sustained investigation #6

Why Vincent Van Gogh?

Vincent Van Gogh arrived at the psychiatric hospital on May 8th, 1889. Van Gogh was diagnosed with epilepsy, accompanied by his "acute insanity" and hallucinations. Van Gogh used painting as a remedy, painting from inside of his cell out looking a garden. After a year Van Gogh increasingly felt trapped at the hospital and wanted to leave as soon as possible. Van Gogh found it difficult to deal with the uncertainty of his future and illness. He felt lonely and depressed nevertheless, he was extremely productive, creating 75 paintings in 70 days. Van Gogh used painting to illustrate his struggles while also finding escape in his works. 

Reflection 

I opted for acrylic paint for the foreground and subject matter to ensure a detailed expression of emotions. After trying various mediums, I found that ink pad and stamp best conveyed the depth I desired for the background, while also saving time. Experimenting with composition suited the theme of frustration in the subject. Transitioning from foreground to background, my goal is to depict the chaos and confusion of dyslexia the stamps helped achieve this through different sizes of fonts and unorganized placement of letters. 

This artwork began with experimenting with different compositions to convey frustration and defeat in the subject. Various mediums were tested for the background to evoke depth, movement, chaos, and confusion. Guided by the question "In what ways can my art illustrate transformative experiences that have shaped me as an individual?" the piece includes a paper marked with "fail" in front of the subject, reflecting personal struggles in school. The foreground portrays this struggle, while the background offers insight into the experience of dyslexia. 

This artwork allowed me to express a hidden aspect of my life to viewers, challenging me to convey a narrative through emotions, details, and subject matter. I enjoy facing this unique challenge. In the future, my artwork may explore another transformative experience, challenging me to illustrate the experience and convey the emotions felt. My next piece might also be influenced by my upcoming trip to New York City, the largest city I've ever visited, evoking a sense of discovery and exploration.

Visual Art Journal