Artist: Malia Lyons
Title: Abyss
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 91.5 x 45.5 cm
My initial idea for my major has been dark and morbid concepts with deep meanings behind the visuals. My starting point was to list fears and mental disorders that people struggle with, creating a feel for tragic and dreadful ideas.
My first step was to brainstorm different artists to look at, style, different media, and what I want to express in my art. Right from the start I knew I wanted to do something morbid and depressing. After the brainstorming stage, I then searched through a book featuring dark art to find artists. I experimented with different media and techniques, developing stronger ideas. I then grew an interest in art from the renaissance period, so I researched about different artists from that art period. I visited the Art Gallery of South Australia to look at some Renaissance artworks. After doing enough experimentation and responses to artworks, I sketched out my final idea which I was happy with.
Techniques that I looked at were stippling, hatching and crosshatching. However, I didn’t use these techniques in my final artwork since I developed other ideas. A technique I did use in my final was adding a plain base colour for the background and figures. I then went over it, adding shadows and lighting.
The artists I have researched are Francisco Goya, Hieronymus Bosch, and Martin Bell. My work relates to Hieronymus Bosch and Francisco Goya, with the dark visuals and use of black shadowing. I applied a lot of black to my piece, with a small section of light. This can be seen in Francisco Goya’s work. His works “Saturn Devouring His Son” and “The Colossus” both have a large amount of shadows and dark areas, with small portions of light.
Creative processes I followed are preparation, experimenting with different materials, and identifying sources of inspiration. Before starting on an artwork, I sketch my ideas first and then use that for reference. I experimented with acrylic, charcoal, acrylic mediums, and techniques. I collected artworks from a variety of artists and looked at an art period that I was interested in, that being the renaissance period.
I did change my ideas along the way. I originally wanted to do a more cartoon style but still with the dark visuals. After looking at Renaissance art, I wanted to do a more realistic style.
The mood that my art creates is a dark, morbid, and depressed feeling. My Gran and Pa both depicted it as someone who is drowning in deep water. My mother depicted it as someone falling down a hole. The use of the dark abyss surrounding the falling person creates that lonely and depressed feeling. The demons in my artwork also contribute to the negative mood within the painting.
I used dull and dark colours to express the dark meaning behind the art. By having the majority of the artwork in black, it contributes to the meaning of depression.
Title: Abyss
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 91.5 x 45.5 cm
My initial idea for my major has been dark and morbid concepts with deep meanings behind the visuals. My starting point was to list fears and mental disorders that people struggle with, creating a feel for tragic and dreadful ideas.
My first step was to brainstorm different artists to look at, style, different media, and what I want to express in my art. Right from the start I knew I wanted to do something morbid and depressing. After the brainstorming stage, I then searched through a book featuring dark art to find artists. I experimented with different media and techniques, developing stronger ideas. I then grew an interest in art from the renaissance period, so I researched about different artists from that art period. I visited the Art Gallery of South Australia to look at some Renaissance artworks. After doing enough experimentation and responses to artworks, I sketched out my final idea which I was happy with.
Techniques that I looked at were stippling, hatching and crosshatching. However, I didn’t use these techniques in my final artwork since I developed other ideas. A technique I did use in my final was adding a plain base colour for the background and figures. I then went over it, adding shadows and lighting.
The artists I have researched are Francisco Goya, Hieronymus Bosch, and Martin Bell. My work relates to Hieronymus Bosch and Francisco Goya, with the dark visuals and use of black shadowing. I applied a lot of black to my piece, with a small section of light. This can be seen in Francisco Goya’s work. His works “Saturn Devouring His Son” and “The Colossus” both have a large amount of shadows and dark areas, with small portions of light.
Creative processes I followed are preparation, experimenting with different materials, and identifying sources of inspiration. Before starting on an artwork, I sketch my ideas first and then use that for reference. I experimented with acrylic, charcoal, acrylic mediums, and techniques. I collected artworks from a variety of artists and looked at an art period that I was interested in, that being the renaissance period.
I did change my ideas along the way. I originally wanted to do a more cartoon style but still with the dark visuals. After looking at Renaissance art, I wanted to do a more realistic style.
The mood that my art creates is a dark, morbid, and depressed feeling. My Gran and Pa both depicted it as someone who is drowning in deep water. My mother depicted it as someone falling down a hole. The use of the dark abyss surrounding the falling person creates that lonely and depressed feeling. The demons in my artwork also contribute to the negative mood within the painting.
I used dull and dark colours to express the dark meaning behind the art. By having the majority of the artwork in black, it contributes to the meaning of depression.