Broken Record
Inspiration and Background
- For this project I knew I didn't want to just paint on paper it canvas, also because at this current moment I do not have any extra unused canvases. I was having a hard time deciding whether I wanted to use one of my records that I don't listen to, or a slice of wood, I obviously chose the wood, since I couldn't bare to part with any of my records.
- For the imagery, it was somewhat random, yet perfect. My father had gotten me roses for a holiday, and I had them on my desk for a while, and never really wanted to throw them out. I eventually did, but I took some pictures of them before I threw them out. I really loved one of the pictures and thought that would work well for this project. I also decided on Broken Record for the title since the piece of wood had some large splits in it. I also really wanted to use the record idea since wood has the age rings, which could be the ridges on records. - I chose to paint roses on the wood because I wanted to make something representing Aphrodite, the goddess of love and peace. I wanted to honor her because I think that's exactly what we need more of in the world right now, and I haven't really made anything for her in a while. Roses are her main flowers, and I think the dying aspect of the roses I painted show that we need to take more care of ourselves and others, show some love and compassion, and hopefully we'll be back to blooming, and healthier than ever. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmymodernmet.com%2Fvinyl-art-landscape-paintings-feliks-kaparchuk%2F&psig=AOvVaw3EFQUHBR2oTZ4ijwm83Qen&ust=1600437335327000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCNDy1eqr8OsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE |
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Process and Sketches
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The very first part of this was figuring out what I wanted on the piece of wood. I previously described this process, how I decided that I wanted the flowers my father had given me. Once I had that I had to sketch it onto the wood. Looking back I wish I had taken the time to sand the surface of the wood. If I would have I would have had a much easier time painting the wood.
- When I was sketching, I just tried to get the basic shapes and lines. I messed up a couple times and had to redo some flowers, but I eventually got a sketch that I liked. I tried to get the creases and lines of each petal to make it easier for myself when I was putting the color on. |
- What I did next was apply a base layer of just white paint over the area that the flowers were going. I did this so when I applied the yellow and the orange paint they would have a background that would help the colors pop out better. The yellows and oranges needed this since they were so light and opaque, the reds and browns didn't really need the white base since they are much darker, but it was still good to have the base there. The white was applied in one layer, and it was thick enough to coat it well, but thin enough to where I could still see the lines that I sketched.
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- The next step was to actually start painting the image. I started by painting the main colors and blending them all together. I laid out the basic colors and large shading parts. all the yellows, oranges and reds were on there. Then from there I took red and a thin paintbrush and made all the lines and differentiate the petals.
- Once I had the overall colors and lines I started to add some details and shadows. I mainly used reds and browns to do this. The mix of the colors made the natural and matching deep points. I focused on one flower at a time and tried to get all the darker parts down before I did the highlights, which I know is somewhat backwards from what others normally do, but it worked for me. Once I had the shadows how I liked them I moved onto the highlights. I used white and yellow for all of them. Adding what I needed to the tops of each rose petal.
- Once I had all the flowers done I started to work on the leaves. I put a base of dark green, made by mixing a lot a green, and a little black and brown. I applied this to all the areas where leaves were to go. Once I had the background I worked on each leaf individually. I started by using a slightly lighter green, made my mixing in a bit of white and yellow, to outline where the leaf was and the veins of the leaf. Then I added the highlights on the leaf by mixing a lighter shade of green. Once I had the highlights I went back in and added more of the low-lights and shadows with that original dark green. By the end I noticed some of the highlights were a little too white for my liking so I went over with a wash of that dark green. To add the final touch to the leaves I went in with a mix of yellow, brown and green to add the dried out edges of the leaves.
- Throughout the painting process I would take breaks and add the black lines around the rings of the wood. I just used my thin paintbrush and black paint for this. I followed the lines of the wood since they were already there and pretty dark as it was. I decided to only do a couple rings since I ended up liking the look of that better than covering every ring.
- Once I had the overall colors and lines I started to add some details and shadows. I mainly used reds and browns to do this. The mix of the colors made the natural and matching deep points. I focused on one flower at a time and tried to get all the darker parts down before I did the highlights, which I know is somewhat backwards from what others normally do, but it worked for me. Once I had the shadows how I liked them I moved onto the highlights. I used white and yellow for all of them. Adding what I needed to the tops of each rose petal.
- Once I had all the flowers done I started to work on the leaves. I put a base of dark green, made by mixing a lot a green, and a little black and brown. I applied this to all the areas where leaves were to go. Once I had the background I worked on each leaf individually. I started by using a slightly lighter green, made my mixing in a bit of white and yellow, to outline where the leaf was and the veins of the leaf. Then I added the highlights on the leaf by mixing a lighter shade of green. Once I had the highlights I went back in and added more of the low-lights and shadows with that original dark green. By the end I noticed some of the highlights were a little too white for my liking so I went over with a wash of that dark green. To add the final touch to the leaves I went in with a mix of yellow, brown and green to add the dried out edges of the leaves.
- Throughout the painting process I would take breaks and add the black lines around the rings of the wood. I just used my thin paintbrush and black paint for this. I followed the lines of the wood since they were already there and pretty dark as it was. I decided to only do a couple rings since I ended up liking the look of that better than covering every ring.
Reflection
- This project is very different from what I normally do, although many of the projects in this portfolio were out of my comfort zone. This project was one of my favorites though! I really liked using the wood as my canvas rather than a piece of paper or a regular canvas. The main thing I wish I would have done before I started painting was that I wish I sanded the surface of thr wood. It was fine painting on how it was, but if I would have sanded it, it would have been so much easier. Though I do like the look that the waves and ridges of the wood give the overall piece.
ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
- The main similarity is the the record idea. I played into the affect of the wood rings and the grooves of a record, that's the main cause-effect.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
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What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
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What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
- My central idea was love and peace. We truly need more of that in our world, I know we've been fighting for it for a while, but we're getting to a breaking point, and we really need something to change. Having more love and peace in the world won't solve all of our problems, but it can help us unite to solve so problems. We need to accept each other for whoever we are, whatever we want to be.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
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- The main similarity is the the record idea. I played into the affect of the wood rings and the grooves of a record, that's the main cause-effect.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
-
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
---
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
- My central idea was love and peace. We truly need more of that in our world, I know we've been fighting for it for a while, but we're getting to a breaking point, and we really need something to change. Having more love and peace in the world won't solve all of our problems, but it can help us unite to solve so problems. We need to accept each other for whoever we are, whatever we want to be.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
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