Triptych
Maiden, Mother, Crone
Tryptic
(Measurement)
December 2019
Exhibition Text
"Maiden, Mother, Crone" is based off of the Wiccan symbol with the same name. The symbol represents the three aspects of the Goddess. The images in my piece all are apart of each aspect. The herbs, holidays, sun position and symbol of each.
Tryptic
(Measurement)
December 2019
Exhibition Text
"Maiden, Mother, Crone" is based off of the Wiccan symbol with the same name. The symbol represents the three aspects of the Goddess. The images in my piece all are apart of each aspect. The herbs, holidays, sun position and symbol of each.
Planning
Inspiration
My inspiration for these paintings were Art Nouveau and Tarot, specifically Giorgio de Chirico. Art Nouveau is very busy yet delicate at the same time. Paintings in that style hold a lot of story and information, like the images on a tarot card. Tarot ties into my theme as well, spirituality. I've been wanting to make a piece inspired by tarot for a while now, the meanings and beauty of each card has always drawn me to them. Both Art Nouveau and tarot connected best to my idea of Maiden, Mother, and Crone, three aspects of the Goddess. I thought that this would be the perfect project to use those two inspirations and put them together.
(Click to enlarge and for citation)
My inspiration for these paintings were Art Nouveau and Tarot, specifically Giorgio de Chirico. Art Nouveau is very busy yet delicate at the same time. Paintings in that style hold a lot of story and information, like the images on a tarot card. Tarot ties into my theme as well, spirituality. I've been wanting to make a piece inspired by tarot for a while now, the meanings and beauty of each card has always drawn me to them. Both Art Nouveau and tarot connected best to my idea of Maiden, Mother, and Crone, three aspects of the Goddess. I thought that this would be the perfect project to use those two inspirations and put them together.
(Click to enlarge and for citation)
Sketches and Research
Research
When I was starting to figure out what I wanted to do for this project I was having a bit of a hard time. I was trying to think of what could be three separate stories that could be put together into one and make sense. I was thinking of a lot of stuff and nothing was working, until I remembered, Maiden, Mother, Crone, or Triple Goddess. These are the three aspects of the Goddess. This is represented by the Waxing, Full, and Waning Moon, like in the second photo below. The Triple Goddess represents the terms of a woman's life, in relation to having a child. Before is the Maiden, during is the Mother, and after is the Crone.
(Click images to enlarge)
When I was starting to figure out what I wanted to do for this project I was having a bit of a hard time. I was trying to think of what could be three separate stories that could be put together into one and make sense. I was thinking of a lot of stuff and nothing was working, until I remembered, Maiden, Mother, Crone, or Triple Goddess. These are the three aspects of the Goddess. This is represented by the Waxing, Full, and Waning Moon, like in the second photo below. The Triple Goddess represents the terms of a woman's life, in relation to having a child. Before is the Maiden, during is the Mother, and after is the Crone.
- The Maiden
- Waxing Moon
- Younger Self
- Growth, Beauty, Independance, Potential
- Dawn, Sunrise, and Spring
- Greek: Artemis and Persephone, Celtic: Rhiannon
- The Mother
- Full Moon
- Mature Self
- Nurturing, Responsible, Adulthood
- Midday, and Summer
- Greek: Selene and Demeter, Celtic: Danu and Badb, Welsh: Arianrhod
- The Crone
- Waning Moon
- Wise Elder
- End of Growth, Winding Down, Death,
- Fall and Winter, Sunsets and Night
- Greek: Hecate, Celtic: Morrigan
(Click images to enlarge)
Process
Experimentation
On my second canvas, the mother, I had originally used a more periwinkle color, but that with the dark cobalt shade of blue didn't have the effect I wanted, I wanted more of a pop, like the Maiden/pink canvas. Another trial was on the Crone/red canvas, I wasn't sure whether to use a purple-maroon or a red for the background, ultimately I chose to use a red and the brighter blue.
Process/Steps
On my second canvas, the mother, I had originally used a more periwinkle color, but that with the dark cobalt shade of blue didn't have the effect I wanted, I wanted more of a pop, like the Maiden/pink canvas. Another trial was on the Crone/red canvas, I wasn't sure whether to use a purple-maroon or a red for the background, ultimately I chose to use a red and the brighter blue.
