Year 2 | Jax Groll

Step 1: Topic: Bust of Danielle with Butterfly tattoos- Mixed Media Piece- Photography (photoshop) with butterfly “tattoo’s” created out of acrylic or oil on top.

*Concept came from this thought:

When a butterfly dies their bodies do not decompose, they remain in their natural state of beauty forever.

Similar to artist Damien Hirst, my family and I share this love for butterflies. To us, a butterfly symbolizes beauty, life and faith. When a butterfly flutters by, it is a sign to never give up and that a loved one is near and will stand by you every step of the way.

The year was 2011, and the month was January. That was around the time that the truth behind my family secret would be revealed. It began with the realization that my grandfather that i’ve known my entire life, was not my biological grandfather, and that I had another aunt that my mother had no recollection of. Once the truth behind this information was revealed things began to change. My grandfather otherwise known as gaga, went from a warm dominant figure in my life, to a distant memory of one. My aunts began treating me like an outsider, and my grandmother started to isolate my family and I from all of the high holiday events. I remember her saying, “It is what’s best for the family at this time, but we can come over for dessert afterwards if you want?” “I did not want dessert” I replied, “I wanted dinner.”

Aside from the negative effect of losing the love from a few of my family members, one of the most beautiful, loving, spiritual, intelligent, wise, and caring women I have ever met just entered my life. She was my butterfly. If it wasn’t for this incident, I would have never met the most inspirational person and for that I am grateful it happened. Danielle has taught my family and I so much about appreciating every moment that you live, and to follow your hopes and dreams. She has gone through hell and back, and still completes the day with her high heels on. When I met my Uncle Marc and Aunt Danielle, Danielle taught me about her philosophy behind butterflies, and how they represent good energy and that her grandmother (who is also my mother’s grandmother) is near. Within that moment I told her, “you are my butterfly.”

The day before I left for New York I decided that I wanted to mark myself with something that would always remind me of my aunt and how she never gives up. That is why I went against my families so called “old religious beliefs” and tattooed a symplicit butterfly upon my foot. It symbolizes that no matter what I will always have a family member by my side every step of the way throughout my journey in life.

Step 2: Materials: Photography on Canvas/ Photography transfer on paper. Oil or Acrylic painting of butterflies on photography piece (Replicating tattoo perception)

-Example Artist/ Process/Inspiration:

-Inspiration:

-Colors/ Setup: Natural Lighting- Photograph of aunt. Debating on back ground of canvas/paper being black or white. Than in photoshop I will edit her to look like a bust, as well as do a few touch ups and go over things. Next I have to test whether I like the subject with black or white background (this depends on the mood I am going for. *Am i looking for a deep and dark thought or a white light nervous perception* (I am leaning more towards the white, because of the history behind the piece being a touchy subject and nervous and still slightly hidden. I am choosing natural lighting because I have always done my pieces in natural light and to continue this pattern I am going to do this. I am going to test out transferring the image on paper and canvas with acetone and majepaje etc. If all fails with that Than I will print out the image directly onto a canvas. Than I will cure the canvas/ paper in order to paint on top of the piece. Next I will paint butterflies on the bust figure of my aunt. In order to replicate the idea of tattoos. The tattoos will be painted in either oil or acrylic. As for colors, they will either be in warm and cool greys depending on the area the tattoo is in, or I will use symbolic colors such as blue, purple, pink, black and white. Blue and purple represent the colors I identify with as my self and so does my aunt, pink (to demonstrate the cliche of a women) and black and white to represent the tones we wear and how life can be seen either in light or darkness.

Final Result:

For my project, I based it off of my walk in Times Square. I chose this walk in particular, because of the prominent experience i had. I noticed my ADHD at an all time high, my colorblindness at full effect, which all lead to an overflow of anxiety. To demonstrate these disabilities, also Marcel Van Eeden’s piece, I decided to approach the project in a more symbolic form. I wanted to touch on times squares main purposes which are food, lights, shows and disorganization. To begin, I chose to have the entire piece in black and white to represent how dogs are color blind (as well as relate it to Marvel Van Eeden’s piece), except for the corner piece. The corner piece, is of two puzzle pieces. The larger one is intended to represent me and the color that happens to be my favorite yet hardest to identify. The smaller puzzle piece is rainbow sparkle, to represent the multiple colors in times square, also the people in that location. Next I chose to have the plays represent my life according the most relevant instances. Such as, ‘Kinky Boots’ (For my experience when entering Parsons- A lot of drag events), RENT (One of my favorite plays, and a play I used to relate my friend group to quite often), and lastly The Lion King (A play/movie my father used to quote through out my childhood in order to teach me a lesson and some how teach me about my roots.) As for the restaurants, I chose two restaurants which I have no affiliation with, although relate to me. Mcdonald’s, for the purpose of an eating disability I struggle with on and off, and TGI Fridays, because who doesn’t love the weekend? As for the puzzle piece, they are supposed to represent human disabilities as a whole, and the crowdedness of people in Times Square. I chose the random driving signals, to represent time, and the assignment (walking). Overall, I believe I had quite a difficult time finishing this assignment. I chose a different approach to it than I am used to, and for sake of organization skills I believe it worked but for the sake of art I disagree. I chose to use charcoal, pen, marker, acrylic, laser cutter, pencil and plexi glass for this piece.

Walk: