Exhibition Text:
My Block Print "Lost in the Universe" captures the feelings of being burdened with a power that you do not understand. The visual unpacks the stress that is involved with such emotions and the feelings of being lost. I was deeply inspired by Tim Burton's Frankenweeine characters and surrealism. Lastly "Lost in the Universe" ask the question of "What is my purpose or anyone's purpose for that matter?".
Inspiration:
Focus: Tim Burton and Surrealism
Tim Burton Inspiration:Tim Burton is an American director and artist. His work normally contains fantasy with a mix of death elements. I love his use of huge eyes with small noses. His exaggerated features and sense of hollowness are what I want to create with my block print. Tim Burton's Frankenweeine characters are where I took a good portion of my inspiration from. I definitely want to incorporate the striped shirts with the long necks because it creates contrast and emphasis on the head. Tim Burton's characters also have extreme contrast in colors. Another interesting thing to note is that Tim Burton directed Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. The main story-line of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure is a lost child-like man and I want my figure to look lost and on the younger side too. Tim Burton worked at Disney Productions as well so, I want to tie in Disney into my figure. Such as a girly figure and with magic but again adding aspects of being lost, stress, and hollowness.
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Surrealism Inspiration:Surrealism questions reality and represents the "superior reality" of the subconscious mind. This idea was created or inspired by the famous Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud was an Austrian Neurologist that created psychoanalysis which interpreters culture and society. Artists such as Salvador Dali only took the idea further and turned Freud's ideas into visuals. Surrealism often depicts a dreamlike reality which I plan to depict with my universe-looking background. The questions I want my block print to evoke are "What is our purpose as humans?" and "Aren't we all just lost in the Universe?". Surrealism also has major symbolism which I hope to achieve with my block print. Such as the gem in the figure's head is meant to represent the figure having some sort of power. There is an unnatural feel to Surrealism art as well. The gem in the figure's head will be the unnatural element of my block print.
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Planning:
First day of planning:
I started out by just sketching out the size of the ez cut. Once I had a good idea of the size I just threw something down on the paper. It was a girl that looked stressed with curly hair and some lines around for detail. I looked at my drawing as a whole and could not help but think about Tim Burton. After researching Tim Burton I went on to another page and did a bunch of smaller drawings. I knew I wanted to give the figure curly hair because I felt that was going to look good on the final product. I played around with the length of her neck and the design behind her. The random Octopus was just drawn for fun and wasn't really ever a serious option.
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Second day of planning:
I did more intense research on the second day. I broke down the elements of a Tim Burton Character and I picked and choose what I wanted within my block print.
I did the same thing with Surrealism and found what I wanted to represent.
On this day I did a bunch of small drawings to combine into my final block print. |
Third day of Planning:
I drew a mock up on Procreate to see what my Block print would look like after day two. The only problem with the mock up on Procreate was that it didn't fully simulate carving so I was able to do more fluid lines. Day three was also the day that I drew my last planning sketch. There was a bit more editing to do but I was in a good place to go and draw on my ez cut next time.
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The Process/Experimentation:
The first thing I did was draw my character on both sides on the ez cut to see which one I liked more.
I liked this option but I thought the figure looked to curious and not stressed. Also, I didn't think there was enough detail in the Universe background
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This is what I went with for my final drawing. I loved the volume of the hair and detail in the background. Also, I just felt that the composition as a whole was better.
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The next thing I did was carve out my lines
I started with the shoulders because I had never carved anything before in my life. Once I felt I had a handle on the carving materials and how they work I started to go into the more high stakes lines. For example the eyes and eyelashes.
When I got to the galaxy portion I used my sketch as a loose outline and went a little rouge. |
After five attempts I wanted to change somethings so I went back into the ez cut and carve out more. I also added inner triangles into the shirt. After carving out more I did a print of it. I could tell that something was still not quite right yet. I looked back at all my failed attempt and one thing they had in common was not that the pressure was off but I did not use enough ink.
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After 3 attempts at getting the ink ratio correct I decided I also needed to thicken a few lines to make it come out correct. I didn't change much but I felt good going into the next print. Then the first print of it came out so nice. I could not use it though because I had made a scuff at the bottom.
