Blurred GlanceSize : 12 in x 12 in
Medium : Oil Paint on Canvas Completion Date : November 2020 This artwork depicts a mere glance towards something, where the attention of detail isn't registered until you look further. Within that moment the image is blurry and obscure. The theme was achievable through the inspiration of Maurice de Vlaminck, as he uses Fauvism to depict natural landscapes in an uncanny way. Bold brushstrokes and colors are consistent within both pieces.
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Artist Inspiration
Maurice de Vlaminck was born in Paris, France. The artist was mostly self taught and liked to exhibit his work alongside, Henri Matisse. Together they created the art movement known as Fauvism in 1905. Many people shunned the artists for their technique, which consisted of vibrant blotches of paint that was applied straight from the tube. Vlaminck was known for his landscape paintings that portrayed both France and rural areas. Fauvism is a movement in which artists use unrealistic colors that are vivid with expressionism. It was why a majority of Vlaminck's works were depicted with primary colors that wouldn't fit with the realistic highlights and pigments of landscapes. Yet, most of his works feature water and farms. The artist's inspiration was from Van Gogh and his impressionism style. It's why areas with blotches of paints are put in a direction to mimic movement. This is seen in his piece, "Tugboat on the Seine, Chatou" as he layers the paints in the water to replicate a steady stream moving on. His use of colors and brush strokes help the style come to life and appear as if it were moving in a sense. |
Planning
Using the photo taken from the "Lens Based Project," as reference I was able to plan composions. The placement of the puddle could have been altered, as well as the road. These were just a few ideas that were branched upon. I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to make the puddle the main focus. If I did, I could enlarge it and show more detail within the reflection. However, I could have easily focused on the road and painted the different values. |
After choosing the composition, I looked for an artist inspiration. Both Fauvism and Impressionism were art movements that consisted of unnatural expressionism. With these movements in mind, I searched for an artist that related to my plan. Vlaminck proved to be the best option, as he connected to the photograph the best. Most of his works were of landscapes and water. In addition, his painting style was similar to a disoriented look. This helped me discover the theme of the work, which would be the opposite of the photograph. I wanted the two themes to connect and in this style it would offer contrasting views. The painting being a glance past one's self instead of within. |
Experimentation and Process
With the reference picture and composition in mind, I was able to sketch the outline for the painting. After that I experimented with colors I was sure to use in order to get a handle on how they would present upon canvas and blend with one another. Cool colors were the main focus of the painting, so I tested those colors for the most part. Each pigment was different from the next when they were laid a top one another. At this point I wasn't sure which brush stroke I was going to use, so I dabbed the paints on top and besides each other. This allowed me to see how the colors reacted without blending boldly, instead adapting a gradient blending method.
With my experimentation as a guide I began the process of painting upon the canvas. I used the size 3/4 brush since it was the largest and would cover more space. The sizing would allow me to apply the paints without blending due to repeatedly going over the same areas in order to cover large amounts of space. In addition, it was easily forgivable if I were to blend colors too much on accident. A lined technique was used in order to replicate Vlaminck's style, despite being thin. After coming upon the conclusion that the lines were too thin, I broadened them within the reflection. This also allowed the puddle to be the subject of attention, which was the original idea.
Colors seemed almost dull when applied as they complimented each other nicely. The pigments were another blending technique as no certain color truly stood out from the next on the pavement sections. This allowed the piece to have more depth whilst still seeming obscure. From there I lined each section in order to differentiate the shadows from highlights.
Colors seemed almost dull when applied as they complimented each other nicely. The pigments were another blending technique as no certain color truly stood out from the next on the pavement sections. This allowed the piece to have more depth whilst still seeming obscure. From there I lined each section in order to differentiate the shadows from highlights.
