Self Portait |
Title: Ava Writing
Size: 91.44 x 91.44 cm Medium: Oil on canvas Completion: March 2022 Exhibition Text
My piece, Ava Writing, explores the expression of my own personal values of my work ethic while placing myself in an image produced by Caravaggio, Saint Jerome Writing. My painting is also an application of techniques used by Caravaggio in the Baroque period such as tenebrism and Chiaroscuro.
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Inspiration
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In his portrait Saint Jerome Writing, Caravaggio paints Saint Jerome, who is represented as aging and humanistic, despite being a religious figure. The saint's age is further emphasized through the presence of the skull, a symbol of what is to come for the saint. This representation comes from Caravaggio's value of representing the poor in light of religious figures. In Saint Jerome Writing, the saint is writing, which was associated with knowledge and deeply valued, however the saint has humanistic qualities, emphasizing the human capabilities in valued education. In my own work, I work to emphasize myself in the position of the saint, emphasizing my capabilities in education.
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I also plan to incorporate the symbolism of the skull into my piece as well, however I want to make the object more applicable to my own life. Caravaggio also uses tenebrism in Saint Jerome Writing in the highlighted and warm features of the skull and the saint emphasized through the dark values surrounding them. This is an aspect of technique of Caravaggio's work in the Baroque era which I want to incorporate into my work as well. As I will put myself into the place of the saint, my presence, along with the focus object in place of the skull, will be emphasized through highlighted warm colors in contrast to a dark background. The objects surrounding me will also be books, highlighting the value of my academic work.
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Planning |
The first part of planning for my painting included analyzing elements of Caravaggio's work, Saint Jerome Writing. Specifically, I decided to focus on the symbolization behind the skull and the meaning of the position of the saint. As the skull symbolizes the approaching death and aging of the saint, I wanted the object in the place of the skull in my painting to be more applicable to me. As the saint is also associated with creating education in his position of writing, I wanted my painting to ultimately represent a similar concept: my value and involvement in education and academics. The saint also points to the skull, creating a connection between the two.
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I decided that an object which would be more applicable to my own life to put in place of the skull would be a globe, which would represent my education by symbolizing one of my classes, Global Politics. In addition, in my painting, I would be seen in a similar position to the saint, with my arm pointing in the direction of the globe to create a connection between myself and my education.
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I also wanted to explore the presence of cloth in Caravaggio's Saint Jerome Writing. Cloth is observed in both the clothing of the saint as well as on the table, acting as a sort of tablecloth. I wanted to incorporate the same presence of cloth in my own work, as it is a prominent object in Caravaggio's piece. However, I also wanted to modernize the idea of using cloth into a presence which would be more prominent in my time period. I considered the ideas of using a shirt or sweatshirt with many folds in place of the red cloth which the saint wears to create a similar idea with a more modern impact.
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Another aspect of Caravaggio's work which I wanted to explore and place into my own work is the use of color. The dramatic use of vibrant hues is one characterized by the Baroque art movement. The use of a rich red color is present in the saint's clothing, and I wanted to incorporate a similar value in my work. In addition, the use of tenebrism is shown particularly in the warm colors applied to the saint's features and in the skull which contrast the dark background. As I wanted my painting to be similarly in the Baroque style, I wanted to incorporate this use of tenebrism and create an overall warm presence through the use of colors.
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Process |
The first step I took to complete my painting was to take a reference picture which I could work off of while I was painting. I set up a table with a tablecloth to emulate a similar composition to Caravaggio's work. Once I had taken a picture with myself in the place of the saint in Caravaggio's work, I edited to picture to better highlight the warm colors observed in Caravaggio's, Saint Jerome Writing. To do this, I adjusted the brightness and contrast in my iphone settings.
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I then placed a grid upon the reference picture which I took to simulate my painting. Due to the canvas being 3 x 3 ft, I made the grid into one-inch squares, which 36 squares in each row and column. Having this amount of squares would then allow me to achieve a level of precision and detail which is emphasized by the Baroque movement. I then sketches a basic outline of the elements of my image, including myself, the table, the globe, and the books.
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I then went on to painting, where I focused on certain objects of the piece at different times. While painting the cloth, I ensured that the cloth contained more dark values, while also highlighting the warm colors used by Caravaggio. The warm values were brought out mainly while I was placing detail in my face and especially in the red of my clothing.
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I apply similar values to Caravaggio with the use of red in the clothes and overall warm colors in the painting.
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I continued to add more detail as I began painting, especially in the globe and the books. I also worked to apply a similar application of tenebrism as Caravaggio by using a brighter value of warm colors in my forehead and contrasting the light and dark values in the cloth. After applying detail, I filled the background with dark values with a hint of red to create overall warmness.
