Sweethearts
Linoleum and Relief Ink
Size: 9 in x 12 in
October 2018
Exhibition Text
Meant as a twist on traditional American pop art, "Sweet Hearts" depicts two female lovers in a warm embrace. Unlike the typical comic book-styled pop art like that of Roy Lichtenstein, this piece focuses on the love between two females as oppose to the overused and stereotypical depiction of a woman falling head over heels for a man. Although Lichtenstein's art in itself was something considered unusual or avant garde for it's time, this piece was meant to take it one step further by introducing themes and subject matter that is not at all common with this art style. What I'm referring to is of course the artistic representation of a same sex relationship done in an art style from a time when it would not have been as openly accepted.
Meaning Behind the Piece
Love, joy, openness and freedom are the main focus of this piece, aside from serving as an attempt to be something inventive. My piece is also meant to reinforce the notion that same-sex love is completely valid and even beautiful. Love in general is very beautiful and should be celebrated. The project is named "Sweet Hearts" because the term is an old fashioned way of referring to a loved one or one very dear to you. My piece is mean to uplift the idea of good, old fashioned love that you would see in a vintage, romantic movie, as well as the modern day equivalent of that dynamic as nowadays, more and more people are being open to same-sex relationships. So in a way, my piece brings together elements of both past and present.
Artistic Inspiration
Roy Lichtenstein
Known for his avant garde, and questionable art style, Roy Lichtenstein paints scenes from cartoons, comics and pop culture and presents them as rich, eye-catching pieces. Some key features of Lichtenstein's art are his use of vibrant colors, consisting mainly of primary colors. Lichtenstein also utilized very bold lines to create shading and texture. The themes exhibited in his art consist mainly of young females in with melodramatic dispositions. Typically, the females were shown to be in love or with their loved one, a handsome male figure.
Known for his avant garde, and questionable art style, Roy Lichtenstein paints scenes from cartoons, comics and pop culture and presents them as rich, eye-catching pieces. Some key features of Lichtenstein's art are his use of vibrant colors, consisting mainly of primary colors. Lichtenstein also utilized very bold lines to create shading and texture. The themes exhibited in his art consist mainly of young females in with melodramatic dispositions. Typically, the females were shown to be in love or with their loved one, a handsome male figure.
Journal
Planning Sketches
My intention for creating my sketches was to experiment with designs that are reminiscent of 50's and 60's culture. What comes to my mind when I think of 50's and 60's are milkshakes, the Archies, and pin-up girls. My second sketch makes an allusion to the Archie comic book series by including the names of the main female characters and love interests of the titular character, Archie. |
Research
The research I conducted for this project consisted of looking at aspects of 60's culture. These aspects included vintage comics, advertisements, and movies that depict the glamorization of that era, such as Grease and Hairspray. Despite the constant appeal and glamorization of those times, the 60's were very regressive when it came to certain human rights. This of course, was addressed in Hairspray with the racial discrimination and segregation of colored people. Another human rights issue that was prevalent in the 1960's was hostility towards homosexuals. Being openly gay was not very tolerated in the 60's as it is today, and the gay rights movement has come a long way since.
The research I conducted for this project consisted of looking at aspects of 60's culture. These aspects included vintage comics, advertisements, and movies that depict the glamorization of that era, such as Grease and Hairspray. Despite the constant appeal and glamorization of those times, the 60's were very regressive when it came to certain human rights. This of course, was addressed in Hairspray with the racial discrimination and segregation of colored people. Another human rights issue that was prevalent in the 1960's was hostility towards homosexuals. Being openly gay was not very tolerated in the 60's as it is today, and the gay rights movement has come a long way since.
Process
The process what quite straightforward. The steps to creating a block print are consistent and simple. The first step requires the creation of a sketch. After drawing a rough sketch of my design, I then created a newer version of it with more refined lines and shading. The next step was to shade the back of the paper that I drew my design on and then retrace along the lines of my design onto a linoleum sheet. Once the design was traced onto the linoleum sheet, I then began to carve into it to create my design. After the design is completely carved into the linoleum sheet, I then gathered a tin pan, an ink roller, and block print ink. I rolled the ink onto the pan to make sure it was spread evenly, then I rolled the ink onto the sheet of linoleum. Then, using a clean sheet of paper, I put it on top of the linoleum sheet and then covered it with newsprint. I then used a smoothing tool to smooth along the paper. I then removed the sheet of paper to reveal the clear, freshly printed design.
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Reflection
Block print is a medium that I have grown accustomed to throughout the span of my junior and senior years of high school. This project was my second encounter with the medium, my first being a project I did in my junior year. Despite having prior experience with block printing, I believe that my technique was not very good this time around. I expected that I would have improved with my technique, composition, and overall design skills in contrast to my last design.
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Sweet Hearts, 2017
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Nymph, 2016
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Connecting to the ACT
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork
I was mainly inspired by Roy Lichtenstein's pop art. The design qualities are both very bold and interesting. By drawing inspiration from Roy Lichtenstein's art, I was able to incorporate some design aspects of his art into my own work.
2.What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The things that I researched were able to help me improve some of the meaningful qualities of my art. By researching various aspects of 60's pop culture, I was able to combine certain elements with my design to formalize my artwork. Aside from being a fundamental aspect of my process, the research I conducted was not only informational, but also genuinely interesting and important to me personally.
3.What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Regarding the gay rights movement that has recently taken place, it overall makes me very happy for humanity and gives me a sense of unification. It makes me ecstatic that Americans and people from other parts of the world were able to come together and formalize and embrace gay marriage. The culture that I focused on when making this piece was American culture, specifically 60's pop culture. Much like Lichtenstein, I also drew inspiration from 60's pop culture. Despite the substantial difference between modern day culture and 60's culture, the main idea that I am conveying is the idea of love and romance, and those two things are timeless.
4.What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The ideas that were mainly present in Lichtenstein's artwork were simply allusions to the pop culture of his days. Back then, Lichtenstein would be heavily criticized for incorporating scenes from comic books and other media. Overall, the point of his art was to present something unique and new to the public.
5.What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I was mainly inspired by Roy Lichtenstein's pop art. The design qualities are both very bold and interesting. By drawing inspiration from Roy Lichtenstein's art, I was able to incorporate some design aspects of his art into my own work.
2.What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The things that I researched were able to help me improve some of the meaningful qualities of my art. By researching various aspects of 60's pop culture, I was able to combine certain elements with my design to formalize my artwork. Aside from being a fundamental aspect of my process, the research I conducted was not only informational, but also genuinely interesting and important to me personally.
3.What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Regarding the gay rights movement that has recently taken place, it overall makes me very happy for humanity and gives me a sense of unification. It makes me ecstatic that Americans and people from other parts of the world were able to come together and formalize and embrace gay marriage. The culture that I focused on when making this piece was American culture, specifically 60's pop culture. Much like Lichtenstein, I also drew inspiration from 60's pop culture. Despite the substantial difference between modern day culture and 60's culture, the main idea that I am conveying is the idea of love and romance, and those two things are timeless.
4.What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The ideas that were mainly present in Lichtenstein's artwork were simply allusions to the pop culture of his days. Back then, Lichtenstein would be heavily criticized for incorporating scenes from comic books and other media. Overall, the point of his art was to present something unique and new to the public.
5.What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?