Exhibition Text: “The meaning behind “The One Within” is that it’s on African art and it’s supposed to give the feeling of being dominant just as the masks were intended to be used for. The head inside the mouth is half upright and half upside down to symbolize the mean, abstract fear that African masks would give.”
Planning/Process:
I began by brainstorming on some ideas on how to incorporate African art because I had found some inspiration from African Art. I intended to make a sketch for an actual mask but decided that a dry point would be better than an actual mask because it would be better for developing the African aspects into the art piece. I had a few sketches and I had to choose which was best and I transferred it to the dry point. From there on I had started to carve out all the lines, and I began the inking process.
1) Gather all the resources
2) Place a big piece of paper on the table
3) Place the dry point above the paper
4) Put dry point paper in a container with water and let it rest
Put the ink on the dry point
6) Use small newspaper scraps to rub the ink into the carved lines (Do this until the lines are dark and the uncarved area is clean)
7) Clean your hands and dry the treated dry point water
8) Get newsprint and fold it hot dog style
9) Place the dry point paper on the newsprint
10) Put both of the papers into the press
11) Before pressing the papers, carefully add the inked dry point
12) Press the dry point and remove it carefully
13) Set the printed dry point to dry
14) Clean up and your done or repeat the process for more prints
1) Gather all the resources
2) Place a big piece of paper on the table
3) Place the dry point above the paper
4) Put dry point paper in a container with water and let it rest
Put the ink on the dry point
6) Use small newspaper scraps to rub the ink into the carved lines (Do this until the lines are dark and the uncarved area is clean)
7) Clean your hands and dry the treated dry point water
8) Get newsprint and fold it hot dog style
9) Place the dry point paper on the newsprint
10) Put both of the papers into the press
11) Before pressing the papers, carefully add the inked dry point
12) Press the dry point and remove it carefully
13) Set the printed dry point to dry
14) Clean up and your done or repeat the process for more prints
Inspiration:
My inspiration came from viewing the "Kota Mask" which is an African Mask that means "great spiritual power". They would be carved out of wood and covered in copper and brass to increase the spiritual grasp and strength. What I enjoyed most from the Kota Masks was that they are quite unique, they are simple but pattern oriented art pieces and they mean spiritual power. As in they are created to re-balance ones inner self from their internal conflicts. I would enjoy incorporating the line usage and the negative space usage. My artistic inspiration was the art work "Buckingham U. Badger" by the local Milwaukee artist Lynn Casper. What Casper was painting was the mascot from the Wisconsin Badgers in a cubist painting style that was heavily influenced by Picasso. What I like from the "Buckingham U. Badger" piece is that she used many erratic shapes and forms that give the piece an other worldly feeling that would have not been able to be achieved if not through the usage of cubism. I am also attracted to this piece by its somewhat dull colors. I believed I can integrate these colors to further enhance the strength of my mask. I also believe that I can include the forms used in "Buckingham U. Badger" in my own piece.
Experimentation:
My experimentation was in the printing process where I had accidentally used the wrong type of printing paper, causing my first print to be all wrinkled and poorly transferred to the paper. I also had to experiment in the amount of ink that I would be using as I had forgotten that dry points do not require so much ink to make a single print. I found out the hard way as I had to rub the ink off with the newspaper scraps. It was not easy to clean the ink off because the carved lines already had ink and I had to press against the dry point and get twice as much newspaper scraps in order to fix the dry point so that it would come out clear. Then my last issue of making the dry point was that I had to make numerous prints because my first few prints would not come out clear and the lines would look faded.
<-----------Looks like its missing
<---------------Looks like it was erased
<--------------Looks ok-ish because its darker but it needs to be darker and finer
Reflection:
I was not happy with the end result of my dry point because I felt like I could have added more details and more African aspects to the mask. I also believe that the prints themselves are bad and I will require a few extra prints in order to create the whole experience of a strong, and feared mask. I was also disappointed in the fact that I did not create a physical three dimensional mask that could have been greater in conveying the feelings of power/dominance. I also believe that the addition of color was a success because it does complement the mask itself. I believe that the added colors also give it an extra boost to its aesthetics in a way that the ink could not have had achieved.
Compare & Contrast:
My art piece
Act Questions:
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
The kota mask heavily inspired me to create a mask design that is similar when considering that they have similar line, and space usage.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author was very formal and informational as they were attempting to educate the reader in African art history.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
The conclusion that I have been able to arrive to was that African art is really just meant to create a tool that will give the illusion that it will help the creator/user in a way that they could not help themselves.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my inspiration was that the Kota Mask was a way to further the users spiritual health.
The kota mask heavily inspired me to create a mask design that is similar when considering that they have similar line, and space usage.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author was very formal and informational as they were attempting to educate the reader in African art history.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
The conclusion that I have been able to arrive to was that African art is really just meant to create a tool that will give the illusion that it will help the creator/user in a way that they could not help themselves.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my inspiration was that the Kota Mask was a way to further the users spiritual health.
Citations:
“African Masks (Part 1).” African Art, 22 Oct. 2012, mariottin.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/african-masks-part-1/.
“ .” Wisconsin Hertiage Fine Arts: Campus Companion Collection, lynncasperfineart.com/pages/campus-companion/companion_gallery.html.
“ .” Wisconsin Hertiage Fine Arts: Campus Companion Collection, lynncasperfineart.com/pages/campus-companion/companion_gallery.html.