Triptych
Creciendo
Oil Paintings
2ft x 1ft each canvas
December 2019
Creciendo is an oil painting on self reflection and how the past, present and future self become one, and that one is you. The positions and body language used in the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck are used in this piece. As well as the design and symbolism from the Four Seasons by Alphonse Mucha.
Oil Paintings
2ft x 1ft each canvas
December 2019
Creciendo is an oil painting on self reflection and how the past, present and future self become one, and that one is you. The positions and body language used in the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck are used in this piece. As well as the design and symbolism from the Four Seasons by Alphonse Mucha.
Inspiration
The inspiration for my piece came to me while researching the meaning of The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I learned that each part of the trinity becomes one, and that one is God. I wanted to take that relationship and apply it to one's self. I want to create an image of how one's personality can be broken into three pieces. One's youth, mature and eldest sides.
The trio from The Ghent Altarpiece, by Jan van Eyck, will be how I set up my figures. I will be using the female figures from the Four Seasons, by Alphonse Mucha. The combination of both will depict the self relationship one has. |
Planning Sketches
Before I began sketching I took some photos of myself in poses inspired from The Ghent Altarpiece. The middle figure shows one's final form. The figure on the left signifies one's youthful side. While the figure on the right is the elder mindset. I felt comfortable using myself as a model because I can create the exact reference I need and be able to alter it however I want. Youth's pose is somewhat flirty and femme. Adult's pose shows power and authority. Elder's pose is closed off and cold. I used Medibang to emphasize simple guidelines so I could easily copy the shapes to my sketch
For my paper sketch I just wanted to create the idea before sketching it onto my canvas. The designs of the females is taken from the Four Seasons, the flowing hair and layers of cloth. I took what I loved from the piece and drew it in my own personal style. For Youth's design, I want to have her look sweet and playful, I drew her with long wavy hair. Adult's design has a mature feel to it, she also is the only one with a third eye. A third eye is a gateway to a higher consciousness. The Elder has a sour facial expression and is keeping her arms to herself. She is cold but is cautious of her surroundings. When these three are together they become one. Just how the Virgin Mary and St. John are to Christ from The Ghent Altarpiece. Youth and Elder are the Adult's supporters, without them Adult would be no one. Finally I redrew the previous sketches onto my canvases. I added more detail and emphasized the details of each figure. Each figure has a big circle behind them to represent a halo, similar to the Ghent Altarpiece. During this stage, while drawing on my canvases I made sure to add more similarities and clear details that resemble my inspiration pieces. Another detail I added to my canvas before I started painting was flowers. Flowers can have multiple meanings, depending on the flower you gave to a significant other showed your intentions. For Youth, she is surrounded by white carnations. White carnations can be associated with innocence and pure love. She is also holding lilacs, which signify the joy of youth. Adult's surroundings are hibiscus flowers, the delicate beauty. Elder has violets around her, violets show loyalty, faithfulness and modesty. She also has forget-me-nots intertwined into her hair. Forget-me-nots symbolizes true love memories. |
Experimentation
To the left is my first attempt at the painting. I started with the adult panel because I wanted to work on her first. I have never worked with oil paints before. While shopping, a store clerk helped me find the necessary items for starting. I had no idea how to start so I just out some paint on my palette paper. I didnt realize that this medium is completely different to what Im used to. My usuals are acrylic and watercolor. I ended up using paint thinner to make the paint easier to work with. I noticed that oils are more smooth and blend effortlessly. The only con I can think of is the fact that oils take longer to dry. Even then, that just means I have more time to alter my piece to my liking.
I found that adding a base color was very helpful while painting. Since there was already a layer, adding shadows and highlights blended well. I had more trouble adding shadows because the base color sometimes erased the dark shadows. So in that case I added the shadows first, for example, the cloth. |
Process
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Reflection
Personally this has been one of my favorite projects. I loved being able to work with a new medium. I have never had oil paints before and having a project I could experiment with was very fun. I feel that this project has one of my strongest connections and symbolism in comparison to my previous projects. I invested so much time into this, it was really worth the outcome.
