Dry Point
Exhibition Text
The Rebellion of Art represents rebellion through the clash of conformity in Russian propaganda versus the wild nature of art. The subject featured is the figure featured on one of the most famous Russian propaganda posters in the same position of another famous poster and is intentionally grungy to reflect the effects of the environment on a real poster.
The Rebellion of Art represents rebellion through the clash of conformity in Russian propaganda versus the wild nature of art. The subject featured is the figure featured on one of the most famous Russian propaganda posters in the same position of another famous poster and is intentionally grungy to reflect the effects of the environment on a real poster.
Planning
Planning Sketches
These two were inspired by the soviet propaganda posters of WW2. Both women featured are based on the woman from the "Keep your mouth shut!" poster shown above. I chose the sketch on the left because it's more dynamic and has more asymmetrical balance compared to the sketch on the right. The soup can she's holding was originally a tribute to Andy Warhol, but was left out in post.
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Process
Experimentation
To experiment for this project, I made multiple prints with varying degrees of ink still on the plate before printing. By not completely clearing the surface of the plate of ink before printing, I was able to create a grungy texture over the print that made it looked weathered and worn. I replicated this again with varying degrees of success and then began to experiment with gouache paints. Gouache is a type of paint that can be very opaque or very transparent depending on how much water you add. I tried using a splatter paint method, painting the entire background, and painting red stripes similar to the ones on my sketches. The red stripes were the most successful and are included in the final product.
Process
To begin I placed my panel over the sketch I made in my sketchbook. I was aware that if I carved directly over it that the image would be flipped once I printed it, and experimented with how it might look by looking at it in a mirror. I then began to carve the surface using the sharp point tools, beginning with the face and moving downwards. The gas mask was one of the last things I carved because I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to include it or not.
After I finished carving I decided to experiment with the printing process. To begin, I soaked a sheet of watercolor paper in water for 5-8 minutes in order to make the paper more absorbent for the ink. While the paper was soaking I coated my print panel with a thin layer of oil-based ink using a palette knife. Using scraps of newsprint, I gently rubbed the ink into the grooves I carved out and made the uncarved space as clean as I could-- until I began experimenting with a messier style, then I cleaned it enough to have clear lines with visibly smudged areas.
To print my images I patted the soaked watercolor paper dry with a rag, set it between a folded piece of newspaper, and put the print panel facedown on the paper. I then folded the newsprint over the top and set it under the slab of EZcut on the roller and ran it through once. The finished print was then set on a drying rack to dry.
After I finished carving I decided to experiment with the printing process. To begin, I soaked a sheet of watercolor paper in water for 5-8 minutes in order to make the paper more absorbent for the ink. While the paper was soaking I coated my print panel with a thin layer of oil-based ink using a palette knife. Using scraps of newsprint, I gently rubbed the ink into the grooves I carved out and made the uncarved space as clean as I could-- until I began experimenting with a messier style, then I cleaned it enough to have clear lines with visibly smudged areas.
To print my images I patted the soaked watercolor paper dry with a rag, set it between a folded piece of newspaper, and put the print panel facedown on the paper. I then folded the newsprint over the top and set it under the slab of EZcut on the roller and ran it through once. The finished print was then set on a drying rack to dry.
Reflection
Critique
Altogether I feel like my piece is well composed with asymmetrical balance furthered by the bold colored stripe running diagonally across. The lines are clean with intentional smudging to fill the negative space and the inspiration is easily recognizable in the piece. However, I do feel as if I should've kept the soup can as a tribute to Warhol, as it would've furthered the theme of propaganda, Warhol being an artist who used repetition to represent propaganda-like media and who also went against conventional artistic norms. I also feel like I could've made a series of prints using different colors instead of just red and yet again drawn inspiration from Warhol. The experimentation I did was good practice but if I'd cleaned it up more I could've had a well organized series with a clearer meaning. Given the opportunity, I would also like to try to overlay some text across the bottom, most likely in an opaque red gouache.
Altogether I feel like my piece is well composed with asymmetrical balance furthered by the bold colored stripe running diagonally across. The lines are clean with intentional smudging to fill the negative space and the inspiration is easily recognizable in the piece. However, I do feel as if I should've kept the soup can as a tribute to Warhol, as it would've furthered the theme of propaganda, Warhol being an artist who used repetition to represent propaganda-like media and who also went against conventional artistic norms. I also feel like I could've made a series of prints using different colors instead of just red and yet again drawn inspiration from Warhol. The experimentation I did was good practice but if I'd cleaned it up more I could've had a well organized series with a clearer meaning. Given the opportunity, I would also like to try to overlay some text across the bottom, most likely in an opaque red gouache.
ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
The pose from the "Go West!" poster (Artist Unknown) and the figure from Nina Vatolina's "Keep your mouth shut!" poster directly inspired the pose and subject of my piece and influenced my choice of using red as my only color.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author's perspectives are all either of admiration for the style or from a neutral historical perspective.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I've been able to infer that propaganda is a powerful form of media that promotes obedience with a common ideal or symbolizes unity across a group of people, whether it be a small society or a large country.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
Propaganda represents conformity which is an ideal furthered by its use of repetition in the mass-production of propaganda and conformity is something I try to break with my art.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Russian propaganda was heavily influenced by the communist movement and featured it greatly and, when translated, doesn't have radically different messages than European propaganda.
The pose from the "Go West!" poster (Artist Unknown) and the figure from Nina Vatolina's "Keep your mouth shut!" poster directly inspired the pose and subject of my piece and influenced my choice of using red as my only color.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author's perspectives are all either of admiration for the style or from a neutral historical perspective.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I've been able to infer that propaganda is a powerful form of media that promotes obedience with a common ideal or symbolizes unity across a group of people, whether it be a small society or a large country.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
Propaganda represents conformity which is an ideal furthered by its use of repetition in the mass-production of propaganda and conformity is something I try to break with my art.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Russian propaganda was heavily influenced by the communist movement and featured it greatly and, when translated, doesn't have radically different messages than European propaganda.
Bibliography
Cox, Savannah. "Amazing Soviet Propaganda Posters: Stalin And World War 2." All That Is Interesting. N.p., 2014. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
http://all-that-is-interesting.com/amazing-soviet-propaganda-posters-stalin-world-war-2
"Silence Is Gold." A Soviet Poster A Day. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
http://sovietposter.blogspot.com/2007/12/silence-is-gold.html
"Soviet Propaganda Posters." Soviet Propaganda Posters. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016
http://www.sovietposters.com/
http://all-that-is-interesting.com/amazing-soviet-propaganda-posters-stalin-world-war-2
"Silence Is Gold." A Soviet Poster A Day. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
http://sovietposter.blogspot.com/2007/12/silence-is-gold.html
"Soviet Propaganda Posters." Soviet Propaganda Posters. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016
http://www.sovietposters.com/