"Stomp"
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Inspiration & Research
Planning
My sketches this time around were focused on visualizing my thought process for this piece. At first, I was considering making a block print template of my boot to essentially work as a stamp, because I realized I didn't want to step into paint in my new leather boots. Then I remembered that I had a pair of boots prior to these which still fit, but are ruined due to a broken zipper and general grossness. So I decided it'd be easier just to use those boots. Then because of that, I came down the easy conclusion that I needed to step into paint and then on to my board. However, prior to this I had to decide whether to use a canvas or a fiber board, as Pollock made multiple pieces using both. I came down to the conclusion to use a fiber board, because I could step on it without the risk of the wood stretchers snapping. The solid fiber board with crack a bit at worst, whereas my entire piece could've been ruined by a step that was a bit too strong.
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Process
I started out with my fiber board, after doing my test swatch, laying it on the floor under some cut up garbage bags to avoid getting paint all over the floor. I took a plastic cup and went outside to my yard and scooped up some dirt to mix with the paint. Poured some into the foil pan, along with some paint, and mixed it together.
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I did the same thing again, but this time with red. Paint, dirt, mix, step. This time however, I made an effort to not cover over the blue too much. I wanted it to be about half and half, and still show some board through the layers of paint. I also made more of an effort to have some chunky texture from the dirt, since this was going to be on a more outer layer and the lighter hue would be more likely to show the texture in the first place.
Between each color, I washed out the soles of my boots so as to avoid any major color mixing. A little bit was fine, but I wanted any mixture to come from the layers and on the board itself. Last was to just add the yellow layer. |
I tried to be very conservative with how much yellow I was adding to the piece. I didn't want the yellow to overtake the piece, which would be easy since it was the topmost layer, but I still wanted the yellow to have a large presence. It was a lot brighter than the red and the blue, which I felt like tied the piece together to represent the different aspects of anger and frustration.
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Experimentation
Reflection
Overall I feel like this piece was very successful. I was concerned while working on it that the boot prints wouldn't be very obvious, since I had to make a pretty solid base layer of blue. However, the red that went over it and the yellow on top of that made it incredibly obvious that the entire piece was boot marks. Unfortunately it's not visible in the photo, but the dirt clumps also make very effective texture on the piece which gets across the idea that the boots were dirty in the process of creating the piece. However, I am worried that the colors I used were too bright and basic, as I used the colors straight out of the tube. I tried to pick slightly different shades of the primary colors, but I feel like only the blue looked terribly unusual, but this was because the blue also was directly on the wood and it was tinted a bit by this. It would've been even worse if I used primer on the board beforehand like I had planned. I sometimes wonder what it would've been like if I mixed up a variety of colors and didn't just work in a triad like Pollock, but I also feel like that'd be much riskier and that I could've put together colors that just don't work together.
As previously mentioned, this piece is inspired by Jackson Pollock's work, specifically "Number 12" and "Number 17", in that they are both on fiber board. However, unlike mine they both have a considerable amount of board showing through, whereas I made an effort to cover most of it while still letting a bit show through. I have the layering of a few colors the way his pieces do, however my colors are very solid and unmixed, whereas his are very unique and mixed paints. I used only three hues, the way he does in "Number 17", but "Number 12" has many colors all layered upon each other. We also differed in terms of technique: Pollock used his signature drip method, whereas I applied my boots coated in paint to the board. This came with a large elemental difference: my boots did not make line, unlike his drips. However, the idea of movement and abstract expressionism is key to both of our pieces as forms of self expression of difficult emotions.
As previously mentioned, this piece is inspired by Jackson Pollock's work, specifically "Number 12" and "Number 17", in that they are both on fiber board. However, unlike mine they both have a considerable amount of board showing through, whereas I made an effort to cover most of it while still letting a bit show through. I have the layering of a few colors the way his pieces do, however my colors are very solid and unmixed, whereas his are very unique and mixed paints. I used only three hues, the way he does in "Number 17", but "Number 12" has many colors all layered upon each other. We also differed in terms of technique: Pollock used his signature drip method, whereas I applied my boots coated in paint to the board. This came with a large elemental difference: my boots did not make line, unlike his drips. However, the idea of movement and abstract expressionism is key to both of our pieces as forms of self expression of difficult emotions.
ACT Responses
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect on upon your artwork.
The inspiration led me to add paint to my fiberboard in an unconventional way, as well as make something that is meant to convey my headspace.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
That Jackson Pollock was extremely influential and revolutionary, especially for his time. They also consider him a pioneer of abstract expressionism.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc while you researched your inspiration?
That people seem to either really like Jackson Pollock or really dislike Jackson Pollock. Opinions on his art is very divided.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
What went into his paintings, including the physical objects and the emotional aspects.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
That the idea that art should or shouldn't be technical skill based is very controversial, and is debated highly, with Jackson Pollock cited on both sides. Many believe there should be an inherent amount of needed skill for something to be art, others feel that the intention behind it is what makes it art.
The inspiration led me to add paint to my fiberboard in an unconventional way, as well as make something that is meant to convey my headspace.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
That Jackson Pollock was extremely influential and revolutionary, especially for his time. They also consider him a pioneer of abstract expressionism.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc while you researched your inspiration?
That people seem to either really like Jackson Pollock or really dislike Jackson Pollock. Opinions on his art is very divided.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
What went into his paintings, including the physical objects and the emotional aspects.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
That the idea that art should or shouldn't be technical skill based is very controversial, and is debated highly, with Jackson Pollock cited on both sides. Many believe there should be an inherent amount of needed skill for something to be art, others feel that the intention behind it is what makes it art.
Sources
https://www.wikiart.org/en/jackson-pollock/number-12-1949
https://www.wikiart.org/en/jackson-pollock/number-17-1949
https://www.moma.org/artists/4675
https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/artist/jackson-pollock
https://www.biography.com/people/jackson-pollock-9443818
http://www.theartstory.org/artist-pollock-jackson.htm
https://youtu.be/oG45EoRh3Fo
https://www.wikiart.org/en/jackson-pollock/number-17-1949
https://www.moma.org/artists/4675
https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/artist/jackson-pollock
https://www.biography.com/people/jackson-pollock-9443818
http://www.theartstory.org/artist-pollock-jackson.htm
https://youtu.be/oG45EoRh3Fo