the different red tones in the truck I began working on the pile of logs in the background.This part was simple and only required me to be intentional about making sure each shade of brown matched the red undertone on the whole piece. Finally I painted the barren thin trees in the background. To do so I used a rounded brush that allowed me to create various line widths for the branches and trucks.
Experimentation
Since this was an unfamiliar medium to me, I applied a lot of experimentation during the process of making this piece. I experimented mainly with the way in which I used to medium to achieve the style I was going for. Since blending gouache is very different from blending acrylic paint that I am used to, I began the piece by trying to create gradients and shadows through blending. However I quickly found that I was unable to achieve this in a seamless manner, and did some research. In my research I found that guache is typically applied in shapes and layering of different colors rather then blending. So I decided to try this out and began adding the different textures and lighting in layers. This produced a result I was much more satisfied with. I also experimented with how much water to add to the paint to create different levels of opacity and to change the texture of the paint. When I was filling in the basic shapes of the trees and mossy forest floor I used little water because I wanted these parts to be completely opaque and I wanted a thick layer of paint. However for the smaller details like the ferns and rocks I found that slightly more water sprayed on top of the paint in my palette made the application smoother and I was able to create sharper lines and shapes.
Critique
Similarities:
A similarity between my piece and the two inspiration pieces by Chester don Powell and my other inspiration piece by Salvador Dali, is the depiction of natural elements. In all three pieces the compositions feature landscapes with a clear horizon line. Both my piece and Dali's piece have made made objects that are interacting with the natural environment. Powell´s piece and the left side of my piece partially share a representation of light and shadow in the blocking of colors and use of line. Additionally all four display choices made by the artists to create elements that provide a sense of perspective. For example both my piece and Dali´s piece have a manmade object placed in the midground, his a clock and mine a truck. This elements create dimension and intentionally direct the eye of the viewer.
Differences:
The left side of my illustration differs from my inspiration pieces in the lack of sky. While there is a forest depicted in Chester don Powell´s piece of Yosemite, the sky consumes most of the piece. This is because of the different vantage points in which our pieces were depicted of. In my image the perspective is from inside the forest as if you are standing on the forest floor, whereas Powell´s piece s from a much higher vantage point so that only the top of the treeline is visible. That creates more separation from the wildlife whereas my piece is intended to create a feeling of connectedness with nature, There is also some stylistic differences among the pieces. For example Dali´s piece is much more blended and smooth, compared to my piece which portrays moreso a blocking of colors with few blended areas.
A similarity between my piece and the two inspiration pieces by Chester don Powell and my other inspiration piece by Salvador Dali, is the depiction of natural elements. In all three pieces the compositions feature landscapes with a clear horizon line. Both my piece and Dali's piece have made made objects that are interacting with the natural environment. Powell´s piece and the left side of my piece partially share a representation of light and shadow in the blocking of colors and use of line. Additionally all four display choices made by the artists to create elements that provide a sense of perspective. For example both my piece and Dali´s piece have a manmade object placed in the midground, his a clock and mine a truck. This elements create dimension and intentionally direct the eye of the viewer.
Differences:
The left side of my illustration differs from my inspiration pieces in the lack of sky. While there is a forest depicted in Chester don Powell´s piece of Yosemite, the sky consumes most of the piece. This is because of the different vantage points in which our pieces were depicted of. In my image the perspective is from inside the forest as if you are standing on the forest floor, whereas Powell´s piece s from a much higher vantage point so that only the top of the treeline is visible. That creates more separation from the wildlife whereas my piece is intended to create a feeling of connectedness with nature, There is also some stylistic differences among the pieces. For example Dali´s piece is much more blended and smooth, compared to my piece which portrays moreso a blocking of colors with few blended areas.
Reflection
The concept behind this piece was one that I felt very passionate about and as a result the entire process of creating this piece was very thought provoking. I found myself during an extensive amount of experimentation with Gouache not only because it was a new medium, but also because I wanted to understanding its limitations to insure I wasn't trying to overwork the medium and try to create a different result then what it was intended for. I felt that my inspiration heavily influenced my piece and I continuously referenced both artists throughout the process. However this actually made the process more difficult at times because in the case of Chester don Powell specifically he used a different medium than me for his national park posters. So I found myself trying to replicate his style at times and feeling as though I failed to do so. One thing I found interesting about this process was how important my brushes were to being able to make the lines I wanted. Typically for my pieces I will only use the same 4 or 5 brushes that I always use however I found that with this piece it helped to be more intentional about the brushes I used. I found that none of the brushes I previously owned allowed me to achieve the small dainty details of the ferns in the forest floor or the small tree branches. So I decided to buy a pack of very fine brushes that helped a lot with these elements.
Connection To ACT
1) Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
My inspiration allowed me insight to both sides of this rainforest ecosystem. I learned not only of its beauty and life but also of the damaging effects and depletion is is experiencing because of humans.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research felt as though it was essential to stop deforestation or at least slow it in any way possible. She felt as thought it was very important for illegal logging companies to be held accountable.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Through my research I have discovered how easy it is to ignore the fact that we all have a personal responsibility to help stop climate change and deforestation. It is not only these loggers in other places that are the problem but also ourselves for our wasteful and unethical spending habits and lifestyles.
4) What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my research was the importance of sustainability to the preservation of our rainforests.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Based on my research I have concluded that there are numerous changes in my own lifestyle that I can make to help reduce my carbon footprint and do my part to help the planet.
My inspiration allowed me insight to both sides of this rainforest ecosystem. I learned not only of its beauty and life but also of the damaging effects and depletion is is experiencing because of humans.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research felt as though it was essential to stop deforestation or at least slow it in any way possible. She felt as thought it was very important for illegal logging companies to be held accountable.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Through my research I have discovered how easy it is to ignore the fact that we all have a personal responsibility to help stop climate change and deforestation. It is not only these loggers in other places that are the problem but also ourselves for our wasteful and unethical spending habits and lifestyles.
4) What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my research was the importance of sustainability to the preservation of our rainforests.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Based on my research I have concluded that there are numerous changes in my own lifestyle that I can make to help reduce my carbon footprint and do my part to help the planet.
APA Citations
Council on Foreign Relations. (n.d.). Deforestation in the Amazon. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/amazon-deforestation/#/en
Nunez, C. (2022, December 7). Deforestation and its effect on the planet. Environment. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/deforestation
Nunez, C. (2022, December 7). Deforestation and its effect on the planet. Environment. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/deforestation