Section 1: Finished Artwork
Embedded Files
Title: Even Miles Away
Size: 31.5 x 23.6 inches
Date of Completion:
Ideas: Using Oil Pastel to create Fauvism
Materials: Oil Pastel
Processes: Oil Pastel to create contrasting colors, using the inspired style of Fauvism
Section 2: Planning & Practice
I practiced ways of blending different colors for the four long strips. On the bottom six squares, I tried out different ways to apply colors.
I watched videos to test different ways to blend or add colors.
I thought stippling and scribbling would be a good choice for my artwork.
These two photos were what I was going to base my artwork on. One is from New York, the other is from South Korea.
Section 3: Experimentation
I experimented to see which colors would show contrast yet not look jarring. I wanted one of my pieces to have red (warm-tone) highlights and the other artwork to have blue (cool-tone) highlights.
I used my iPad to experiment with coloring different areas based on my picture. I made sure that the colors between the two pictures were somewhat complementary to each other. But I decided not to use green for either of the pictures.
Section 4: Process
Day 1:
I lightly sketched my drawing with a beige color pencil and started to lightly color specific areas based on the coloring that I did on my iPad.
Day 2:
I colored some important areas first so that I'm aware of what areas I should be careful coloring in. Ex. Blue stairs/trees and red tree/yellow path
Day 3:
I started using directional lines to create a grassy look for my first artwork. I'm also using scumbling and scribbling to create bush effects for my second artwork.
Day 4:
After doing the first layer, I began to darken some areas with the second layer. This would create a sense of depth.
Day 5:
I lightened some areas of the grass with a pink oil pastel, and I began coloring the left side. I also created some lines on the tree by engraving.
I felt like the yellow (with some orange scribbles visible) did not look good with the bushes, so I covered it fully with an orange oil pastel with line strokes visible.
Day 6:
I repeated the process I used on the previous days to complete the art project. Some thin parts of the artwork were created by engraving.
I made sure to have the background either light or dark to contrast with the environment and define the shape.
Section 5: Artist Statement
People will not be aware of this when looking at this artwork, but this artwork is based on my best friend since childhood.
We lived together in California and have been friends since we were nine years old. Unfortunately, we both moved. So she lives in New York, while I live in Korea. Even if we were almost on the other side, we still kept in contact for years. It was not until the summer of 2023 that I was able to visit New York briefly and meet her physically after 4 years of long distance. The bottom drawing is a photo I took while taking a stroll with her. We were apart for so many years, yet our friendship never weakened.
After returning to Korea, there was a day when our school went on a hiking trip, and while hiking, I saw the scenery (of the top artwork), which made me remember my friend back in New York. Possibly because I was hiking with my friends at that moment. I quickly snapped a photo and kept it.
The two artworks have color palettes that can almost be seen as opposites. It portrays how me and her are on the other side of the world. I also used different techniques for drawing the plants to emphasize the contrast. The only aspect that is considered the same is that the trees and objects are in the colors of the other artwork's environment. (Ex. The blue trees in the top artwork are the same colors as the blue environment in the bottom artwork, and vice versa.) So although, logically, the two artworks should be contrasting each other, it also creates a unifying look.
I wanted to portray how, even if we are miles and miles apart, we would always stay together (or unified).
This is my first time using only oil pastels for a project, so it was difficult initially. I was more used to creating detailed and small designs. However, with an oil pastel, it was difficult to create that same effect.
While working on this project, I was really busy, so there wasn't much chance for me to take it back home to work on it.
However, I believe the final result came out very vividly and blended, so I am satisfied with this result. Of course, there are aspects where I wish I had more time to carefully add in more complicated details. But with the amount of time I had to work on it, I am glad that I was able to finish an art piece that is dedicated to my best friend.
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