Process/Steps
- The first thing I did for this project was stretching and gessoing my canvases. During my study hall I stretched all three canvases, I put together three wooden frames and stapled the canvas tightly. Once I had all the canvas on I put a layer of gesso on each canvas, front, sides and over the back by the staples. Then I let that dry for a day or so.
- Once the canvases were dry I took them home and started planning. On the three I took a pencil, ruler and some bowls and laid out the large moon in the center, the four circles in the corner, and the framing lines on each.
- Now that I had everything laid out I painted white in all the circles and the base colors on each canvas. the first was the lighter and darker pink. The second was the periwinkle blue and the dark blue, and the last was red and a maroon red.
- Now that I had the colors on them I started to paint the moons. On the first I kept the white, I did a second layer of that, then I used a light grey to create the darker areas of the moon. On the second I used the light grey as the background of the moon and grey for the dark spots, and the last I used black as the background and white as the darker/lighter areas.
- Once I had the moons painted I put another layer of the base/background colors on each canvas and made the lines clean.
- After everything was clean I sketched out the faces that would eventually go on each moon. Once they were sketched I filled in the lines with white to have a clean even layer to paint the faces.
- Now that I was ready to paint the faces, I mixed a skin tone, I used a similar one for each face since my mom, grandma and I have a similar skin tone. Once I had the color I painted it on each face.
- Now that I had skin painted I focused on the details of each face and the hair. Once I finished that I could start on the rest of the canvas, the rest of the detail.
- The colors I used for the skin tone are a little brown, yellow, a touch of red and a lot of white. For my hair I used a brown, it is a bit of a lighter brown, a little yellow and red. I painted that on in the shape of how my hair would sit. After that I used the leftover hair color and mixed it with some white and yellow and used that to create the details and highlights in my hair. After my hair I painted my facial features, my lips eyes, blush and glasses. I also painted the high and low points of my face.
- For my mom I mixed a lot of yellow and white and a slight touch of brown for her hair and painted that on. I used white and brown for the different tones in her hair. After her hair I painted her facial features, the highs, lows, blush and eyes.
- I did the same thing for my grandma as I did for my mom, just a little more white in the hair.
(Click to enlarge)
Reflection
My project directly reflects my theme and inspiration. I used Art Nouveau with the basic layout of the canvases and the similar colors used. On each canvas I had the large framing bars going around the canvas, four smaller circles in each corner to hold a symbol, and a large circle in the center with the portrait. My project is entirely Maiden, Mother, Crone, Every detail, the color, symbols and who is in the center is entirely the Triple Goddess. I picked specific goddesses for each canvas and I used their colors and symbols to adorne the piece. With the quality of my work, I think the first two canvases got the best of it, then the last one it kind of ran out. If I could I would touch up some spots overall and clean up the lines.
ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
My inspiration is all over my work, my work is a blend of Maiden, Mother, Crone and Art Nouveau. Like I said in my reflection, My work is adorned with different aspects and symbols of the Triple Goddess.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
In my research, I mainly used a Scott Cunningham book and a trusted online site, it was all research based and focused on educating the reader. I have used both in personal work and have really been inspired by the ideas and topics in both.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
People look up to others, gods, goddesses, etc. and deny the fact of aging and try to forget that it's a natural occurrence.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I think the central theme of my research is identity and life, which is what most of my work and research revolves around, it all is interconnected and leads to each other in some way.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I really didn't make any, a lot of the information was straightforward and easy to connect to my project.
My inspiration is all over my work, my work is a blend of Maiden, Mother, Crone and Art Nouveau. Like I said in my reflection, My work is adorned with different aspects and symbols of the Triple Goddess.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
In my research, I mainly used a Scott Cunningham book and a trusted online site, it was all research based and focused on educating the reader. I have used both in personal work and have really been inspired by the ideas and topics in both.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
People look up to others, gods, goddesses, etc. and deny the fact of aging and try to forget that it's a natural occurrence.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I think the central theme of my research is identity and life, which is what most of my work and research revolves around, it all is interconnected and leads to each other in some way.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I really didn't make any, a lot of the information was straightforward and easy to connect to my project.
Bibliography
Cunningham, Scott. Wicca: a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. Llewellyn Publications, 2004.