Envy: The Result of Being Incomplete

Envy
Lithograph
16" x 15"
2006

The first, or "negative," part of my two part exhibition series depicts emotions that are caused by a sense of dissatisfaction by the person feeling that particular emotion. Universally, we feel a sense of being incomplete because in the grand scheme of things we are all working towards Totality. We have to work towards totality because we are incomplete. We are incomplete because we were created. It's part of being human. As long as we are human, we feel and are incomplete.

Jealousy is the desire to have or be something else. Since something is missing, we feel incomplete and are compelled to fill gaps of emptiness. This lithograph portrays a person "green with envy" whose smile is questionably a smirk of disgust. Her hair, unnecessarily voluminous and superficially pink, serves as a great "cloak" for her true emotions. She literally hides behind the mass of pink fakeness. I really enjoyed playing with the pink and it's implications along with green and it's implications. The fact that they are complementary is a plus! I didn't feel it was necessary to dot the hair because it's supposed to be superficial, or not true to the nature of the person or emotion depicted.

In terms of labor, these prints are exhausting. This one in particular took me around 30 cumulative hours to print an edition of 10. I don't remember how long the design process took. I'm not completely satisfied with the product. There were some defects in the design. The good thing is that when I produce art, I learn from the mistakes I make. Mistakes are good. Now, I work more attentively on the preparatory sketches as well as the mylar drawings before I even THINK about printing.

Here is a look at a prep. drawing for this print:


Green With Envy: The Story of a Very Good Faker
Oil Pastel on paper
20" x 16"

The Dots: Thinking Universally

Paranoia
Lithograph
16" x 22"
2006

This is the very first print I produced in my senior thesis exhibition series of self portraits. In this 8 piece series which will be exhibited in May, I chose to pursue the theme of universals and particulars. All of the images have been composed of tiny dots-- stippling. The arranged group of dots (the image) represents humanity in that each dot can symbolize an individual being. Universally, we participate in the ultimate "whole."

Throughout my work, I’ve maintained an interest in the theme of universality-- universality composed of the particular things that are integral to and define humanity. My artistic endeavors are devoted to tapping into emotions. In my experience, emotions are what most primitively connect all humans to one another. Every day our emotional responses inform our actions and dispositions, whether positive or negative. Oftentimes, emotions seem inappropriate or exaggerated—a sign of instability and vulnerability. As a result, it has become rather unfavorable to express them. I’ve found that this type of condition is more common than we think. Our individual, particular emotions, although at times unreasonable, are universally experienced. It is our responsibility as intellectual beings to supercede negative emotions that enslave humanity. Instead, it is important to find ways to use emotions to elevate the spirit. The human body, most specifically, the face, manifests emotional responses most accurately. In this series of self portraits, I attempt to, as a particular, connect with a universal audience about the emotions we all experience.