The only thing I would change about this project is my backgrounds. I honestly did not know what to add, I just knew I wanted a nice gold borders. The borders obviously referencing Art Nouveau. I feel as if I could have added more to the background when it came to detail. Even then, this piece is one of my favorites.
The only thing I would change about this project is my backgrounds. I honestly did not know what to add, I just knew I wanted a nice gold borders. The borders obviously referencing Art Nouveau. I feel as if I could have added more to the background when it came to detail. Even then, this piece is one of my favorites.
Similarities
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Differences
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ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork.
The inspirations used heavily impacted my technique and the entire composition. I used the relationship and body language used in the Ghent Altarpiece and the character design from Four Seasons. Both of the inspirations use of symbolism was incorporated into the piece as well.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The symbolism of the trinity ideology is that 1+1+1=1. That three separate beings or things join together to become one. I used that to form how someone takes in their past, present and future self and become one being.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your
inspiration?
I learned that there is meaning behind certain types of flowers. Flowers have been used to express how the giver feels towards whoever they are giving it to. That certain flowers can signify love, purity, maturity, and etc.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The main theme is self reflection. That from your past experiences, your present self and who you will become in the future help create your opinion on yourself. One should take into consideration all the factors that make them who they are.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
That the significance of the relationship between the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son could be applied to anyone. Not saying that someone is Christ, instead the relationship that forms Christ can be the same in someone else.
The inspirations used heavily impacted my technique and the entire composition. I used the relationship and body language used in the Ghent Altarpiece and the character design from Four Seasons. Both of the inspirations use of symbolism was incorporated into the piece as well.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The symbolism of the trinity ideology is that 1+1+1=1. That three separate beings or things join together to become one. I used that to form how someone takes in their past, present and future self and become one being.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your
inspiration?
I learned that there is meaning behind certain types of flowers. Flowers have been used to express how the giver feels towards whoever they are giving it to. That certain flowers can signify love, purity, maturity, and etc.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The main theme is self reflection. That from your past experiences, your present self and who you will become in the future help create your opinion on yourself. One should take into consideration all the factors that make them who they are.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
That the significance of the relationship between the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son could be applied to anyone. Not saying that someone is Christ, instead the relationship that forms Christ can be the same in someone else.
Bibliography
“Can You Explain the Trinity?” EveryStudent.com, https://www.everystudent.com/forum/trinity.html.
“Flower Meanings: The Language of Flowers.” Old Farmer's Almanac, https://www.almanac.com/content/flower-meanings-language-flowers.
“Four Seasons.” Four Seasons by Alphonse Mucha, http://www.alphonsemucha.org/four-seasons/.
“God in Three Persons: A Doctrine We Barely Understand.” Christianity.com, Salem Web Network, 7 July 2010, https://www.christianity.com/god/trinity/god-in-three-persons-a-doctrine-we-barely-understand-11634405.html.
Hickson, Sally. “Van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/northern-renaissance1/burgundy-netherlands/a/vaneyck-ghentaltar.
Houston, Diana. “Third Eye Chakra:Meaning, Properties and Powers - The Complete Guide.” CrystalsandJewelry.com, 11 May 2019, https://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/third-eye-chakra/.
“Jan Van Eyck Paintings, Bio, Ideas.” The Art Story, https://www.theartstory.org/artist/van-eyck-jan/.
“Flower Meanings: The Language of Flowers.” Old Farmer's Almanac, https://www.almanac.com/content/flower-meanings-language-flowers.
“Four Seasons.” Four Seasons by Alphonse Mucha, http://www.alphonsemucha.org/four-seasons/.
“God in Three Persons: A Doctrine We Barely Understand.” Christianity.com, Salem Web Network, 7 July 2010, https://www.christianity.com/god/trinity/god-in-three-persons-a-doctrine-we-barely-understand-11634405.html.
Hickson, Sally. “Van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/northern-renaissance1/burgundy-netherlands/a/vaneyck-ghentaltar.
Houston, Diana. “Third Eye Chakra:Meaning, Properties and Powers - The Complete Guide.” CrystalsandJewelry.com, 11 May 2019, https://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/third-eye-chakra/.
“Jan Van Eyck Paintings, Bio, Ideas.” The Art Story, https://www.theartstory.org/artist/van-eyck-jan/.