Artwork: Mixed Media
Title: Keeping it Together
Size: 19 cm x 7.5 cm
Medium: Air dry clay, thread, doll stand
Completion: 2018, December
Exhibition Text
"Keeping it Together" was inspired by the artists Annegret Soltau and Lynn Skordal. "Keeping it Together" was created to show how it feels internally to feel stressed out. The air dry clay (Polyform Model Air) used to create the piece was bought as well as the thread. The thread itself represents the other emotions that come with being stressed. The red represents anger, the blue represents sadness, and the purple represents persisting through even though it is tough. With this piece I wanted every aspect of it to add something to the message behind the piece, this is why the body is disproportionate, why the clay was not smoothed, and why the thread overlap each other and look messy.
The overall goal of the piece was to be unpleasant to the eye.
The overall goal of the piece was to be unpleasant to the eye.
Inspiration
Lynn Skordal, "Stitched Medical diagram", embroidery piece
|
Lynn Skordal's work are meant to shock/strarlte the viewer by her use of images. She often uses images from old newspapers, magazines, and books and mixes them with images that originate from now. She often pairs images that arent meant to go together to tell stories.
I chose this piece to use as inspiration because of the contrast between the background and the thread. The focus of the piece isn't on the background of the piece and words it's on the threads. I wanted to include a great amount of contrast in piece, I decided that the colors would be in the actual sculpture and the background would be something simple. As well when I was younger I used to sew so I already had some idea how to use needle and thread. |
Annegret Soltau, "Self Identity", mixed media piece
|
Annegret Soltau is credited with being an important reference of the feminist movement in the 70's and 80's. Her works often question the way society is and woman's identity. This piece was one of the first pieces she completed with needle and thread.
What I liked about the piece was the not only the meaning behind it, but also how your attention is drawn to the computer chip and the thread, not the face. I wanted to create the same thing with my piece. For my piece I wanted the face to be noticed but not be the main focal point. |
Planning Sketches
with my first sketch I wanted to figure out the basics of what I wanted to do so that I could base my next to sketches off of that. With this first sketch I wanted all of the attention to be on the threads so there is no face, asleep the clay was going to be smoothed. However I feel like this sketch isn’t close enough to my inspiration so I didn’t end up using it.
|
this sketch I wanted to try a different position of the body, I wanted the position of the body to greatly contrast the chaotic manner on the threads. As well I wanted to use the threads to make the body like it had been sewn together. However I didn’t use this idea because the main focus is supposte to be on the threads in the middle. As well for this sketch I knew I wanted to put something on the face that would be noticeable and shock true viewer but not be the main focus.
|
my last and final sketch is a combination of the first and second sketch. However it was with this sketch that I decided to go with the rough looking clay instead of smoothing it out. For the picture on the face I didn’t know what exactly what I wanted to put there, but I had some ideas as to what I was going to do.
|
Experimentation
Original I wanted the clay to be a sickly looking skin color. So my experimentation was trying to figure out how to make a skin tone and then how to apply the color to the clay.
I started by mixing three colors, White, Sunny Yellow, and Red. I used more white and yellow because I knew that if there is a lot of red it will make the paint a more pink skin color. After I mixed the colors together I ended up with a very yellow color, so I added some Brown and Orange. I still was not happy with the color because I wanted it to look like an inhuman color. To deepen the tone I added more brown and little bit of yellow so that it would balance out the darkness of the brown. After I mixed the paint I ended up with this color, I wanted it to be even darker so I added more brown and red, I added the red so that the color would have an interesting undertone. This was the color that I ended up with, after this the next step was to figure out how to apply the paint to the clay. I used a number 8 paintbrush and applied small amounts of the paint to the clay. After the paint was on the clay I began folding the clay over itself the spread the color around all of the clay. After repeating the previous step multiple times I ended up with this. I learned that if I wanted to change the color of the clay this way I would have to use a lot more paint then I had made. I decided that if I was going to paint the clay I would paint it after the Clay dried. |
Process
Making the Body
For structural purposes I had to add a piece of clay to the back so that it would be able to support the weight of the head and neck. However also I didn't really like how it looked when you were able to see completely through it.
As well this better allowed me to take a picture of the final piece with a black background, if I didn't add the back piece on it would have made it even harder to see the thread in the inside. |
I then created the arms, I did this by taking some clay and rolling it into a long cylinder. After I was happy with the shape of it I pinched the end of the cylinder two times to create the fingers. I attached the arms to the body by using two broken pieces of toothpicks.
The last thing I had to do to create the body was make legs. When I was making the legs I didn't really know how I wanted them to look. I created the legs by rolling two large pieces of cay to a long cylinder. I then bent the ends to create the feet. I connected the legs to the torso by using three broken toothpicks for each leg. Change 1After the critique it was suggested that I put the sculpture on a doll stand. In order for this to happen I needed to construct new legs because the original were bent and meant for a sitting position.
