Opposites - Cool
38 by 25 cm
Mixed media on illustration board
November 2020
Opposites - Cool is an illustration taken from a photograph. My inspiration was Francesca Woodman, and my goal was to incorporate her appreciation of the female body into my work. I used a color scheme of cool colors, the darker colors (purple, black, and dark blue) for shadows and the lighter colors (light blue and green) for highlights.
Inspiration
Francesca Woodman was an American photographer who was known for blurred photographs, nude women, and oddly concealed figures. She died of suicide at the young age of 22 but her work has impacted many people, and explores identity, sexuality, and testing limits. For this project, I wanted to bring in a new physical piece to Woodman's work and connect it to a metaphorical concept she portrayed.
Self Portrait by Woodman
There are many admirable aspects of On Being An Angel #1. Like many of Woodman's works, it is a black and white photograph, with deep contrast and strong highlights and shadows. Woodman is looking right into the camera, and there is a focus on her face and body rather than the space around her. Some would say the meaning of this portrait is something erotic, but I think it goes deeper than that. To achieve this angle, Woodman laid on a table and tipped her head back. The camera was upside down, so it gives the illusion that she is looking or moving upward. This photo introduces us to Woodman's want to be an angel. She used angles and illusion to show emotion.
For my work, I wanted to incorporate this emotion but in a different way; color. The cool color scheme brings a somber emotion, and possibly even reveals a want for something more.
For my work, I wanted to incorporate this emotion but in a different way; color. The cool color scheme brings a somber emotion, and possibly even reveals a want for something more.
On Being An Angel #1 by Woodman
Planning
From the start I knew I wanted to have color contrast be significant in my work. I wasn't sure how I wanted this incorporated yet, and I listed several different ideas. I sketched out the photograph and searched for ideas. Taking a photograph and turning it into a drawing is something I have always liked doing, and it's how I do most of my art. I tried to look at the opposites project as something similar to my usual art.
sketchbook page 1
My first idea, shown below, was to incorporate both warm and cool colors into each piece. I was almost certain that this would be my final idea, so much so that I sketched it out on two face shapes. However I came to realize that I couldn't use this method to show the emotion I was trying to express, the pieces would be too similar.
sketchbook page 2
My final idea (above) was to divide the photograph and incorporate different emotions in each one using different color schemes.
sketchbook page 3 (taken from 1)
Process/Experimentation
First I sketched the outline of the photograph. I drew light lines across the more shaded areas, and I sketched in large shapes first to make sure everything was proportional before I went in with small details.
I started adding color to the face, using little blending to give sharp edges and clearer features to the face. I used several shades of blue, purple, and green for each section and often went over them several times with different colors. I used black for especially dark areas, like the eyes and eyebrow. Because of the contrast, I had to make it clear that the left side of the face was darker than the right, so the right side was greener than the left.
The hair was a crucial part to this piece. Because it would be the same color as the face and background, I relied on texture to make is look like hair. Drawing hair has never been one of my strengths, so I struggled with this. I added in shadows first; clear, thick lines generally made up of black and purple color schemes, and the the highlights, which had less contrast. I would've liked the hair to have turned out darker and more contrasted, which could have been done by spending more time on the shadows, and possibly lightening up other areas to make the hair stand out more.
The hair on the left side of the head was mostly concealed by shadows. Because nearly the entire left side of the face was dark, I used bright colors rather than texture to make the hair pop out. I drew thick, curvy lines and shaded them in with various colors to give them some texture. This made them more visible to the eye within the dark purple background.
The final addition to my project was watercolor paint. I used watercolors to bring more texture in color into my work as well as blend out the colored pencil lines. The downside to watercolors is that if you went over a space too many times the board would become slightly bumpy, which you can see in the picture to the left. Overall I think it added a nice layer to the work and neatened it up. I used a combination of purple and dark blue water colors. The colored pencils I used weren't that waxy, and blended relatively nice. Waxy colored pencils will create a barrier to the watercolors and can turn out splotchy.
Critique
Opposites - Cool
Similarities:
Form - Both figures have a similar form and pose Mood - Both pieces have a somber mood, although it is expressed differently Movement - Similar to form and pose, both figures have a similar sense of movement Shadows - Placement of shadows and highlights is relatively similar, the left side of the face is darker and more shaded and the right has most highlights |
On Being An Angel, Francesca Woodman
Differences:
Contrast - Emotion is shown through contrast in Woodman's piece, however in mine emotion is shown in color, so contrast is slightly less apparent Color - In Woodman's piece, it is all black and white. In mine there is a cool color scheme, because my color scheme relates to the emotion Medium - Woodman's piece is a photograph, mine is mixed media (colored pencils and watercolors) on illustration board |
ACT Questions
1) Clearly explain and describe how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
Because I used color to show emotion, there was less contrast in the work. In Woodman's piece, the contrast is what brings forth the emotion.
2) What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author has a neutral approach on Woodman's work and life.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Woodman's work often focused on exposed female bodies. It can be assumed that this was something considered abnormal or even disgraceful at the time.
4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted to find someone passionate or interested in something that also interested me, so I could relate to the artist. Woodman's exploration of identity and normalization of the female body was inspirational to me.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
Because Woodman's life ended due to suicide, I implied that her work was inspired from some of the struggles that could have led up to this tragic ending of her life, making it all the more impactful.
Because I used color to show emotion, there was less contrast in the work. In Woodman's piece, the contrast is what brings forth the emotion.
2) What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author has a neutral approach on Woodman's work and life.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Woodman's work often focused on exposed female bodies. It can be assumed that this was something considered abnormal or even disgraceful at the time.
4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted to find someone passionate or interested in something that also interested me, so I could relate to the artist. Woodman's exploration of identity and normalization of the female body was inspirational to me.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
Because Woodman's life ended due to suicide, I implied that her work was inspired from some of the struggles that could have led up to this tragic ending of her life, making it all the more impactful.
Bibliography
“Francesca Woodman Artworks & Famous Photography.” The Art Story, 2020, www.theartstory.org/artist/woodman-francesca/artworks/.
Tate. “Finding Francesca – Look Closer.” Tate, www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/francesca-woodman-10512/finding-francesca.
Tate. “Finding Francesca – Look Closer.” Tate, www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/francesca-woodman-10512/finding-francesca.