Digital Painting
Self Portrait with dogs
Size: 94 cm x 102 cm
Medium: Digital Painting / Fire Alpaca
Month of Completion: October 2017
Exhibition Text:
This digital painting, Self-Portrait with dogs, was painted by Susana Flores in 2017. It draws lots of interests, since it contains so many aspects which are symbolic to Frida Kahlo. In this portrait, I am facing the viewer with a background of large green leaves behind her. On both sides of my shoulders, are the pets of my ex significant other.My expression is calm and solemn. It also seems she is confident with her gaze. I put so many symbolic creatures in this painting. Iwas not painting a realistic scene but using these symbolic elements to express my feelings. This is a painting about my resurrection after a break up
Self Portrait with dogs
Size: 94 cm x 102 cm
Medium: Digital Painting / Fire Alpaca
Month of Completion: October 2017
Exhibition Text:
This digital painting, Self-Portrait with dogs, was painted by Susana Flores in 2017. It draws lots of interests, since it contains so many aspects which are symbolic to Frida Kahlo. In this portrait, I am facing the viewer with a background of large green leaves behind her. On both sides of my shoulders, are the pets of my ex significant other.My expression is calm and solemn. It also seems she is confident with her gaze. I put so many symbolic creatures in this painting. Iwas not painting a realistic scene but using these symbolic elements to express my feelings. This is a painting about my resurrection after a break up
Artist Inspiration: Frida Kahlo
Surrealism is a style of art that was developed in Europe in the 1920s. Part of the inspiration for this art style was the newly discovered science of psychology . Psychology taught that the mind is divided into two parts, the conscious and the subconscious. Surrealist artists often produce art by letting their minds free from the conscious. Surrealist artists were interested in depicting the world through their dreams, nightmares, desires, and imaginations. Frida Kahlo was never interested in subject matter that was derived from dreams, instead her art was more autobiographical."They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality."(Kahlo) Although Kahlo never got inspiration from dreams like other surrealists, she was still identified as one, because her art contained many dream like symbols.
Frida Kahlo was the woman who painted brutal self-portraits, and she was also a wife who endured miscarriages and a broken marriage. Most importantly, she was the patient who tolerated dire, physical pain and underwent more than 35 operations throughout her life.Traumatic, physical and psychological events from childhood all the way to adulthood were a huge influence. In addition to these traumatic personal issues. Kahlo's subject matter also revolved around national identity. Her mixed ancestry of mexican and german provided a huge source of subject matter. She has now become a rich part of Mexican culture and a huge cultural icon. Her bold artwork and strong political views also made her a symbol of feminism.
Frida Kahlo was the woman who painted brutal self-portraits, and she was also a wife who endured miscarriages and a broken marriage. Most importantly, she was the patient who tolerated dire, physical pain and underwent more than 35 operations throughout her life.Traumatic, physical and psychological events from childhood all the way to adulthood were a huge influence. In addition to these traumatic personal issues. Kahlo's subject matter also revolved around national identity. Her mixed ancestry of mexican and german provided a huge source of subject matter. She has now become a rich part of Mexican culture and a huge cultural icon. Her bold artwork and strong political views also made her a symbol of feminism.
Frida Kahlo's use of Symbolism vs My use of Symbolism
( Taken from my comparative study )
Planning Sketches
I came across 3 photos that I liked for this project. They are all front facing and looking straight at the viewer. Except the last photo on the far right. In the end, I chose the middle picture as I was originally drawn to the posture and the angle of my portrayal. This idea went along with my inspirations use of headshots/portraits and theme of identity. |
Before I started creating the final image I came up with a few ideas for how it would look. The only idea I that I planned on working with was a general layout. The first and second sketches are done in Fire Alpaca in order to also experiment further with the tools. I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do. I wanted my face to be the main focal point and be surrounded by leaves similar to Kahlo. The animals in the final product were added at the last minute. The hoop earrings were an important symbol that has been thought about since the preliminary sketches. Another important symbol in this piece was the blue butterfly, as you can see in the sketches to the left.
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Process
I first uploaded my reference shot in a new layer and toned down the opacity so it was easier to see as I outlined my figure with a solid red colors. Instead of I going straight to filling in different sections with colors on one layer, I started outlining as if I were making line art because I wanted to stay true to my personal technique. Each facial part was done on a separate layer. I first layered on the colors of the skin tone as it served as a basis for the face. I continued with the hair color.and added the shading of the black in the hair and areas where I knew were going to be the heaviest in shading. I also took the time to add facial features where they were supposed to go by turning the sight of the skin tone layer off to outline my facial features. Later on I added the highlights and darker shades of my skin face and arms and added more detail to my eyebrows and hair. Once finishing my face and adding the lips, I focused on my shirt and the folds and creases created from my chest. Creating the creases in my shirt and layered darker colors on top of gradients gave the illusion of depth and form. After I then added the background with contrasting colors in the same style I did when I painted the shading in my arms and face. |
Materials |
Experimentation
Critique |
Reflection
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The third studio piece Self Portrait with Dogs, shares some similarities with my inspiration from Self Portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird by Frida Kahlo Similar to my inspiration, the idea of expressing emotions and feelings through symbols is important. Both of our pieces evoke tension between the symbols and colors to show the spirit of our past.
(see above) |
What I liked: I am happy with the way the realistic parts of the pieces came out, I think I was able to apply my own techniques successfully although this was very out of my comfort zone. I think the colors ended up working very well together in this piece, I was afraid that the green would both be too bright and overpower the whole piece, but I think because I made some of the leaved much paler it complemented the darker hues.
What I didn't like: The hair could use more depth, perhaps a stronger variety of colors and tone would add life or movement to it, because I did use a solid black color with no highlight at all. I also think I could have added more to the background in the same way. The leaf design looks great but i feel as though it lacks huge importance to the piece's aesthetic. I wanted to attempt something out of my comfort zone but in retrospect, it does nothing to add to the piece conceptually only aesthetically and connection to the artist. |
Connection to the ACT
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
There are certain aspect between the paintings that clearly resemble for example the leaves in the background, the butterfly, and the two animals on both sides. First of all, Frida Kahlo is a symbol of the Mexican culture which is why she is my main inspiration when talking about my own culture.
What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Frida Kahlo represented her culture with joy and pride, but in her paintings she always reflected upon two completely different worlds, the world happiness and the world of sadness. I decided to depict the world in between two cultures.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
My central theme and idea for this piece was to stay true to Frida's original meaning. She was going through a divorce and the painting all had symbols of Diego and suffering. I personally went through something similar.
What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
There are certain aspect between the paintings that clearly resemble for example the leaves in the background, the butterfly, and the two animals on both sides. First of all, Frida Kahlo is a symbol of the Mexican culture which is why she is my main inspiration when talking about my own culture.
What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Frida Kahlo represented her culture with joy and pride, but in her paintings she always reflected upon two completely different worlds, the world happiness and the world of sadness. I decided to depict the world in between two cultures.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
My central theme and idea for this piece was to stay true to Frida's original meaning. She was going through a divorce and the painting all had symbols of Diego and suffering. I personally went through something similar.
What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?