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I felt so close, but then I could not replicate it. Back to the carving board I went. I made sure to go over my lines with a precise carving tool that was sharper to finally get the result I wanted. This was my final attempt at the carving. This was finally the way I wanted it to be. I added more texture to the hair and I thickened all the lines. I made 4 more prints and I was done.
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Critique:
Overall I feel I did a good job of using my inspiration to drive the elements and principal of my block print. I did not follow the inspiration to perfection but the influence of Tim Burton and Surrealism is present.
Similarities:
My final block print has the unsettling feeling of a Tim Burton character along with the unnatural subject of a Surrealism piece. I captured the long neck to show contrast between the head and body. The eyes of my figure also have the hollowness that a Tim Burton creation has. I used line in the shirt to replicate a Tim Burton charters shirts. I put emphasis on the frizzy hair to symbolize stress as a Surrealism artist would do. Lastly the visual of my block print has dream like qualities. For example the stars and planet, along with the gem in the figures head.
Similarities:
My final block print has the unsettling feeling of a Tim Burton character along with the unnatural subject of a Surrealism piece. I captured the long neck to show contrast between the head and body. The eyes of my figure also have the hollowness that a Tim Burton creation has. I used line in the shirt to replicate a Tim Burton charters shirts. I put emphasis on the frizzy hair to symbolize stress as a Surrealism artist would do. Lastly the visual of my block print has dream like qualities. For example the stars and planet, along with the gem in the figures head.
Differences:
Tim Burton does not normally work with block prints, Surrealism artist do not work with block prints either generally. My block prints composition was a little less randomly assembled than what a Surrealism artist would do. A Surrealism artist would have added more random assortment of objects than just a figure in the middle of the page as the center piece. The shape of my print felt 2-dimensional while most of Tim Burton's shapes feel a bit more 3-dimensional. My block print is very stiff and the movement of the eye across the print is linear, in both a Surrealism artwork and Tim Burton work the movement of the eye across the artwork is dynamic.
Tim Burton does not normally work with block prints, Surrealism artist do not work with block prints either generally. My block prints composition was a little less randomly assembled than what a Surrealism artist would do. A Surrealism artist would have added more random assortment of objects than just a figure in the middle of the page as the center piece. The shape of my print felt 2-dimensional while most of Tim Burton's shapes feel a bit more 3-dimensional. My block print is very stiff and the movement of the eye across the print is linear, in both a Surrealism artwork and Tim Burton work the movement of the eye across the artwork is dynamic.
Refection
This project gave me an incite into the world of a block print artist. I had never used this medium before and I really enjoyed it. I had my struggles but I like the clean finish of the end product. One issue was that I didn't realize that the image was going to be flipped, it didn't affect my print in the end but it was a nice surprise. I also developed my planning skills, most of the art I had done in the past was just random. Taking the time to research Tim Burton and Surrealism really gave me a direction. Then to make tiny sketches gave me a point to strive towards for instead of a floating ideas.
My block Print takes a lot of attributes of my inspiration. My figure connects to Tim Burton's carefully crafted characters and has the strangeness to pass as surrealism. The majority of the elements in my block print did not pass unless they were somehow reminiscent of surrealism or Tim Burton's style.
I did struggle with the amount of detail I wanted to add. Doing a cartoon sometime less is more, but there needed to be a balance of line to negative space. In the end more negative space could have been added but it was hard for me to conceptualize how to add it. I also struggled with the ratio of ink and pressure. I had many failed attempts due to ink issues. In the end they did get mostly resolved and my final print looks great. I believe the the best part of the print is the texture of the hair and the design on the shirt. The clean cut triangles of the shirt make me happy and the un-trammed hair adds to the stiff figure. The figures emotions can be described just by her hair and that is what I wanted.
I already had drawn Tim Burton styled characters before but this project made me deep dive into his creations and subjects. I love to create characters so this project gave me a reason to do so. The surrealism symbolism took my character to another level because instead of making the figure just a figure it gave my art a purpose and meaning. In conclusion I hope people look at "Lost in the Universe" and feel the connection to feeling stressed. Being slightly lost in the universe seems like something all humans feel at some point and it can be confusing. My block print puts these complex emotions into one visual.
My block Print takes a lot of attributes of my inspiration. My figure connects to Tim Burton's carefully crafted characters and has the strangeness to pass as surrealism. The majority of the elements in my block print did not pass unless they were somehow reminiscent of surrealism or Tim Burton's style.
