SW+13

** Lilly ** ** December 2012 ** ** Ink+Gouache ** ** This studio work was my first piece using ink to create the hatching and cross hatching technique. The piece shows how the girl in the down left corner wants to be the two identities. I used the idea of lillies to emphasize on the feministic side of the girl. **

** What were the artistic and/or cultural influences for this project? Who/what influenced either the composition and/or the style. **

For this project i was heavily influenced by the artist Gabriel Moreno, known for his work with ink and watercolor. I tried to copy his similar technique by creating very specific details using crosshatching and hatching on the subjects face and then their hair would flow out in an undetermined way. He would also add colors to create contrast, which is what i did however he would use prints with different colors to create the contrast while i just used gouache to create the lillies in the background. Some of his pieces also had the idea of two other subjects coming out of the hair of the main subject, which is basically what i did. I also tried to create the same technique he would use in coloring the hair where parts would be extremeley dark and others would be light to give it a realistic look.

** What materials/processes did you use and or experiment with, and how? **

My first step was to take photos of the main subject whose place is in the down left corner. After doing so i had to edit the photos in a way to show the dark areas from the light areas in order to be able to carry out the hatching and cross hatching. After editing the photo, i drew the picture and started the process with pencil first and carried on with a pen. The darker the ares the more hatches and cross hatches i made. In the subject's hair, the darkest areas such as the lines have extreme hatching and cross hatching. After finishing the main subject, i drew in the two other identities in the hair with pencil first. After doing so i went back to the main subject and painted her with black gouache in order to get the same effect as Gabriel Moreno. Then i painted in the two other subjects and finally to get rid of the negative space i covered the background with lillies. Before doing so i had to research the meaning of lillies and what they symbolize, it turned out that they symbolize many things such as hope, faith and purity.

** How do you think you have responded to advice and criticism during this project (and during the term), from fellow students and the teacher. Did you actively seek advice? If so, was it useful? **

I made sure that after each part i finish i would either ask the teacher what needs improvement or a student. After i finished painting the main subject with her hair and the two other subjects i seeked advice on what i should do with the background. After having a group discussion with the class they helped me figure out what i want to do, which was the idea of the flowers fading out of the hair in order to match the one on the subject's face. There were other suggestions told such as making wonderwoman more realistic, but i chose to keep her that way in order to show how even though she's not real the subject still wants to be her. ** Explain clearly the weaknesses/areas of improvement - **

I think the biggest weakness in this piece is the fact that marylin monroe doesn't look like marylin monroe. I need to work on it a little to show the resemblance because if i don't then the meaning of the piece woudn't be understood.I chose marilyn monroe because she's somebody who represents beauty and confidence, if she's not shown in the piece then viewers might think it's just a random other person. i also think i needed to add more lines to the air like Gabriel Moreno did in order to make the hair more realistic.

** Clearly explain the strengths of the piece - ** I think the strengths of this piece is the evident technique of crosshatching and hatching, in the dark areas of the picture intense hatching is used and in the light areas of the picture a few lines are used. I also think the contrast between the main subject and the two other subjects helps emphasize the focus on all three of them equally.

** What could you take through to the next project and develop further? This could be anything, from a technique to an idea, not necessarily just the theme. ** I am not really sure what i'll be doing for the next project, however i was thinking about doing the same thing but instead of painting the subjects i'll use etching prints to make them part of the background.

ISSUU