Artist's Statement:

Jillian Wight

Andreson

Honors Art

June 12, 2020

To create my paintings, I experimented quite a bit with processes and techniques. The materials I used and the general style of the series challenged me, but I improved greatly and learned a lot. Before beginning my paintings, the first thing I considered was the purpose of the assignment, and the time I had to do it. I planned to spend 2 weeks on this piece, learning and exploring my skills for the first few days and then beginning work on a series of 3 final paintings. The sketches that I completed are attached below. I strived to use a variety of materials and explore many skills. In general, I’m really happy with the outcome. Not only do they look cohesive, but they were also very effective and educational. After focusing on these sketches for a few days, I gathered materials and began my final piece. To start, I laid out the first of my three, 9” by 12” canvases on a flat surface and used a chip brush to wet it lightly so that the paint would spread a bit more easily. Then, I mixed a color scheme by combining the primary colors along with black and white. I put this paint in cups rather than on a palette because I needed quite a bit for the pieces. Once I had created 3-6 colors that I believed fit the theme, I added the thickener I had made from cornstarch and water to the paint. In hindsight, this thickener worked excellently while the paint was wet, but ended up flattening as my work dried. This was a bit disappointing, but I was able to overcome this struggle later on in the process by layering on more paint. After the paint and thickener were combined and all my colors were ready to go, I dipped a 3” chip brush into the color I wanted to be predominant. I then proceeded to dip the brush into the other colors. While this did contaminate the paint, it wasn’t a problem because I had already planned to mix the colors in the paintings. Once the bristles had been dipped in all the colors I’d mixed, I laid the brush on the edge of the canvas and dragged it across, pressing down hard and twisting the brush to create a rough yet voluminous effect. I then repeated this process a few times to successfully use the space and then used a toothpick to drag in a few more engaging colors. I then set the painting aside to dry, repeating these steps with the next two canvases. By the time I had gotten to the third canvas, I decided to try something new and refrain from using thickener. It ended up working very well, and the paint maintained its volume much more successfully. After painting on the base colors and brush strokes, I left each canvas to set overnight. Because the paint was so thick, it had not dried fully the next morning. This was ideal for my next step because the colors were stable and would not mix but I would still be able to move the paint around. I used a rectangular, small brush to push the paint out of the way and make space for details in each piece. Then, once the canvas had dried completely, I used a very tiny brush and illustrated the details for each of the three paintings. I then let these sit for about 24 hours, and came back to them with fresh eyes, making minor adjustments as needed. There was a bit of variation in my technique, as from painting to painting I learned what methods worked and what didn’t. Overall, the project evolved from a vague idea to a successful, educational series.

Most predominantly, color was an essential part of my artwork. I carefully considered color schemes that would fit and enhance the themes of each piece and made sure that when smudged together, the colors would still look clean and effective. Since the defining details in each painting are small, my color choices helped to draw attention to those figures and create balance throughout the piece. I believe that the fluid, abstract color palettes also helped illustrate movement. Another important element was texture. The thickener I used created excellent, rough texture, especially in the oceanic piece. Texture was also a big part of the other two paintings and is illustrated in my brushstroke movement and placement of paint. The pattern of texture creates movement throughout the piece, and in some cases emphasizes details. The thickness of the paint guides the eye towards the subject of the painting. Although not quite as significantly as color and texture, line and shape were also part of the piece. Due to the composition, these elements were focused specifically in one or two areas of the piece. This concentration of detail created emphasis in my artwork. Finally, space was very important to the series. On each canvas, I struggled to make sure that I was interacting and experimenting with the space provided. This was difficult, but in the end, it was successful. I think that my use of different types of brush movement did a great job of engaging with the canvas, as well as my placement of detail. These elements created balance and unity within my artwork.

Although my pieces are largely abstract, I chode the subjects carefully and intentionally. I wanted my pieces to convey the idea of life, and its many sides. I illustrated the natural world, the imaginary world, and a personal, human world. I wanted to show the unique beauty of all of life, and the abstractness of our view of reality. I think that this goal was achieved, and I’m very proud of how my work came out. On a personal level, I was inspired by events of my own life. Just a week before I began my project, I was at a protest during which a speaker stated that he didn’t feel he could play an angel in his church’s play because of his skin color. This stuck with me, and I chose to portray angels of a few different ethnicities to illustrate the magnificence of all humankind. I was also inspired by my love for nature and wildlife, which influenced my portrayal of the ocean. Finally, I was inspired by some of my happiest memories, and the feeling of nostalgia that I have now knowing I will be unable to enjoy a summer carnival with my friends this year. All of these details about my philosophies greatly impacted the decisions I made and inspired the subjects of each painting. In my work, I am most proud of how I was able to illustrate depth using paint. This is evident specifically in details such as the fish and the hot air balloon. I have found this skill difficult in the past, and I was very happy with my progress. I think that the element of concentrated realism in my series really added to the overall effect of the paintings. Although I was pleased overall, I did struggle a bit. Not only did the thickener flatten, removing the richness and volume to the paint, but the shape of the canvas was difficult to fill effectively. I overcame these struggles by layering paint and mixing deep colors as well as experimenting with placement and technique when it came to brushwork. I am so proud of how these pieces came out, and I’m glad I attempted this new style!

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