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Experimentation |
One consistent source of experimentation throughout the completion of my painting was the warmness of the colors and lighting in the image. When taking my reference photo which I would use to use correct proportion and color, I experimented with different values used in the colors of the cloth as well and the colors of the background. While the Baroque style is characterized by dark background which highlight lighter objects, Caravaggio uses an overall warm use of color in Saint Jerome Writing. This aspect of his painting caused me to make the decision to incorporate more warm colors as opposed to cool colors.
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Another source of experimentation which I encountered early on in my process was how big to make my squares in my grid. Originally I made the grid 12 squares wide, which would create 3 inch by 3 inch wide squares. I then experimented with a grid with 36 squares wide, creating 1 inch by 1 inch squares. Ultimately I found the smaller grid better, as I wanted to ensure my painting had the most precision as possible, as the Barque style is characterized by attention to detail.
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the warmness and coolness of colors is a source of experimentation which I also encountered as I was painting. Especially in the colors used in the cloth, I slowly added hints of red and yellow values once the colors began taking on a more cool quality. I experimented with making many different lighter values on my color palette, where my colors consisted mainly or orange, yellow, and red values.
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Critique |
Similarities:
The overall use of color and tenebrism in both paintings are extremely similar. In both works, the people displayed in the images have features where warm colors are applied. These features are contrasted vastly with the dark values in the background of the pieces. The red color used in both paintings is present and seen observed in the individuals in the works. In addition, the tables both take on a wooden characteristic and have cool toned table cloths draping off of them. The composition of the paintings is also similar, as the placement of the objects in the painting resemble each other. Both the saint in Saint Jerome Writing and myself in my self portrait are presented in a sitting position and have arms extending towards another focus piece in their respective paintings. In addition, a tablecloth sits on top of a table in both works, with the presence of many books, which the saint, or myself, reads. Differences: Although the application of techniques are similar, the symbolism behind the objects of focus differ in meaning. In Caravaggio's painting, the skull which the saint's arm reaches toward symbolizes the concept of aging and humanistic mortality placed upon the saint. However, in my painting, the object in the place of the skull, the globe, symbolizes the establishment of education and academics as a value. With the use of similar colors to establish connection, Caravaggio implements a similar use of color on the features of the saint and that of the skull. This creates a connection between the two, as the skull and features are viewed as similar through the use of color. However, in my painting, the globe, which is in the place of the skull, contrasts the color of the features placed upon myself. This separates the elements of the globe and myself, establishing them as two separate entities, however the connection between the two are observed through the extension of my arm. While Caravaggio's portrait depicts a saint, my work is a self portrait. While Caravaggio places the idea of aging on a religious figure to emphasize the value of representing the poor and human figures, my self portrait places myself into the painting to emphasize my capabilities and values in academics and education. |
Reflection |
Through the works of Caravaggio, specifically his painting Saint Jerome Writing, I explored elements of the Baroque art movement characterized by techniques such as attention to detail and tenebrism. As I was able to achieve warm values in the facial features of my self portrait which were contrasted with the dark values of the background, I was able to effectively apply tenebrism to my own piece. However, I would have wanted to achieve a higher level of detail in my piece, as one challenge that I encountered while completing my painting is that in some instances, the lines are not defined and precise as characterized in the Baroque art movement. My inspiration, Saint Jerome Writing, by Caravaggio is reflected in my art, as my piece has similar use of color, tenebrism, and composition. For example, in both our works, the individual in the piece is observed writing and extending the arm in the direction of another focus object. While the symbolism behind Caravaggio's piece and mine differs, they both highlight the representation of values; Caravaggio's work emphasizes the value of representing the poor while my work emphasizes the value of academics and education.
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ACT Questions |
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
My inspiration caused the application of specific Baroque techniques, such as tenebrism, in my own work. The use of color between my work and that of Caravaggio is also similar in its overall warm qualities. In addition my work and Caravaggio's work, Saint Jerome Writing, while different in meaning, both express the representation of personal values. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration? When researchers approach information regarding Caravaggio, many facts about the artist are a result of speculation. Because Caravaggio lived long ago, much of the information that is known about him is a result of court records or interpretation. However, more information can be explored about the artist through the examination of his artwork, as he expresses a realistic depiction of life along with his values. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration? artistic influences can be from a range of many sources. While I obtained artistic influence from different Baroque artists within history, artists such as Caravaggio actually rejected the artists popular within his time. Instead, he gained inspiration from the people in power around him, as well as from the trauma he experienced throughout his life. What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?. My inspirational research is based upon the techniques applied in art in the Baroque art movement, such as tenebrism and bold use of color. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research? I inferred that much of the information collected about Caravaggio is an interpretation of his life through his artwork. |
Citations (MLA) |
The Calling of Saint Mathew, 1600 by Caravaggio, https://www.caravaggio.org/the-calling-of-
saint-mathew.jsp. Saint Jerome Writing 1605 - by Caravaggio, https://www.caravaggio.org/saint-jerome-writing-1605.jsp. |