:Exhibition: Portraying a dream of mine, Pink is a mixture of photography and digital artwork that merges reality and dream respectively. My piece was created via digital art programs photoshop and photopea, It is inspired by the works of George Rossidis and Charles Conder. This piece is meant to convey a feeling of warmth and happiness to the viewer, as this dream made me feel when I had it.
Title: Pink Size: 24x36 res170 (compressed to fit on website, 1/2 size) Medium: Digital manipulation Completion: November 2021 |
Self Reflective essay |
I scarcely ever dream, I sleep so hard that I more often blink and it's morning than dream. I wanted to focus on the last dream I had, it was almost a year ago but it has stuck with me and I remember it very clearly. I walked along a beach where the tide met the sand in a soft pink landscape. It was vivid, the sand was warm and impossibly soft and the sky seemed suspended in an endless sunset as the moon hung heavy in the sky. As I walked along, a pod of pink dolphins followed along side me, leaping carefree from the water. I sat in the warm water and one in particular came up to me, like a big puppy just wiggling in my lap and happy for the attention and in that moment I just felt so completely happy and safe. That dolphin I had just met moments ago loved me unconditionally, it really was just like a big dog. I sat and played with it and pet it for a long time, it's skin felt wet and almost rubbery and then we just sat in content silence until I woke up. This dream really made me feel like no matter what I would be okay and happy and loved, and that I was so deserving of being happy and loved and when I woke I nearly cried, I'd never felt this strongly about a dream before or since. I wanted to pick a memory of a time that was happy and special to me, and this dream was a big moment for me, it was like my body telling be that everything is going to be okay, and in that moment I really did feel that. Dogs or friendly animals with dog-like behavior in my dreams most often are indicative of an idealized future. I love dogs and I always have, but I've never been able to have one, so this idea of having a dog is strongly associated with myself growing up and moving out, finally being able to have that control over my life and independence and that happiness that comes with it. Dogs are just so trusting, they love unconditionally and they do not care about your shortcomings, and I feel like that is such a positive influence that I need to have in my life. I want this piece to really encapsulate the emotions and visuals of this dream, especially incorporating a lot of soft pink tones and the dolphins heavily throughout the piece. The moon being clearly present in the background was an important feature to incorporate, larger then it should be to symbolism the dream state and a dolphin bouncing it off it's nose in the background to give a whimsical vibe. It is very important that the dolphin be very clearly friendly in the viewer's eyes, wagging it's tail and being friendly. I wanted the photos of myself to have the face not be visible, focusing more on the feelings and the environment then myself. |
Inspiration
Upset Sunset by George Rossidis (left) and Bronte Beach by Charles Conder (right)
My first inspiration was George Rossidis, more specifically his piece Upset Sunset. Despite it's title, the colors are so soft and dreamlike, picked very purposely to convey an emotion to the viewer, which is something I wanted to incorporate into my piece. It also feels like the piece draws you to the bottom of the frame, to leave space for the swirling sky. My secondary inspiration was Bronte Beach by Charles Conder, this piece as well has soft colors, with a calming atmosphere. The figures are focused toward the bottom of the frame as the sky and sea separate to the top half of the painting. I felt it important to incorporate the colors and form from both above images.
My first inspiration was George Rossidis, more specifically his piece Upset Sunset. Despite it's title, the colors are so soft and dreamlike, picked very purposely to convey an emotion to the viewer, which is something I wanted to incorporate into my piece. It also feels like the piece draws you to the bottom of the frame, to leave space for the swirling sky. My secondary inspiration was Bronte Beach by Charles Conder, this piece as well has soft colors, with a calming atmosphere. The figures are focused toward the bottom of the frame as the sky and sea separate to the top half of the painting. I felt it important to incorporate the colors and form from both above images.
Process
I selected some photos of myself at the beach, the photo to the left is used in it's entirety in the collage and makes up the background of the piece. In the image above I selected only myself to transfer into the collage. In both photos my face is obscured, as I didn't want that to be a focus of the piece, but rather the emotion of the scene. I also picked photos taken on different days in which my outfit is different, this is representative of the way that one does not really visualize themselves in a solid way in dreams, since they are most commonly a first person perspective.
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It started with a rough version of what I wanted to do, the layout and composition are present in both this and the final product but this version looks rough and unrefined. Some important elements that caried over were the large moon and it's centering in the sky, as well as the three selfs and three dolphins in the foreground. Three is my favorite number but also gives the piece more balance as there is more to look at and there is a central focus with another on either side. There is also the pink tones clearly present throughout the scene to give a soft and calming feeling to the viewer. The dolphin is clearly happy, friendly, and excited, further adding to the soft and happy energy that this piece conveys. This concept originally included clouds but they were removed in favor of a clear sky with stars.
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Here, further into the process is where things are starting to come together. The photoshop work is done as well as the dolphins being added. The dolphins are more refined and they more clearly look cute and friendly. The dolphin is observed to be wagging it's tail like a dog throughout, and it's face is very sweet and loving. I wanted to merge photography and digital art predominantly in this piece, to highlight the mingling of dream and reality.
