Dry Point
Exhibition Text
Title: Sufficient
Medium: Drypoint Size: 17.5 x 12.5cm Date: 3 November 2016 Gabrielle Matiszik focused on making a drypoint piece that’s theme was centered on the ideas of beauty standards. Sufficient is a piece based on the pop art movement (early 1960’s) as well as inspired by Aubrey Beardsley. The intention of the piece is to convey the constantly changing ideals of beauty, and the inner frustration it forms as a result. |
Planning
Inspiration
Planning sketches
This was my second of three practice sketches for dry point. In this practice sketch, I used stippling for the majority of the shading. As far as the drawing is concerned, I really enjoyed the way that it turned out. I felt that there was obvious connections to my theme as well as artist inspiration.
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Process
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Experimentation
The experimentation came into play when I was trying to find a way to create a clean print. I altered my process by changing the amounts of ink that I used, applying more or less pressure to the carving when removing the ink, and using different methods for removing the ink. I had originally planned on using gouache on top of the oil ink, to make the pieces resemble pop art more, but came to find that I creatly disliked the look of having such a prominent amount of black mixed in with the bright colors of gouache.
Critique
Overall, I am quite pleased with the outcome of my piece. I do not think it is what I had originally envisioned while I was brainstorming for this piece, but it represented my theme very well. Looking back at this piece, I feel that it would have been more beneficial for me to work on some of the prints with gouache. Watercolors are one of my primary mediums, and I feel that I can create my best pieces with them. Due to the obstacle of the dominant black, I opted out for any additional color. If I hyad an oppurtunity to alter this piece, I would want to connect more to the ideas of pop art and do that by influencing some opposite primary colors into some of the prints.
Connecting to the ACT
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork.
- I focused on the style that Aubrey Beardsley used in many of his pieces. This, specifically, is the sole use of black for color and the semi-realistic and proportional images of people.
- Beauty is a theme that Beardsley often focuses on in his pieces. Beardsley views beauty as something that everyone should have the ability to express regardless of social norms.
- Personal expression can be more than physical appearance. It can deal with beliefs, the defiance of traditions, and the stereotypes for genders.
- My theme was centered around the constant changing beauty standards in the world, and the psychological toll that it brings to some individuals.
- Beardsley lived to defy authority. He thrived when he constantly danced around the vulgarity of Victorian culture, and raised questions that no one else wanted to answer about; beauty standards, sexuality, and death.