Title: Aspirations
Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 90 cm x 60 cm January 2016 Exhibition Text The main focus of this project was to create a triptych where I reflected upon myself as an artist, as well as how I affect the community and how the community affects me back. I was influenced by two main art movements which were surrealism and realism. With the three paintings, my intentions were to portray my thoughts on how I identify myself, how certain things will always be special to me, as well as to send some messages across that other teenagers like me can relate to. All is self-made within the medium. |
Process
Planning
To start off, I began by thinking a little of what identified me personally and socially, and researched all of the components within the project as well. This process took a long time for me to the extent that I couldn't complete the deadline. After a few weeks of researching, sketching and planning, I began the project. The images below are all from the planning process.
Planning
To start off, I began by thinking a little of what identified me personally and socially, and researched all of the components within the project as well. This process took a long time for me to the extent that I couldn't complete the deadline. After a few weeks of researching, sketching and planning, I began the project. The images below are all from the planning process.
Process
Building Canvas
I made three canvases, all with the same size of 60.96 cm x 30.48 cm. The process of building these was as usual. I picked out stretchers that were the correct size, wrapped canvas around and primed them. After they dried up, I cut the excess canvas that was left behind. I was now ready to start painting.
Individual Canvases/Painting
Brief descriptions of each individual panel is shown below.
Building Canvas
I made three canvases, all with the same size of 60.96 cm x 30.48 cm. The process of building these was as usual. I picked out stretchers that were the correct size, wrapped canvas around and primed them. After they dried up, I cut the excess canvas that was left behind. I was now ready to start painting.
Individual Canvases/Painting
Brief descriptions of each individual panel is shown below.
ArtistThe process for this specific canvas was the most time consuming. I was indecisive on what to do just because I identify myself with so many different things that it was difficult for me to stick to one idea incorporating many other ones. In the end, I was able to chose my ideas wisely and finish the canvas.
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Artist in the CityThe canvas for "artist in the city" wasn't that difficult for me to do as "artist". I wanted to paint myself expressing the way I feel now. Every element in this canvas has meaning to my current life, which is why I chose to paint it this way.
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City in the ArtistEver since the beginning of the project, I knew what I wanted to do for this canvas. This canvas is called "city in the artist" and I wanted to portray what Milwaukee means to me. The two silhouettes represent a younger version of me and the background represents how the city will always be a part of me.
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Artistic Inspiration
The triptych was inspired by a combination of realism, figural expressionism and surrealism. To be specific, I was inspired by Frida Kahlo, Joan Miro, and James Whistlers. I used them as an inspiration because my paintings were not created with the intention of looking realistic, but rather, I focused on using symbols and colors to get points across, just like all of these do. The unusual placement and representation of my inspirations reflect upon my artwork when it comes to techniques and symbolism. |
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Meaning/Theme of the Piece
The main purpose of this project was to create three panels in which I reflected upon myself as an artist, how I affect the community I live in and how it affects me back as well. For my first panel "artist", I painted my own silhouette facing both to the left and the right to divide that canvas in half. On the left-hand side, I painted a combination of warped-like colors which represent the Mexican and the American flags combined together. This shows how both of my cultures come together. On the other right-hand side of the same canvas, I painted a warped road with a light bulb to represent what the future has in store for me and how I will do my best to succeed especially right now in my last years of high school.
In the next panel "artist in the city", I painted myself inside of a bubble-like shape. I appear sitting on the side of a sidewalk with books in my hands to symbolize the weight I constantly carry to do good in school. Coming out of the bubble, there's 4 curved lines that wrap around a diploma and a dollar sign. Lately, I've been feeling extremely overwhelmed with school related things, and have also been feeling really pressured. So since that's what's going on in my life right now, I decided to paint it. I feel like although it is very important to get educated and be successful, I believe that there's more to life than that. The sad thing is that counselors, teachers, parents, etc, put some much stress on us to the point where both our physical and mental state gets worn out and we become very overwhelmed. I painted this canvas like this because I know that many of my classmates and friends (or teenagers in general) go through the same thing.
For my last panel "city in the artist", I wanted to express what the city of Milwaukee means to me. I was born and raised here, so Milwaukee is very important to me. Some may view it as the most segregated cities of all cities, some may view it as something else, but I will always see it as my home. In this panel, I painted another silhouette of two people, one which happens to be taller than the other one. With this, I wanted to symbolize myself and a younger version of me as well. They appear to be holding hands because no matter where I go or what happens in the future, the history I have here in Milwaukee will always come along with me.
The main purpose of this project was to create three panels in which I reflected upon myself as an artist, how I affect the community I live in and how it affects me back as well. For my first panel "artist", I painted my own silhouette facing both to the left and the right to divide that canvas in half. On the left-hand side, I painted a combination of warped-like colors which represent the Mexican and the American flags combined together. This shows how both of my cultures come together. On the other right-hand side of the same canvas, I painted a warped road with a light bulb to represent what the future has in store for me and how I will do my best to succeed especially right now in my last years of high school.
In the next panel "artist in the city", I painted myself inside of a bubble-like shape. I appear sitting on the side of a sidewalk with books in my hands to symbolize the weight I constantly carry to do good in school. Coming out of the bubble, there's 4 curved lines that wrap around a diploma and a dollar sign. Lately, I've been feeling extremely overwhelmed with school related things, and have also been feeling really pressured. So since that's what's going on in my life right now, I decided to paint it. I feel like although it is very important to get educated and be successful, I believe that there's more to life than that. The sad thing is that counselors, teachers, parents, etc, put some much stress on us to the point where both our physical and mental state gets worn out and we become very overwhelmed. I painted this canvas like this because I know that many of my classmates and friends (or teenagers in general) go through the same thing.
For my last panel "city in the artist", I wanted to express what the city of Milwaukee means to me. I was born and raised here, so Milwaukee is very important to me. Some may view it as the most segregated cities of all cities, some may view it as something else, but I will always see it as my home. In this panel, I painted another silhouette of two people, one which happens to be taller than the other one. With this, I wanted to symbolize myself and a younger version of me as well. They appear to be holding hands because no matter where I go or what happens in the future, the history I have here in Milwaukee will always come along with me.
Reflection
Throughout the process, I had more successes than failures. Although it took me a very long time to get my ideas straight, once I did, I was able to paint successfully without being stuck halfway or something like that. I really like this piece, but I definitely think I'm going to make some changes in the future.
Throughout the process, I had more successes than failures. Although it took me a very long time to get my ideas straight, once I did, I was able to paint successfully without being stuck halfway or something like that. I really like this piece, but I definitely think I'm going to make some changes in the future.