FingerpaintingSize: 11 x 9.5 in
Medium: Acrylic on canvas Date: March 22, 2019 Exhibition Text: For the longest time, I have wanted to create my own version of a Monet painting. I fell in love with his use of color, technique and his ability to enhance landscapes in order to make them appear more vibrant than in reality. I was also inspired by artist Chuck Close with his use of varied colors and shapes in order to create a bigger picture that came together from a distance. Following his methods, I created a painting following the shapes and shadings, with my own style of blurriness and single spot brushstrokes. |
Inspiration
Monet's use of color in these pieces inspired me the most with the mix of cool colors and the vibrant pop of the warm colors. I especially appreciate his ability to enhance the landscapes in which he works with in order to make them seem more beautiful. I was first introduced to Monet's work and techniques my sophomore year when it was required to recreate a portion of a painting from his Water Lilly Series. I believe I did a good job on the painting and I looked forward to recreating another in the future with my own style. His Water Lilly Series narrowed my focus onto recreating a landscape of only water, using a large variety of blues and purples.
I was mainly inspired by the fingerpainting works done by Chuck Close as they appear to be so real by the simple task of a finger. This reminded me that such a beautiful piece can be done so simply if done with the right intent and the correct shadings and colors. This would also create that blurry affect that I wanted. However, I did not only want to use the technique of fingerpainting but I also wanted to incorporate the use of paintbrushes by pressing them against the canvas for one paint mark only. This would create a variety of textures throughout my piece and I would be able to change techniques with the changing of the landscape, such as my own flowers and the amount of detail that I would want in them.
Planning Sketches
I had a specific idea for the lily pads that would be single in the water. Since I wanted them to be bigger than the actual lily, I created them with two thumbprints in the shape of a "V", this way the small lily can sit comfortably in the center of the two.
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For the grouped together lily pads, I would create more pads than there were lilies. The pads would all be the same color, with hardly any water being seen between them, and the small, brightly colored lilies would immediately catch the attention of the viewer if they are neatly spaced out and sized.
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For the overall background of the painting, I broke it down in layers. The darkest, most used color would be placed on the bottom for the darkest area of the water. This is the area in which the grouped lily pads would be to contrast the vibrant green with the dark blue. It then shortly blends into a lighter blue, and then yellow. The yellow takes up the majority of the upper area of the painting, with some areas covered with light shades of purple and pink. I left some areas for only yellow in order for the painting to have highlights.
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Process
Since the majority of the Water Lilly paintings have background spots of shades of blues, I started by covering the majority of the canvas with the darkest blue. I followed the landscape of Monet's "Water Lilies" painting shown in the inspiration. I then began to cover smaller areas of the canvas with gradually lighter shades of blue.
I then began covering the canvas completely with the brighter background shades such as yellow and pink. These colors are mainly associated with Monet's Water Lilies as they are bright and catch the viewer's attention. As the amount of colors I added increased, I began to use them less on the canvas.
For the final touches of the piece, I began to add the more vibrant colors. This included the background purples, lily-pad greens and the hot pink lilies. I began with roughly adding small, narrow lines along the bottom and top with the green in order to create the shape of the lilies on the side. Towards the bottom, I created the lily pads more circular and flat in order to resemble their larger size while viewing from the top. I began adding layers to the lilies with more light pink and purple, and I even added more of the dark blue from the water in order to blend the lilies in rather than having them stick out with the large amounts of green. Lastly, I added the small hot pink dots resembling the lilies. I made sure to place one on each of the bottom lily pads, as they are their own individual pads. As for the more crowded portions, I painted lilies spread out. I used this opportunity to cover up any mistakes or smudges that I had created across the pads.
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Experimentation
During the process of creating colors for the lilies, I especially had a difficult time with the green. With the idea of a pond, I could not let go of the vision of lily pads being a brownish-green color. When I actually came to create the color, it was much darker than I had intended. Because of this, I ended up saving the color for another project since I had created such a large quantity of it. I then used a little amount of the mixed green that I had and added white to it to result with the green that I had used in the piece.
