EXHIBITION Dive explores the relationship between the natural world and the world of technological advancement. At first glance they seen as different as can be, but several aspects tie them together in this painting. My piece was completed using acrylic paint on canvas. Inspired by Terry Gilecki, who captures serine scenes of koi fish in motion.
Title: Dive Size: 3 feet by 3 feet Medium: acrylic paint Completion: December 8th, 2021 |
Inspiration
Terry Gilecki - living art (left) absorbed by the light (right) My piece draws inspiration from Terry Gilecki, who paints a lot of scenes of koi fish. In his many paintings of these fish his goal was to emulate the pleasure of watching them. This work is very visually appealing, there is a serenity in these pieces that is very striking as well as the beautiful fish. For my piece I wanted to incorporate a similar fish as well as feeling of watching something, as though the painting tricks you into feeling like you are watching something in motion. The motion in my piece is both physical, in the way the fish is diving down and the water is splashing up as well as in a less literal way the movement of time as the scene moves into space. |
Process
Starting with a general digital sketch, I projected it onto the canvas and traced on the shapes. I wanted to make the separation of the canvas non-linear and really work with this diptych idea of showing two related but different scenes and trying to tell a story. I wanted to combine the natural, earthy and bright scene with the dim space and shiny dull spaceship. I wanted the fish to fade into the spaceship fish to show that even though these scenes are so different and so far away that human progression draws from natural roots. that advancement is inspired by existing knowledge. I started the painting by putting down the main background colors, a light blue in the sky and a deep blue and black for space.
Here we can see the idea starting to come together, the color of the fish is bright fading into plain, shiny metal. The form of the fish has downward movement as nature plunges forward into technological advancement. The sun up top parallels the moon below. The clouds are fluffy and have clear depth in the final piece, and the fish also has clear shading. the stars on the lower half really make it stand out to the viewer. |
Critique
Living Art by Terry Gilecki (left) Dive (center) Absorbed by the Light by Terry Gilecki (right)
Differences include
-My piece is a diptych when my inspiration is not, this is relevant because the intention of my piece noticeably differs from that of Gilecki's work. Dive is focusing on a larger theme of nature and technological advancement while Gilecki's work is more simple in themes and focuses more on serenity and calmness.
-Since Dive has a lot more in terms of themes, it also has more going on visually, including a lot of motion, like the fish diving and the water splashing up. However, all of Gilecki's work of koi fish is very calm, the water is stagnant, and the fish's movement is slow.
-Perspective is another differing factor. Gilecki's work is a top-down view of the fish with the rocks and sand below, while Dive is a side profile that shows the sky.
Similarities include
-There is a focus on koi fish in both Dive and it's inspired pieces. Their movement is elegant and their forms are similar in color and shape.
-There is also a large importance placed on water in all these pieces, it is an integral part of the piece, and is the second point of attention in the scene.
-I wanted to clearly try to dull down the colors on the fish, so that it would look more natural and earthy. This made the fish look more similar to the fish I was inspired by.
Differences include
-My piece is a diptych when my inspiration is not, this is relevant because the intention of my piece noticeably differs from that of Gilecki's work. Dive is focusing on a larger theme of nature and technological advancement while Gilecki's work is more simple in themes and focuses more on serenity and calmness.
-Since Dive has a lot more in terms of themes, it also has more going on visually, including a lot of motion, like the fish diving and the water splashing up. However, all of Gilecki's work of koi fish is very calm, the water is stagnant, and the fish's movement is slow.
-Perspective is another differing factor. Gilecki's work is a top-down view of the fish with the rocks and sand below, while Dive is a side profile that shows the sky.
Similarities include
-There is a focus on koi fish in both Dive and it's inspired pieces. Their movement is elegant and their forms are similar in color and shape.
-There is also a large importance placed on water in all these pieces, it is an integral part of the piece, and is the second point of attention in the scene.
-I wanted to clearly try to dull down the colors on the fish, so that it would look more natural and earthy. This made the fish look more similar to the fish I was inspired by.
Reflection
I am really interested by environmental sciences and the way in which nature and technology can coexist, and I knew that I wanted to use that as the main concept for this work.
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 artist of inspiration is Terry Gilecki. His works are mostly of koi fish in a serene and calm scene, and capture the feeling of watching. I tried to capture those same aspects in my own work, with the koi fish diving and the outside perspective of watching the scene.
2.) What is the overall approach ( point of view ) the author ( from your research ) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The feeling of being in the moment and watching is something that can be captured in art. Art doesn't necessarily have to be new and different ground from all of your other works.
3.) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I enjoyed working with acrylic paints, they are a lot more expressive then I had expected. I liked the way they looked on the canvas and felt to mix and apply and I look forward to using them again in the future.
4.) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
Nature and technological advancement are often thought of as opposites and enemies, but I wanted to present them as complimentary and naturally flowing into one another. I look forward to an optimistic future where they do, and I have a strong interest in environmental sciences and how nature and technological advancement can be codependent.
5.) What kind of inferences ( conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning ) did you make while reading your research?
Technique when painting can change the end result drastically. Depending on how you mix the paint and if the brush is dry and weather or not the canvas already has wet paint will determine a different result.
My artist of inspiration is Terry Gilecki. His works are mostly of koi fish in a serene and calm scene, and capture the feeling of watching. I tried to capture those same aspects in my own work, with the koi fish diving and the outside perspective of watching the scene.
2.) What is the overall approach ( point of view ) the author ( from your research ) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The feeling of being in the moment and watching is something that can be captured in art. Art doesn't necessarily have to be new and different ground from all of your other works.
3.) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I enjoyed working with acrylic paints, they are a lot more expressive then I had expected. I liked the way they looked on the canvas and felt to mix and apply and I look forward to using them again in the future.
4.) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
Nature and technological advancement are often thought of as opposites and enemies, but I wanted to present them as complimentary and naturally flowing into one another. I look forward to an optimistic future where they do, and I have a strong interest in environmental sciences and how nature and technological advancement can be codependent.
5.) What kind of inferences ( conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning ) did you make while reading your research?
Technique when painting can change the end result drastically. Depending on how you mix the paint and if the brush is dry and weather or not the canvas already has wet paint will determine a different result.