Preliminary Research – Two Artist Influences:

Drawing and Imaging_ Final project – artist influences

8×10 inch gridded prototypes:

Color prototypes (digital):

First piece:

Second piece:

Final piece:

Reflection:

Gestalt Theory:

The gestalt principle is Figure-ground. This is demonstrated in the way the various shapes and their colors interact with one another, whereby implying a figure from the background and allowing the viewer to hopefully see the shapes that space forms and how space communicates. 

Unifying elements: 

Three unifying elements are the color scheme, the grid, and the overall theme or perhaps intent of depicting my personal take on COVID 19. 

Speak about Structure and Composition:

I tried to establish a balance first between big and small in both the proportions of the objects and/or iconography to imply depth and three-dimensionality especially since I chose to implement Nina’s and Sarah’s shared use of color blocks or color blocking – therefore eliminating the potential for the traditional effects of gradation or shading from analog methods like using color pencils or paints. I also tried to format my background to mimic Sarah Morris’ geometric patterns that are usually angled and placed in a way that implies movement and flow. 

What materials are used and why? Colors or no colors used? Why either choice?  

Watercolors are used giving the piece a sense of lightness and luminosity or glow of the colors. The split complement color scheme, with yellow, blue, and violet, is used to structure and unify the overall composition, giving the work harmony. I tried to establish a hierarchy in each frame, based on the color scheme. For instance, I tried to have the blue subtly dominate the first piece of the diptych by relying on different saturations of the color spread out in the composition, with bright yellow and blue acting as focal points and further establishing a sense of depth. 

The mood of the work:

The mood of the work has similarities to both Nina Chanel Abney and Sarah Morris. Since both artists rely on bright color schemes or highly saturated color blocks to offset the often heavy or cerebral topics or concepts that they explore. For instance, Nina Chanel Abney’s work usually comments on difficult topics such as racial or gender bias, police brutality, white supremacy, and so forth, all of which in themselves carry an ominous or melancholic tone. With her cartoon-esque imagery and color scheme, however, there is a playful and abstract nature to her work that makes the topics seem more approachable and surprisingly engaging and insightful. 

Individual:

Diptych: