Sustained Investigation #15
How can I use design to explore the importance of perception to the concept of beauty?
Process Images:
Sustained Investigation #15
Content
Approx. 8" by 10"
Materials: Sharpie felt-tip pen, gel pen
Artist's Statement:
Jillian Wight
Medsker
AP Art and Design
11 April 2022
For this piece, my plan was to create a sister piece to the previous one. In #14, I explored the negative side of my inquiry. How does beauty have a negative presence in someone’s life, through obsession, consumption, etc.? With this work, I wanted to dive into the more positive side. My idea was to depict contentment with appearance and the comforting presence of beauty rather than the intimidating presence. While the figure in #14 is portrayed at an angle that suggests beauty is dominant in their life (the viewer looks down on the figure), I wanted the viewer to look up at the figure in #15 to suggest that the character has mastered her interaction with concerns of beauty. I wanted to portray nature in a very serene, and “whole” manner for this piece because as the artist I draw a lot of inspiration from nature, and it’s a place I can feel peaceful and accepted regardless of appearance. I also used a color scheme that was much more understated.
I created this work using Sharpie felt-tip pens to help me create a cohesive and evocative color scheme. I used a white gel pen to layer over the pieces, adding a level of detail that tied the two together.
Most of my experimentation lay in the way that I made sure these two final works interacted with each other. I wanted one to be a clear reflection of the other, I wanted them to be opposites but the same. I wanted the composition to reflect the idea that a negative and positive interaction with beauty can be parallel in the life of a young girl, or at least from my perspective as the artist. I made sure to line up prominent elements like the figure and the sun, including some similar “core” colors like red, but portray this color in a manner that could be interpreted very differently depending on which piece the viewer examines. I really wanted the composition to evoke this idea of “yin and yang,” or complementing opposites. I am so happy with the result of these pieces, and I’m proud that I was able to create depth and clarify my subject.