Reflection
Painting is especially tricky for me as I find it difficult to move the brush steadily. Brush strokes are hard to keep consistent as the amount of paint on a brush affects the penmanship. The added fact that the paint was oil also adds a challenge within itself. Oil takes a longer to dry than acrylic, a medium I have used before, and it blends easily. This made it hard to keep the strokes apart from one another and still show the vibrancy within the colored pigments. However, after experimenting and concluding this project I'd like to think I have a better handle on the medium. I now know to tap the paint on rather than drag it across the canvas.
If I were to do this project again I would experiment with a different art technique. Impressionism or realism would be ideal as they would blend colors in order to get different outcomes. This allows me to further my understanding of oil paint and how colors work alongside each other. I'd also like to keep the theme within the piece as it can be interpreted in multitudes of art styles. A Blurred Glance derives from a past project so it'd be interesting to keep the small collection consistent.
If I were to do this project again I would experiment with a different art technique. Impressionism or realism would be ideal as they would blend colors in order to get different outcomes. This allows me to further my understanding of oil paint and how colors work alongside each other. I'd also like to keep the theme within the piece as it can be interpreted in multitudes of art styles. A Blurred Glance derives from a past project so it'd be interesting to keep the small collection consistent.
Compare and Contrast
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ACT Responses
1. Clearly explain and describe how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
Vlaminck uses blotches of paints, mostly from the tube in order to express natural landscapes in an uncanny way. The unconventional method creates obscure pieces with often times, vibrant colors. This technique followed into my artwork as I applied paints straight from the tube, hardly blending the colors as they were applied.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Landscapes are intriguing to Vlaminck and is the topic of the majority of his art works. My piece focuses on a natural portrait of a puddle, which correlates to his interests. Therefor, the artist relates to my topic and sees it as a way to express a realistic subject in a loose way.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Whilst researching my inspiration, I have come upon the conclusion that art is subjective and easily changeable. Maurice had experimented with different art styles before adapting to Fauvism. In addition, all works are interpreted differently.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea within my research was disfiguration, anything that was nearly incomprehensible by the eye. Since the theme was a glance, the technique needed to be slightly blurry and couldn't make sense unless you looked into the piece longer than expected.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
During the research phase I came upon the assumption that Fauvism is abstract and expressive. It only focuses on colors instead of what is actually being depicted. The art movement depicts different subjects in thick layering of paints with an uncanny attention to detail.
Vlaminck uses blotches of paints, mostly from the tube in order to express natural landscapes in an uncanny way. The unconventional method creates obscure pieces with often times, vibrant colors. This technique followed into my artwork as I applied paints straight from the tube, hardly blending the colors as they were applied.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Landscapes are intriguing to Vlaminck and is the topic of the majority of his art works. My piece focuses on a natural portrait of a puddle, which correlates to his interests. Therefor, the artist relates to my topic and sees it as a way to express a realistic subject in a loose way.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Whilst researching my inspiration, I have come upon the conclusion that art is subjective and easily changeable. Maurice had experimented with different art styles before adapting to Fauvism. In addition, all works are interpreted differently.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea within my research was disfiguration, anything that was nearly incomprehensible by the eye. Since the theme was a glance, the technique needed to be slightly blurry and couldn't make sense unless you looked into the piece longer than expected.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
During the research phase I came upon the assumption that Fauvism is abstract and expressive. It only focuses on colors instead of what is actually being depicted. The art movement depicts different subjects in thick layering of paints with an uncanny attention to detail.
Bibliography
Maurice de Vlaminck. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maurice-de-Vlaminck
Vlaminck, M. (n.d.). Maisons au bord de la Seine à Chatou by Maurice deVlaminck. Retrieved December 1, 2020, from http://www.artnet.com/artists/maurice-de-vlaminck/maisons-au-bord-de-la-seine
Vlaminck, M. (n.d.). Maisons au bord de la Seine à Chatou by Maurice deVlaminck. Retrieved December 1, 2020, from http://www.artnet.com/artists/maurice-de-vlaminck/maisons-au-bord-de-la-seine