Block Print
Dreaming of together
23 cm x 20 cm Block print September 2019 Exhibition Text: The purpose of his piece was to represent the evolution of two people. The art piece that inspired me to do so was Café Terrace at Night Van Gogh made in September of 1888. In the piece there are many people on a terrace but I decided to make my piece focus on two people and show how their relationship will progress. The Rivers represent how they start as one and become closer over time. The mountains are representing challenges that will come while moving forward one the path to togetherness. |
Inspiration:
Planning:
The theme I chose for my piece is the relationship between the two people. In my piece I portrayed them holding hands looking into the distance where there is mountains, a river, and stars. The Mountains represent the hardships that will come since it typically is hard and a cold place when on a mountain. The rivers which come together represent how the both of them came from different pasts but as they go forwards towards the future they become one since in the scene they are portrayed as a couple holding hands but still a little distant because it is new to them. The stars represent all the people out there that they'll come across but depending on the path they choose it could or may not affect them. Café Terrace at Night inspired me to make a modern day terrace scene with things that would be considered things that could typically happen in our present time. Rather than the 1880's scene displayed by Van Gogh I chose to make it a two person scene that I created rather than a real point in time that I have seen. My 20 cm x 23 cm block print was carved and made to look like the final sketch I made though so far it does not look exactly like the sketch it looks at the least very similar.
The theme I chose for my piece is the relationship between the two people. In my piece I portrayed them holding hands looking into the distance where there is mountains, a river, and stars. The Mountains represent the hardships that will come since it typically is hard and a cold place when on a mountain. The rivers which come together represent how the both of them came from different pasts but as they go forwards towards the future they become one since in the scene they are portrayed as a couple holding hands but still a little distant because it is new to them. The stars represent all the people out there that they'll come across but depending on the path they choose it could or may not affect them. Café Terrace at Night inspired me to make a modern day terrace scene with things that would be considered things that could typically happen in our present time. Rather than the 1880's scene displayed by Van Gogh I chose to make it a two person scene that I created rather than a real point in time that I have seen. My 20 cm x 23 cm block print was carved and made to look like the final sketch I made though so far it does not look exactly like the sketch it looks at the least very similar.
During the process I began to brain storm by drawing a few sketches and seeing what I did like and didn't like and also looked at my inspiration piece to get inspired. I first drew two people looking towards each other enjoying each others presence holding hands on a terrace with a starry night sky in the back ground though I did like that sketch I felt like something was missing so I kept going and branching off of my previous sketches. I then drew a back ground since in Café Terrace at Night the background seemed to be an important factor and I wanted to incorporate importance into my background as well so I decided to make a terrace and mountains in the background to show challenging times for the both of them to come. Then I made the two heads one a male and one a female I wanted them to be looking towards their future rather than looking towards each other like something that was cliche.
When I was done sketching I transferred it onto my lino. After I used many different tips from the Speedball kit I bought to carve into the lino on top of a cutting block to prevent cutting the table or myself. Then when I finished I used ink and rolled it out onto an inking pan to smooth it out then rolled it onto my carved lino. After that I placed a paper into the lino and used a washer to press the ink onto the paper. Then I removed the paper from the lino and let the ink dry. |
Experimentation:
While Making this piece there was a lot of trial and error. In the beginning I did not have a clue as to what I wanted to do so I started to look up artists I learned about in my Art History class. I thought I wanted to do something in a similar style to Claude Monet but as I began to look I saw a piece by Van Gogh which caught my eyes, "Café Terrace at Night". The piece I made is a block print using the color black for inking. During the inking process I did not do my first print correctly it looked as if the bottom was on the top and I redid it because I wanted a cleaner copy. |
Reflection:
My art like my art piece has stars, a terrace, and people in it. Although Van Gogh uses his oil on canvas to create a realistic piece that he saw in his real life. I did not see the a visual of my piece displayed in real life I create mine based off of my imagination and the inspiration piece that Van Gogh made.
My art like my art piece has stars, a terrace, and people in it. Although Van Gogh uses his oil on canvas to create a realistic piece that he saw in his real life. I did not see the a visual of my piece displayed in real life I create mine based off of my imagination and the inspiration piece that Van Gogh made.
ACT questions
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its affect on your artwork?
- Van Gogh showed people on a terrace so I decided that I wanted to do something similar except make it into something modern and not real to I put a couple sitting on the edge of a terrace.
What is the overall approach of the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
- The use of texture and color were both two very prominent factors in Van Gogh’s painting Café Terrace at Night. The variety of textures in his painting was one of the reasons I was inspired. His differentiation between the buildings and the night sky are very conspicuous.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
- I have discovered that though it was long ago the place that Van Gogh painted is still standing in the same place it was 131 years ago. It is still running and its terrace is still in use. Over time terraces became modern demand for the wealthy.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
- The central idea was to convey a sense of relation between the two people in the piece. As a result the two are holding hands on the edge and looking off into the distance where a two rivers meet to create one. The rivers symbolize the paths that are in store for them as they to towards the future.
What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis if evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
- Throughout the process I have learned that there are a lot of perspectives and generalizations that affect the outcome of your piece. No matter the expectation there will always be a factor that may change due to mistakes or better ideas that come during the process.
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its affect on your artwork?
- Van Gogh showed people on a terrace so I decided that I wanted to do something similar except make it into something modern and not real to I put a couple sitting on the edge of a terrace.
What is the overall approach of the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
- The use of texture and color were both two very prominent factors in Van Gogh’s painting Café Terrace at Night. The variety of textures in his painting was one of the reasons I was inspired. His differentiation between the buildings and the night sky are very conspicuous.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
- I have discovered that though it was long ago the place that Van Gogh painted is still standing in the same place it was 131 years ago. It is still running and its terrace is still in use. Over time terraces became modern demand for the wealthy.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
- The central idea was to convey a sense of relation between the two people in the piece. As a result the two are holding hands on the edge and looking off into the distance where a two rivers meet to create one. The rivers symbolize the paths that are in store for them as they to towards the future.
What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis if evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
- Throughout the process I have learned that there are a lot of perspectives and generalizations that affect the outcome of your piece. No matter the expectation there will always be a factor that may change due to mistakes or better ideas that come during the process.
Bibliography
“Café Terrace at Night, 1888 by Vincent Van Gogh.” Henri Matisse, www.vincentvangogh.org/cafe-at-night.jsp.
“Cafe Terrace on the Place Du Forum Painting by Vincent Van Gogh Reproduction: 1st Art Gallery.” Oil Painting Reproductions
from 1st Art Gallery, https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Vincent-Van-Gogh/Cafe-Terrace-On-The-Place-Du-Forum.html.
“Just Fun Facts.” Fun and Interesting Site, 1 Jan. 1968, http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-mountains/.
“Café Terrace at Night, 1888 by Vincent Van Gogh.” Henri Matisse, www.vincentvangogh.org/cafe-at-night.jsp.
“Cafe Terrace on the Place Du Forum Painting by Vincent Van Gogh Reproduction: 1st Art Gallery.” Oil Painting Reproductions
from 1st Art Gallery, https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Vincent-Van-Gogh/Cafe-Terrace-On-The-Place-Du-Forum.html.
“Just Fun Facts.” Fun and Interesting Site, 1 Jan. 1968, http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-mountains/.