I did struggle with the amount of detail I wanted to add. Doing a cartoon sometime less is more, but there needed to be a balance of line to negative space. In the end more negative space could have been added but it was hard for me to conceptualize how to add it. I also struggled with the ratio of ink and pressure. I had many failed attempts due to ink issues. In the end they did get mostly resolved and my final print looks great. I believe the the best part of the print is the texture of the hair and the design on the shirt. The clean cut triangles of the shirt make me happy and the un-trammed hair adds to the stiff figure. The figures emotions can be described just by her hair and that is what I wanted.
I already had drawn Tim Burton styled characters before but this project made me deep dive into his creations and subjects. I love to create characters so this project gave me a reason to do so. The surrealism symbolism took my character to another level because instead of making the figure just a figure it gave my art a purpose and meaning. In conclusion I hope people look at "Lost in the Universe" and feel the connection to feeling stressed. Being slightly lost in the universe seems like something all humans feel at some point and it can be confusing. My block print puts these complex emotions into one visual.
ACT Reflection Questions:
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
My figure has mostly the same elements of a Tim Burton character. There is symbolism and a dream like feel to my block print that is inspired by surrealism
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The Block Print generalizes stress as a whole and the feelings of being lost. These themes can also be found in Tim Burton's and surrealism.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Surrealism questions reality and Tim Burton is strange, but if we as humans do not except strange every once and a while we may lose ourselves. Questioning reality grounds us.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central ideas of my research are stress, hollowness, and feeling lost.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Not everyone excepts Surrealism Artists and Tim Burton. The two inspirations can be abstract at times. I infer that Surrealists lived a tough life.
My figure has mostly the same elements of a Tim Burton character. There is symbolism and a dream like feel to my block print that is inspired by surrealism
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The Block Print generalizes stress as a whole and the feelings of being lost. These themes can also be found in Tim Burton's and surrealism.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Surrealism questions reality and Tim Burton is strange, but if we as humans do not except strange every once and a while we may lose ourselves. Questioning reality grounds us.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central ideas of my research are stress, hollowness, and feeling lost.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Not everyone excepts Surrealism Artists and Tim Burton. The two inspirations can be abstract at times. I infer that Surrealists lived a tough life.
Bibliography (MLA):
Research:
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Tim Burton". Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tim-Burton. Accessed 9 September 2021.
Jay, Martin Evan. "Sigmund Freud". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sigmund-Freud. Accessed 13 September 2021.
“Moma Learning.” MoMA, www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/surrealism/.
“Surrealism.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surrealism.
Photos:
Google Search, Google, www.google.com/search?q=frankenweenie&rlz=1CAWVQM_enUS970&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju57Scg_LyAhWLmOAKHXxbC60Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1366&bih=617&safe=active&ssui=on&tbs=il%3Acl#imgrc=M5DKCMLbteaPpM.
Google Search, Google, www.google.com/search?q=sigmund%2Bfreud&rlz=1CAWVQM_enUS970&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwic1MiYyvzyAhWeKFkFHXJgDUgQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&cshid=1631557778497427&biw=1366&bih=617&safe=active&ssui=on&tbs=il%3Acl#imgrc=Yjet5YwiLPBuAM.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Tim Burton". Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tim-Burton. Accessed 9 September 2021.
Jay, Martin Evan. "Sigmund Freud". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sigmund-Freud. Accessed 13 September 2021.
“Moma Learning.” MoMA, www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/surrealism/.
“Surrealism.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surrealism.
Photos:
Google Search, Google, www.google.com/search?q=frankenweenie&rlz=1CAWVQM_enUS970&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju57Scg_LyAhWLmOAKHXxbC60Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1366&bih=617&safe=active&ssui=on&tbs=il%3Acl#imgrc=M5DKCMLbteaPpM.
Google Search, Google, www.google.com/search?q=sigmund%2Bfreud&rlz=1CAWVQM_enUS970&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwic1MiYyvzyAhWeKFkFHXJgDUgQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&cshid=1631557778497427&biw=1366&bih=617&safe=active&ssui=on&tbs=il%3Acl#imgrc=Yjet5YwiLPBuAM.