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Critique
Bronte Beach by Charles Conder (leftmost) Upset Sunset by George Rossidis (center) Pink by myself (rightmost)
Similarities
- There is clear inspiration in the colors featured in Upset Sunset to my final piece, and both retain a dreamlike pink atmosphere.
- The composition in Bronte Beach and Upset Sunset is also similar to my own, with similar balance between the lower half's figures and the beach, and the upper half's serene water and the sky to contrast the stillness of the sky with the rhythmic waves and the figures more unpredictable movement.
- Upset Sunset also features a light in the sky from a lamp that resembles the moon, it's placement and balance of the piece functions similarly to the moon in Pink.
Differences
- my piece's mix of fantasy and reality is different in look to that of my inspirations.
-The lower half of my piece is much more full then my inspirations, focusing more on the characters pictured then the entire scene in the way that the inspirations explore, especially Bronte Beach (Charles Conder) which takes more of an afar spectator perspective on the scene.
-Lastly my choice of media differs greatly, my inspirations used oil paints for their paintings but I used a mixture of photography and digital art to create a unique piece.
Similarities
- There is clear inspiration in the colors featured in Upset Sunset to my final piece, and both retain a dreamlike pink atmosphere.
- The composition in Bronte Beach and Upset Sunset is also similar to my own, with similar balance between the lower half's figures and the beach, and the upper half's serene water and the sky to contrast the stillness of the sky with the rhythmic waves and the figures more unpredictable movement.
- Upset Sunset also features a light in the sky from a lamp that resembles the moon, it's placement and balance of the piece functions similarly to the moon in Pink.
Differences
- my piece's mix of fantasy and reality is different in look to that of my inspirations.
-The lower half of my piece is much more full then my inspirations, focusing more on the characters pictured then the entire scene in the way that the inspirations explore, especially Bronte Beach (Charles Conder) which takes more of an afar spectator perspective on the scene.
-Lastly my choice of media differs greatly, my inspirations used oil paints for their paintings but I used a mixture of photography and digital art to create a unique piece.
Reflection
I wanted my piece to stand out in presentation and message and I think I was successful in that. Much of the work from previous years focused on something deeply personal to that person that was sad or traumatic, and while I do have events in my life that align with this I wanted to connect my piece to a strong positive emotion. This is an event in my life that made me feel very secure and safe and I feel that this comes across well. I made purposeful choices in composition, content, scene placement, and color to make the viewer feel at peace. I was excited, in this piece, to use a digital medium, since that is something that I am comfortable with and more experienced in, even if the program I used to edit the images was difficult to learn and I ended up returning to the more familiar art program I am used to to finish the illustration portion of the piece.
ACT Connection
1.) Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
My artistic inspirations were George Rossidis and Charles Conder. Their paintings Bronte Beach and Upset Sunset respectively were specifically drawn from for their unique use of pinks and purples of a dreamlike quality. The composition in these pieces with the moving figures focused on the lower half of the frame with the upper half being still and serene. I tried to transfer these concepts into Pink.
2.) What is the overall approach ( point of view ) the author ( from your research ) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The beach is an incredibly calming and serene place at sunset, somewhere you visit in your sunny days and good dreams.
3.) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I really enjoy the digital medium I used in this piece, digital is very forgiving and allows for a lot more creativity with a lot less supplies. I enjoy the features different brushes and the ability to do things physical mediums would not allow.
4.) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
This idea that a dream can make you can feel completely safe and secure like everything will be okay in life even if you're not there yet. Dreams are often influenced by life and the people in it.
5.) What kind of inferences ( conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning ) did you make while reading your research?
Art can really be anything, when people think of art they often think of paintings, but there are so many mediums to explore. This mixed media piece was interesting to explore and something new to me.
My artistic inspirations were George Rossidis and Charles Conder. Their paintings Bronte Beach and Upset Sunset respectively were specifically drawn from for their unique use of pinks and purples of a dreamlike quality. The composition in these pieces with the moving figures focused on the lower half of the frame with the upper half being still and serene. I tried to transfer these concepts into Pink.
2.) What is the overall approach ( point of view ) the author ( from your research ) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The beach is an incredibly calming and serene place at sunset, somewhere you visit in your sunny days and good dreams.
3.) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I really enjoy the digital medium I used in this piece, digital is very forgiving and allows for a lot more creativity with a lot less supplies. I enjoy the features different brushes and the ability to do things physical mediums would not allow.
4.) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
This idea that a dream can make you can feel completely safe and secure like everything will be okay in life even if you're not there yet. Dreams are often influenced by life and the people in it.
5.) What kind of inferences ( conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning ) did you make while reading your research?
Art can really be anything, when people think of art they often think of paintings, but there are so many mediums to explore. This mixed media piece was interesting to explore and something new to me.