Exhibition Text
This work takes inspiration from Rosa Bonheur from her landscape drawings that include an animal as the main focus point.
This work takes inspiration from Rosa Bonheur from her landscape drawings that include an animal as the main focus point.
-Inspiration-
For My inspiration I chose Rosa Bonheur, she focused on landscape paintings that included animals. I enjoy how Rosa was able to make a clear difference of background to foreground through color and size. Rosas knowledge of animal anatomy also fascinates me since animals are really hard for me to understand.
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-Planning-
When I first started this project I had thought of 2 different landscape ideas. My first idea was a forest with a pond and my second idea was a mountain view of the ocean. While choosing the landscape I wanted to make sure the animal that I wanted to paint was right for the environment. After a while I landed on wanting to choose a deer and that ultimately made me choose the forest since it would fit the animal better.
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After choosing my landscape location I wanted to experiment with composition. I came up with 4 different ways that I could format the painting while keeping most of the elements the same. I tested the idea of having a pond in the painting or a river of sorts. In the end I really didn't like the idea of adding any body of water and decided not to include them.
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Lastly I wanted to figure out what pose I wanted to have the deer in. The first sketch that I did was supposed to be reminiscent of a deer in headlights staring right at the viewer. The next sketch was a deer in a more relaxed state just living like normal. In the end I liked the idea of having the deer look at the viewer so I decided on that pose.
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-Process-
Once I had my plan and sketched out the painting on the canvas placing everything where I wanted it. Placing the deer being a tree to give it more depth.
The first thing I worked on was the trees, since I had never painted trees before it took my time choosing colors and deciding how to paint. For the main color of the tree I used a reddish brown, since trees aren't smooth I used different colors to make streaks to illustrate that texture. For the shadows I used a dark blue to help make the red pop out while also using the same streak method in order to keep up that texture.
The first thing I worked on was the trees, since I had never painted trees before it took my time choosing colors and deciding how to paint. For the main color of the tree I used a reddish brown, since trees aren't smooth I used different colors to make streaks to illustrate that texture. For the shadows I used a dark blue to help make the red pop out while also using the same streak method in order to keep up that texture.
After painting My first tree I went on to work on the rocks that I placed in the front, I used mainly greys but did add some blues in in order to separate the rocks from one another. After finishing the first rocks I wanted to add some more rocks around the painting to not make them look so out of place so I add rocks in a few more locations.
After that I finished working on most of the trees, In order to have a stronger difference between the background and front I decided that the more father back the painting it the lighter the colors would be.
After that I finished working on most of the trees, In order to have a stronger difference between the background and front I decided that the more father back the painting it the lighter the colors would be.
The next part that I went to work on was the leaves on the trees. Using yellow for the light and blue for the shadows created depth with in the leaves. For the texture I repeatedly dapped the canvas making the paint bumpy. Just like the wood I made the leaves continually get lighter the father back they were in the painting.
Finally the last thing to work on was the ground and the sky in the background. Just like the rest of the painting I made the ground get lighter the father back it went. For the sky I was originally use a darker blue but then I thought that a light blue would fit for the lighter background.
-Critique-
Similarities-
You can see that in both of these paintings that for the foreground its lighter and harder to see then the front of the painting to create depth.
Differences- The main focus in Rosas art are the animals themselves while in my painting its not the main focus.
You can see that in both of these paintings that for the foreground its lighter and harder to see then the front of the painting to create depth.
Differences- The main focus in Rosas art are the animals themselves while in my painting its not the main focus.
-Reflection-
In the end I was very pleased with my work on this piece since I was able to explore a different genre of art that I usually do. I do wish however that I took the time to really think about the ground and wish I added more color rather then just having a flat color all around. I feel like it throws off the painting a bit since the trees have a lot more detail compared to everything else.
-Act Questions-
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
I was inspired by all the landscape paintings shes made which in turn made me choose to paint a landscape for this project.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I researched deer and how they usually act in normal settings and situations.
4. What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
The central Idea was how deer act
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
That deer are social animals since they stay together
I was inspired by all the landscape paintings shes made which in turn made me choose to paint a landscape for this project.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I researched deer and how they usually act in normal settings and situations.
4. What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
The central Idea was how deer act
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
That deer are social animals since they stay together
-Citations-
French, R. B. (1879, January 1). Rosa Bonheur: Weaning the Calves. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435703