Exhibition text:I've always wanted to create a self portrait I've just never had the time or materials to make one that I really wanted. I created this three foot by three foot piece using mainly oil paint and just a bit of acrylic. I thought It would be a cool idea to base my portrait off a photograph rather than another painting. So I kind of had some more artistic freedom when it came to the style of how I painted it. I didn't want it to be photo-realistic but I wanted it to look like it was like, well, painted.
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Self Portrait: Placeholder Photo at this moment
Date completed: April 2022
Medium: Acrylic and Oil on canvas
Size: 3ft x 3ft
Date completed: April 2022
Medium: Acrylic and Oil on canvas
Size: 3ft x 3ft
Inspiration:
I´m taking inspiration from the photograph titled : ¨ The most beautiful Suicide¨ taken only minuets after the incident by a photography student named Robert Wiles in 1947. The woman in the photo´s name is 23 year old Evelyn McHale. She took her life by jumping off the 86th floor of the Empire State Building. Her last wish before her death was that she didn't want anyone to see her body. In the picture, McHale is seen resting almost peacefully on the top of a mangled car due to the force of her fall. Her feet are crossed at her ankles and is clutching onto her peal necklace with her left gloved hand. In looking at the image without any context, one can believe it could be staged. ¨The most beautiful suicide¨ can be regarded as one of the best photographs ever taken. Many artists have taken inspiration from the artist throughout the years including Andy warhol.
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Planning:
It took me a while before I could come up with a solid idea for this project. I came across my inspiration photo in an article I stumbled upon online. It told me the story about Evelyn McHale and how she ended up lying on that car. It was such a tragic story. And McHale was such a beautiful woman. The photo is so dramatic and timeless and has been commemorated throughout history.
Process:
I began with having one of my friends help me take pictures of myself in the way that I wanted. I laid on my back on a bed and had my legs, head and arms elevated by pillows. We took about 10-15 photos, trying to figure out what positions looked best. I picked out which photos looked best and and edited them so the resembled the image I had in my head. Once I had my photos, I took my canvas and painted the background with acrylic paint. I used an olive green color. I started painting my the skirt with acrylic. But, when the area I painted was all dry, I decided to use oil paints instead to create this piece. I mixed difference shades of white gray, blue red, sienna and yellow to layer in the skirt to create a nice dimension within in. Next I blocked in most of the black/darker areas. When that was completed, I moved onto painting the skin. I used a majority of warm tones. Next I painted in some of the small detailing in my hands and face. I didn't want the painting to look exactly like the photo, i really wanted to make it look ¨painted¨. Next I worked on the hair. In the hair I noticed and abundance of darker cooler tones of browns and a muted pink color. I followed the way my hair moved with my paintbrush onto the canvas. Then I created a contrast with some small highlights. I went back and worked on the skin for a little bit, just cleaning up the edges and adding more color where it was needed. When I was mostly done with painting the body, I moved onto working on the background. In the photograph The Most Beautiful Suicide, the car underneath is is crushed by the force of Evelyn McHale´s impact from her fall. The metal of the car is dented and twisted around her body. I used different shades of white, grey, brown and black to create the dimension within the background. With a mixture of odorless pain thinner and just a little bit of oil paint to use a wash to outline of where I wanted to create those dents. Next, I painted all my edges. When that was finished and dried, I varnished the whole painting with a glossy varnish.
Experimentation:
I had a friend take Multiple photos of me in different positions until I found one that I really liked. In editing my pictures, I played around with the exposure, brightness, contrast and vibrance until I got my desired look. When I first began painting I had originally planned on using acrylic paint and acrylic paint retarder to kind of mimic the look of oil paints, but I didn't like how thin the paints were and I didn't really like the colors that I had. I ended up switching to oil paints with odorless mineral spirits. The paint was so much smoother and opaque I just decided to change things up a bit and use oil paints,
Critique:
Compared to my inspiration, there are many differences. The original photograph is in a crisp black and white while my reference and in muted color. There is much more contrast within my inspiration photo. I believe I did well in capturing the essence of the image and the emotion within it. The pose and the overall layout is merely the same. My Painting is focused more the the portrait while the photo of McHale is focused on the whole background as well as the portrait.
Reflection:
My dominant hand has been injured for the past few months making it difficult for me to complete art assignments. If it wasn't injured I believe that I could do a way better job in completing this assignment and just overall executing it. I really love the way I painted myself in this Piece. I have a mixture of hard and soft edges and cool and warm tones. when I was just about finished with my painting, somehow, but I don't know how, my dog came in when I wasn't home and she scratched up and smudged all the paint everywhere on my canvas. I was so defeated. I had put so many hours into this portrait for something terrible just to happen to it. At that paint I really just wanted to give up because I had put so much effort into this piece. But, I knew I had to keep going and fix it the best I could.
Connecting to the A.C.T:
1. Clearly explain and describe how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration upon your artwork?
- I am able to identify the cause and effect relationship between my inspiration upon my artwork because of the context and meaning behind the piece itself. Robert Wiles captured such a captivating photo of Evelyn McHale, though she is dead in the photo. There wasnt really a known cause for McHale's death by suicide.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
- Although Evelyn McHale never wanted to be seen by anyone, her portrait has been artists inspiration throughout history. So, In making this piece, I felt a little disrespectful towards McHale. But, in retrospect, I believe that my art piece connecting to the photograph puts out a strong message about mental health and society.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
- I discovered that Human Beings are fragile creatures. We feel so many emotions. And at times, It may be hard for us to control ourselves. But, it is important for us to persevere. Because If we don't, tragedy ma strike.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspiration research?
- The central idea/ theme surrounding for my work is the influence and the effects of mental health. I like to see beauty even when there is nothing really to see besides darkness. Ever since the beginning of time there has been a stigma surrounding mental health. And that it was taboo to openly express. But mental health is just as important as physical health. And people can no longer be silenced.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the bases of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
- Based on my evidence while reading my research.
Bibliography:
Serena, Katie. “The Story of the ‘Most Beautiful Suicide’ in American History.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 16 Dec. 2021, https://allthatsinteresting.com/evelyn-mchale-most-beautiful-suicide.