B l o c k P r i n t
Title: Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath) Medium: Block Print Completed: September 23, 2021 Exhibition Text: "Dyspnea" is a image depicting a person going through the hardships of life. This image can be interpreted in many different ways, all relating to struggles of anxiety and mental health. The hands representing the harsh feeling that you can't breath, the panic attacks that ensue with being in a social or crowded areas. This was all achieved with the usage of block printing. My piece was heavily inspired by the styles of artists, Junji Ito and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. |
Inspirations/Critique
Planning Stage:
1st Idea Sketch
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Refined Idea of 1st Sketch
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Final Sketch
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During my planning stage, with the 1st idea, I just wanted a scary looking scene, that's when I came up with a hand reaching/holding on to a person. Then I took a step back and realized I could refine this and make it a piece depicting anxiety and panic attacks. I wanted to make an image that would portray mental health artistic way. I thoroughly loved this idea, as I also wanted to portray what I myself deal with everyday due to my own mental health problems, this being a big visual of it. I wanted a person, to look in a sense, terrified, and have hands holding on to their neck, the hand representing the agony and fear that comes over you whenever a panic attack happens. The feeling that you can't breath, there for the hands symbolize that however, shown in a visual way, therefore a 'chocking' motion. The hand at the very top, is reaching out to the person. I also drew many different hand poses, as seen on the top of the page, as I wanted to see what poses would look better and not awkward looking on the piece. I added long nails and made the hands 'long' as to make them look abnormal.
This was now my carving stage. The sketch I had done previously showed up on the block print perfectly. Although, I did change the shape/perspective of the hand, drawn directly on the block print. While carving, I wasn't sure how deep I had to go for the white parts to not get ink, therefore a lot of areas look butchered. I started off with carving the people, as I wanted to experiment with the tools and see how each one work. To then find which I liked and which I did not. I also ended up going too deep in the face, therefore a small dot can be seen on the right side of his cheek, however, it wasn't enough to ruin the print.
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The inking process was perhaps the most frustrating. I was sure how much ink to put onto the block-print but I also did not want to overwhelm it with too much ink. The first print, had a lot of splotches, where the ink did not touch it, this was either because I did not put enough ink in that area or I did not press hard enough on that said area. The second print came out better, but still had a lot of white dots that bothered me. The next print was the best one of the bunch, it still had some white spots, but wasn't enough to distract/bother me so I kept it as my final product.
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Critique:
Similarities:
Keeping in mind Junji Ito's excellent usage of black ink, I tried to incorporate that more so in the face. I did this by adding black tears coming out of his eyes instead of just outlining the tears and making them white. For the scary factor, I added that in the hands, I had to tone it down so I added long sharp long nails, piercing into the neck.
Kirchner's usage of dark ink areas and imperfect lines was something I wanted to add onto my piece. With this technique in mind, I wanted to add that onto my piece, which is why I took the creative approach to add a subject, the hands, in the midst of a dark void.
Similarities between both the artists artworks and mine, is the usage of lines and how they were used to create contrast, to add shadows etc. The usage of the black and white to add highlighting subjects and unity between the whole piece.
Differences:
The most obvious difference to Junji Ito's work is the scary factor. Not many people are fond of scary stuff as well as it being hard to get a message across. I wasn't sure how to tackle my idea that way, so I toned it down to something I could work with. He also uses very thin, perfect lines, very intricate, something I definitely was not focusing on with my piece.
A difference to my second inspiration, Kirchner, was perhaps how I adapted different parts of his style. I wasn't able to get the jet black background due to me not applying enough ink to the block print. Another difference is that I couldn't really find a description of the meaning behind two pieces I picked.
For differences between both pieces of each artist and mine, is that I have messages depicting mental health, while there's don't have messages to them. At least these particular pieces of theirs that I used for inspiration do not.
Keeping in mind Junji Ito's excellent usage of black ink, I tried to incorporate that more so in the face. I did this by adding black tears coming out of his eyes instead of just outlining the tears and making them white. For the scary factor, I added that in the hands, I had to tone it down so I added long sharp long nails, piercing into the neck.
Kirchner's usage of dark ink areas and imperfect lines was something I wanted to add onto my piece. With this technique in mind, I wanted to add that onto my piece, which is why I took the creative approach to add a subject, the hands, in the midst of a dark void.
Similarities between both the artists artworks and mine, is the usage of lines and how they were used to create contrast, to add shadows etc. The usage of the black and white to add highlighting subjects and unity between the whole piece.
Differences:
The most obvious difference to Junji Ito's work is the scary factor. Not many people are fond of scary stuff as well as it being hard to get a message across. I wasn't sure how to tackle my idea that way, so I toned it down to something I could work with. He also uses very thin, perfect lines, very intricate, something I definitely was not focusing on with my piece.