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I especially struggled with creating the correct shade of yellow that I wanted. Initially, I began with the color yellow and adding white to it, when I should have started with the color white to get the light shade that I intended. Rather than continuing to add a large amount of white to get my shade, I ended up having to mix in a different cup, changing my process. Even then it was a struggle because the color was more of a "laffy taffy banana" yellow. However, I corrected my yellow to white ratio, and got the shade I wanted.
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Reflection
Overall, I am pleased with how this project turned out. It was harder than I had anticipated due to the technique of fingerpainting, however I managed and learned different techniques to fingerpaint throughout the process of this piece, such as using a smaller finger or only having paint on a small portion of my finger. I was stuck for a bit and did not know exactly where to start, however once I got my ideas together I enjoyed the process of this piece. Looking back at my inspiration, I wish I would have incorporated Chuck Close's techniques more in this piece. His fingerpaintings include clean and neat single marks, while my piece is made of longer strokes at different sizes. I also wish I would stray from being too inspired my Monet and create a painting from a photograph that I took myself, rather than building off of Monet's work. I also wish I would have been more detailed in my planning sketches, as I had to wing most of the details that I did not include. This resulted in me making marks on the painting that I ended up not liking, but had to work with. I also believe that having more detailed planning sketches would have allowed me to be neater in the painting process with cleaner strokes.
ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
My inspiration of Monet lead me to create a painting of a landscape of water, using the many shades of blue, purples, greens and pinks. The effect I had from Chuck Close was the possibilities there were from fingerpainting. His work reminded me that painting does not always have to be with fine lines and brushes, but as long as I could create the image that I wanted by meeting the paint with the canvas.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of all the resources I've used for both artists and all pieces has approached the resources with a non biased opinion and stating only the facts as to how and why the pieces were made.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
For Chuck Close specifically, I took note of the many ways he has been able to create his works and pieces. He never limited himself to only a canvas and a paintbrush, but he experimented with different materials and techniques such as fingerpainting, using the grid method and blending different layers of tones.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea was to create my own piece inspired by the landscapes of Monet using the techniques inspired by Chuck Close.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Inferences I made included that possibly Monet specialized in painting landscapes because they remained in their still lives for the entire time rather than adjusting to a constantly moving object or person. Also that he moved to Paris because there are some of the most beautiful landscapes there in the world.
My inspiration of Monet lead me to create a painting of a landscape of water, using the many shades of blue, purples, greens and pinks. The effect I had from Chuck Close was the possibilities there were from fingerpainting. His work reminded me that painting does not always have to be with fine lines and brushes, but as long as I could create the image that I wanted by meeting the paint with the canvas.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of all the resources I've used for both artists and all pieces has approached the resources with a non biased opinion and stating only the facts as to how and why the pieces were made.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
For Chuck Close specifically, I took note of the many ways he has been able to create his works and pieces. He never limited himself to only a canvas and a paintbrush, but he experimented with different materials and techniques such as fingerpainting, using the grid method and blending different layers of tones.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea was to create my own piece inspired by the landscapes of Monet using the techniques inspired by Chuck Close.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Inferences I made included that possibly Monet specialized in painting landscapes because they remained in their still lives for the entire time rather than adjusting to a constantly moving object or person. Also that he moved to Paris because there are some of the most beautiful landscapes there in the world.
Bibliography
Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437127.
Chuck Close | John/Fingerpainting, 1984, chuckclose.com/work109.html.
Chuck Close | Georgia/Fingerpainting, 1984, chuckclose.com/work110.html.
“Water Lilies - Claude Monet - Oil Painting Reproduction at OverstockArt.com.” OverstockArt.com, www.overstockart.com/painting/monet-water-lilies-397749614.
Chuck Close | John/Fingerpainting, 1984, chuckclose.com/work109.html.
Chuck Close | Georgia/Fingerpainting, 1984, chuckclose.com/work110.html.
“Water Lilies - Claude Monet - Oil Painting Reproduction at OverstockArt.com.” OverstockArt.com, www.overstockart.com/painting/monet-water-lilies-397749614.