I constructed the legs the same way as I did in the previous step however I kept them straight. |
Needle and Thread and Adding the Picture to the Face
I wanted the thread to look as if it was all coming from the same spot. In order to achieve this look I started the thread on the back of the piece. Aslo because I used sewing thread I had to use multiple pieces of thread in order for it to be seen.
Change 2Instead of using a needle and thread I wrapped the thread which allowed the process to go faster but also allowed the thread to be seen more.
I added more thread because the thread on the original piece didn't convey the message behind the piece. Were as having hundreds of strings that are messily put together do. |
Change 3After I was satisfied with the amount of thread around the torso I placed the sculpture in the doll stand. Next I used more thread and wrapped it around the legs, neck, and head to connect the sculpture to the stand, I did this because the name of the piece is "Keeping it Together" and by connecting the legs to the stand it gives the piece a literal meaning.
|
When creating the face I wanted the smile to be the biggest feature of the face. This part of the piece was heavily inspired by the work from Lynn Skordal who often puts images together that were not meant to be together. To create this image of a face I used pictures of myself and one picture I took of someone else.
|
Reflection
Overall I am happy with how the piece turned out, especially because each aspect of the piece adds to the meaning of it. The messiness and rough edges of the piece combined with the neatness of the threads allows the piece to feel chaotic yet calm and collected at the same time. The completed piece tells a story that will differ depending on the viewer.
If I were to do this again I would make the piece itself bigger, and add more strings. By adding more strings it would have added to the idea of chaos. As well the piece would not look as empty as it does, this would mean that there was no need for the whole in the torso.
A change that I would make would be to use a thicker thread, like embroidery thread. When looking at the piece it is kind of hard to see the thread I used because it is so thin, however because I did use the thin thread it made it easier to get it through the clay.
If I were to do this again I would make the piece itself bigger, and add more strings. By adding more strings it would have added to the idea of chaos. As well the piece would not look as empty as it does, this would mean that there was no need for the whole in the torso.
A change that I would make would be to use a thicker thread, like embroidery thread. When looking at the piece it is kind of hard to see the thread I used because it is so thin, however because I did use the thin thread it made it easier to get it through the clay.
Keeping it Together" and "Stitched Medical Diagram"
Similarity: Both pieces use thread to put emphasis on certain parts on the pieces. As well both pieces feature the human form.
Difference: "Keeping it Together" focuses on internal feelings and thoughts, were as "Stitched Medical Diagram" focuses on the physical inside(veins) on humans.
"Keeping it Together" and "Self Identity"
Similarity: Both pieces have a different message/meaning behind it depending on who is viewing the work.
Difference: "Self Identity" criticizes society and the treatment of woman, where as " Keeping it Together" focuses more on emotions. Both pieces have a meaning/message however these messages vary from each other.
Reflection After the Changes |
After changing some aspects of the piece as well as adding some I believe that the overall piece improved. The changes allow for the piece to better convey the message behind it, which is bottling your feelings up as if nothing is wrong.
I also learned the importance of taking others ideas and critiques into consideration because they are able to see your piece from an outside perspective whereas your viewpoint is limited,
Overall I believe that the look of the piece improved as well as the message behind it.
I also learned the importance of taking others ideas and critiques into consideration because they are able to see your piece from an outside perspective whereas your viewpoint is limited,
Overall I believe that the look of the piece improved as well as the message behind it.
Act Response
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
My inspiration focuses on contrast in the piece it self, but also conveying s strong message that many people can relate too which influenced the meaning of my piece, but also what I wanted to show through my piece.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
It is not necessary to have a realistic looking person. Things such as line, color, and value can portray emotions just as well as a face.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Everyone has expierced life differently which means that they will react differently to pieces of art. This is why art is important because it allows people to share their experiences.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
A central idea/theme of my research was human emotions, and how these can be portrayed without any realistic aspects.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Humans are always reacting to the world around them, some of these emotions are easier to distinguish apart from each other. However it is not always simple to recognize how we feel.
My inspiration focuses on contrast in the piece it self, but also conveying s strong message that many people can relate too which influenced the meaning of my piece, but also what I wanted to show through my piece.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
It is not necessary to have a realistic looking person. Things such as line, color, and value can portray emotions just as well as a face.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Everyone has expierced life differently which means that they will react differently to pieces of art. This is why art is important because it allows people to share their experiences.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
A central idea/theme of my research was human emotions, and how these can be portrayed without any realistic aspects.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Humans are always reacting to the world around them, some of these emotions are easier to distinguish apart from each other. However it is not always simple to recognize how we feel.
Bibliography
“About.” Some Paperwork by Lynn Skordal, lynnskordal.paspartout.com/pages/about.
Annegret SOLTAU Biography.” Richard Saltoun, www.richardsaltoun.com/artists/233-annegret-soltau/biography/.
Annegret SOLTAU Biography.” Richard Saltoun, www.richardsaltoun.com/artists/233-annegret-soltau/biography/.