A difference to my second inspiration, Kirchner, was perhaps how I adapted different parts of his style. I wasn't able to get the jet black background due to me not applying enough ink to the block print. Another difference is that I couldn't really find a description of the meaning behind two pieces I picked.
For differences between both pieces of each artist and mine, is that I have messages depicting mental health, while there's don't have messages to them. At least these particular pieces of theirs that I used for inspiration do not.
Reflection:
I am proud of my final product. Although, it was the process was very difficult and stressful, it was nice to see how the print looked at the end. The strengths of my artwork are definitely the outline of the person in the middle, as it deals with a lot of curves lines with different levels of thickness, there's not many straight lines. Another strength I can find are the hands. Once again, getting the shape of them carved was a very slow and stressful process. The small lines had to be on the hand to give them space and depth, without them the piece may have looked flat, so I had to not rush the process and have lots of patience. In the end, it all payed off as I am proud of how they came out in the end. The decision of have a all black background was something I debated on a lot. I wanted a background with interesting details but at the same time I had to think about the time and material I had as well as my subject. Too much things going on may falter the piece and not make the person and the hands the main vocal point as intended. My least favorite part of the project was coming out with an idea, due to how hard the medium seemed, I wasn't sure what route I wanted to take with it. I wanted my artwork to have a meaning to it, and that itself was hard enough to figure out as I was trying to do complex ideas, in the end I went with something I had lots of knowledge with. My favorite part was the inking process, although it was very frustrating, as the ink would sometimes not show up, it was exciting to see how my block print would turn out on paper.
I am proud of my final product. Although, it was the process was very difficult and stressful, it was nice to see how the print looked at the end. The strengths of my artwork are definitely the outline of the person in the middle, as it deals with a lot of curves lines with different levels of thickness, there's not many straight lines. Another strength I can find are the hands. Once again, getting the shape of them carved was a very slow and stressful process. The small lines had to be on the hand to give them space and depth, without them the piece may have looked flat, so I had to not rush the process and have lots of patience. In the end, it all payed off as I am proud of how they came out in the end. The decision of have a all black background was something I debated on a lot. I wanted a background with interesting details but at the same time I had to think about the time and material I had as well as my subject. Too much things going on may falter the piece and not make the person and the hands the main vocal point as intended. My least favorite part of the project was coming out with an idea, due to how hard the medium seemed, I wasn't sure what route I wanted to take with it. I wanted my artwork to have a meaning to it, and that itself was hard enough to figure out as I was trying to do complex ideas, in the end I went with something I had lots of knowledge with. My favorite part was the inking process, although it was very frustrating, as the ink would sometimes not show up, it was exciting to see how my block print would turn out on paper.
Connections to the ACT:
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
The artist Junji Ito, depicts character in abnormal situations, which can be difficult or interesting to look at, which also portray deep meanings that make you think. With this in mind, I tried to make a scene that makes you think, and decipher what the meaning is. For an abnormal aspect I added hands, where as you can see are not connected to anyone, as it seems they are coming out of no where. My other inspiration was Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, from him I took inspiration more from his carving style, the imperfect look of his lines and ragged look. I added this, especially in the outlines of figures in the artwork, where there is no straight or perfect lines, due to the meaning of my piece as well I wanted it to not look picture perfect, as I felt the messy look would add more of an artistic expression.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Junji Ito has his own stories regarding mental health, and has a whole comic book regarding the mental decline of a person due to many circumstances. Showing how mental health takes great toll on someone perspective in life without treatment. Although I could not find something on Kirchner it seems as though he dealt with mental health, as well as it being the subject of his death.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Mental health is a worldwide issue, and its a bigger problem than it seems. It goes unnoticed in many places, and is also not taken seriously by many.
4. What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
A big inspiration for my research/artwork was myself, as someone who deals mental health and these feelings, I wanted to portray what I go through on a daily basis. Which is why I wanted to find artists I felt could help me get the general idea of my piece. Its central theme being panic attacks that come from anxiety and how it scary it feels to go through it.
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
The usage of negative space plays a big role in. shaping your artwork. As well at it helping highlight certain things in your piece that you want. Not enough negative space can make your piece look crowded.
Citations (MLA FORMAT)
Junji Ito Information: -, Nancy Powell, et al. “REVIEW: Junji Ito's No Longer HUMAN Turns Human Folly into a Haunting Tale of Misery and Despair.” The Beat, Viz Media, 30 Dec. 2019, https://www.comicsbeat.com/review-no-longer-human-junji-ito/ .
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner Information: “The Tragedy of Avant Garde Artist ERNST KIRCHNER.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 25 Jan. 2016, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-tragedy-of-avant-garde-artist-ernst-kirchner/.