Title: Sinner
|
- Inspiration -
- Process -
The first step in my process was to plan. In my sketchbook I started doodling the hands I wanted to print- I did this by first taking my reference image and breaking it into simpler shapes that would be easier to replicate, then drawing that on my own paper. Then I would go back in to start adding details like finger placement and shading. I was very surprised and pleased when my very first practice sketch perfectly showcased what I was envisioning. I did a few more sketches of the hands to practice for when I would do my final piece, then started doodling different barbed wires.
For the barbed wire wrapped around the hands I worried that it would be too thin or thick and look out of place on the print, so I went with one mildly thick line with another thinner one wrapping around it. For the spikes I tried sketching small, thin, triangles onto the wire, however upon looking back at real pictures of barbed wire I realized that there were no cone-like spikes, but instead sharp pieces of wire that stuck out. I used small V-shapes that would later be much easier to carve. My next step was to determine how the barbed wire would actually wrap around the hand. I had a hard time with getting this exactly how I wanted it; all of my initial sketches felt very awkward. After 5 attempts I got my wire to sit around the hand like how I envisioned it.
I experimented with a few other factors in my sketchbook before producing my draft- I tried adding blood rolling down the hands, something I initially wanted to include in my print, however after sketching it out I decided it would make it look too busy and did not end up adding it. I also tried to have the hands hold a rosary, but also thought that the print would look better as just the hands and the barbed wire.
I traced my block sheet onto my paper to get the most accurate graphite transfer. I used very thick dark lines on the parts I wanted to have transferred onto the block, and only did light lines for the shading and other small details to avoid a messy outline. I tried multiple times to transfer the sketch however it wasn't working, so I only ended up with a few faint lines. I then had to replicate my sketch-mirrored- onto my block print, by hand. This made me very nervous and I was worried it wouldn't turn out right, but I was very proud of how accurate it ended up being.
The next step in my process was to actually start carving. A concern I had before I started carving was that my shading lines were too thin and that it would turn out splotchy. The tools I used, however, allowed for extremely fine lines and the outline I did ended up being the perfect thickness. I started my carving in the shadow between the two hands, since it was thicker and gave me more room to make a mistake. I worked my way out from there, completing the initial outline before I moved on to the shadows. The hardest part of the actual carving was definitely the small, thin curves like on the fingernails or the swirls on the knuckles. After carving out the barbed wire, which I did last, I was ready to start printing.
- Critique -
Similarities between Salus Anime and my piece include: - Block printing method. Dürer used wooden block prints to create his illustrations in Salus Anime, and although I used linoleum, the process of carving into a block and pressing it with ink is still very similar. - Religious messages and iconography. The intent of the prayer book is to spread the word of God and to illustrate scenes from more dense religious texts. My print also has religious messages as well as blatant religious symbolism in the pair of praying hands and in the barbed wire, like the crown of thorns Jesus was made to wear. - Use of line to create depth. Both images from Salus Anime and Sinner use small, thin lines across the entire print in order to create the illusion of depth and shadows on the figure. Contrasts between the two pieces include: - Messages from religion iconography. While both pieces include religious symbols, they carry very opposing meanings. Salus Anime is used to promote Christianity and worship while Sinner is used to convey negative experience with religion. - Use of positive and negative space. The two prints almost look inverted when it comes to the use of the ink. Salus Amine was carved so that the ink would be what stands out, while Sinner was carved in a way that everything but the ink would create the image. - Focuses on different images. The prints in Salus Anime tended to be more full, depicting whole stories. My block print, however, was much more focused on just the set of praying hands rather than on detailed, complex, full-page scenes. |
- Reflection -
Overall, this piece was super fun to do. I had never dabbled in block printing before this, and was worried that I wouldn’t be good at it, however I was really pleasantly surprised by what I made. The entire process was very enjoyable, from the planning and sketching to the actual carving. I acquired the skill of carving and printing so that I may do another project like this in the future. The inspiration for this project was so perfect for me, it captured the look I was going for along with the religious symbolism exactly. Researching Durer and his prints was super interesting and I am definitely going to be purchasing my own linoleum block along with my own carving tools to make more art like this at home. I really hope others enjoy this piece the same way I do.
- ACT Connections -
1) Clearly explain how you were able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your art?
My inspiration for this piece was Albrecht Dürer's illustrations, mostly in his prayer book Salus Anime. Before researching different block printing styles and art movements, I had a vague idea of the design I wanted to make, and a theme in mind, but no clue as to how I would carry that out. The use of line to create depth in the illustrations of Salus Amine inspired me to use a similar shading technique on my own print. Dürer's 'Praying Hands' sketch also gave me a good reference since hands are difficult to draw.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Dürer himself was a devout Christian and the majority of his work was depictions of religious scenes or characters. He would have likely hated my piece and its message.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
While researching I learned a little bit more about the common religious stories and beliefs held in the late 15th/early 16th century in Europe, as well as more about the German Enlightenment and its art.
4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
In my research I looked specifically for religious art, to observe the different symbols it used to convey religion in a positive light, so that I could twist those to have a very opposite meaning. I also looked at different styles of block printing, and conveniently found Albert Dürers work, a combination of the two. It was also very lucky for me that he did sketches of the exact praying hand pose I wanted to print, even before doing any research.
5.) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I concluded that while the specific way religion was taught and enforced for me was only harmful, for others it was a major source of inspiration and happiness. I was never anti-religion to begin with, but how gorgeous Dürers work was portrayed Christianity in a much better light.
- Citations -
Dürer, Albrecht. Praying Hands. 1508, Albertina, Vienna. Lutheran Reformation,
https://lutheranreformation.org/history/durers-praying-hands/
Dürer, Albrecht. Salus Anime. 1528, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Met Museum
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/387751
https://lutheranreformation.org/history/durers-praying-hands/
Dürer, Albrecht. Salus Anime. 1528, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Met Museum
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/387751