This portrait took me about 2 days to complete. I started with a sketch in graphite pencil and I used watercolor paint to add detail. I found it bland and boring. So, on the second day I used the return stickers from a package I received in the mail to add dimension. I cut up the stickers into triangles and squares, and pasted them almost like a collage to frame the face. After this, I used colored hair spray from an old Halloween costume to create the dark background. I used the backs of the stickers after I peeled them to create a stencil over the artwork and then I used the spray. I wanted to use the name of the business, Hello Merch, to send some type of message. I also wanted to use the barcode as a symbol of uniformity and conformity. I stuck this over top of the back eye as a type of band-aid. I want the numerous hello's to be some type of cry out from a world with no color or individuality.
This next portrait was done during my saturday sketchbook class. This day we went to the house of Edgar Allan Poe and we were to sketch the old decrepit walls and whatever came to mind. The portraits themselves were really quick sketches and were of my reflection. The house was really eerie to be in, especially the cellar. Most of these sketches were done on the top floor, where his wife Virginia suffered from tuberculosis for many years. It was extremely hot so it's easy to imagine what it was like to not be able to breathe up there, it's something I would never want to experience. I think this kind of feeling still stays in a place like this. Here are some shots of the building:
Lastly, the third portrait that I'd like to focus on is:
This was done on sunday, and It conveys my mood. The writing in the bottom right are the lyrics to a new song that was released this day. This is the most colorful piece so far, and I think that's because I was so overwhelmed with joy and happiness. I used the brightest colors in my palette as well as food coloring straight of the bottle, I listened to really happy music for a change and that combined with the fact that I became VERY organized, (I deep cleaned my room) It made me very motivated to do more. I spend maybe 4 hours total on this. First, I splattered plain old water on the page and then added the watercolor and food coloring. this made the color spread quickly. Next I got out my airbrush and this spread the color even further, creating the starburst like effects. I then used the airbrush to add some more color. Lastly, I used white paint to make a sort of negative sketch overtop, and this is what became the portrait itself.
Oh my god dude okay first of all. How do you do this? These are incredible, and though that's probably not saying much from someone with no artistic talent whatsoever, they really are amazing. Though I think my favorite part of all this is your descriptions and captions. I know how personal and intimate art can be, and I feel like with self portraits like these you're kind of showing a part of yourself to the world that you might not want to. I love how you talk about your feelings, your mood, what you're trying to express, even what you're listening to, because all of those play a huge part in what you create.
ReplyDeleteAND OKAY I was typing this on your second post, and I was like "hmm let me look back at his other post, I want to see that drawing again," and I go back to your blog and THIS POPS UP JEEZ MAN WHAT LIKE NO STOP
I'm seriously just so amazed and overwhelmed with what you can do. I love the use of all the different mediums (like, food coloring??? shipping labels??????? dude) and how you've manipulated them to get what you want. And again with all the context and the moods, and how they play in to your works. I could tell how happy you were in that last picture before even reading the caption. There's so much more I want to say but this is already too long so basically just keep up the good work and stand near me so some of your artistic talent rubs off on me/
ZOOEE you made my day omg. It means so much to hear that someone gets it. It takes a bit to even tap into inner feelings so expressing them can be sort of tough Similarly, music is another form of expression and creation. I think the relationship between art and music is VERY intimate. I can't wait to hear you jamming out on the Uke!!!!
DeleteHi Matt! First, your art is seriously so good, like really amazing. I think it is so so cool how you use different mediums for your art other than just the "traditional" paints and pencils and such. The way you used food coloring and stickers to add something to your art is really creative, and really adds to it. I also like how in all the pictures you have shown, you kind of have a certain style that flows throughout all of them, but each one displays a different mood/feeling. I like how the different colors and mediums you use really seem to add emotion, and the fact that all the art seems really personal just adds to it even more.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Madi!! A big part of my motivation for this project is to create and expand my own style so i'm happy to hear that it's apparent already. I really enjoy expanding in different areas so that's why I like to be as resourceful as possible becuase it will create an even more creative product. Thanks so much for the comment
DeleteWow, these are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I ever fully appreciated the amount of effort put into these art pieces. I understood that it took a lot of time, but I wouldn't have guessed that you used hairspray on the first portrait. Very clever!
I was also curious as to how long you'd say the average liked portrait takes. You said the first one took two days and the last one took four hours, and both were wonderful.
Good job so far, I can't wait to see your next piece!
Most portraits take me about 30 minutes to an hour. I chose to elaborate on these 3 specifically because I spent a different amount on each, but I'm still happy with the product. The second one was like, 5 minute sketches over the course of 2 hours, and more of a hodgepodge of ideas, so I'd say the traditional portraits take a more concrete set of time.
DeleteAll of your drawings are incredible, but you seem to have outdone yourself with the third and final portrait in this blog post. It is an explosion of color, and it conveys so many layers of meaning. The cool thing about your drawings is they usually find a perfect balance between abstract and concrete images and, in turn, a perfect balance between "old" and "new" art. I'm not always a huge fan of modern art (you probably know which ones I mean), but this some modern art I can fully appreciate and admire. I'm looking forward to seeing what you will create in the future!
ReplyDeleteLove the first piece on this post.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, your paintings are terrible. Just kidding. Great job, Matt. I really like the first painting in this post. The colors mix well, and I love the contrast of the purplish color to the black/charcoal in the majority of the painting. Just a suggestion, to show how talented you are in this skill set, post a picture of a self-portrait that I made next to one that you made.
ReplyDelete