teapots and skull pieces

 "Cow skull"

Craft - 

Using a cow skull on top of a wooden white block as a model, the brush tool was used for the majority of the image. A background was painted with the bucket tool. For the first 6 layers, only certain strokes with one shade of color could be used throughout the image. For instance, only vertical strokes would be used for the first layer, using a medium gray throughout the whole skull and using vertical strokes whenever necessary. I would continue this procedure for the next 20+ layers, adjusting the direction the brush strokes would go and which shade would be used. I included highlights and dark shades to emphasize the shadows in the image. Most layers remained where they were and ones that were moved allowed lower layers to be more evident in the image. Brief tracings of the wooden block, a computer monitor and keyboard were added to show what was potentially in the picture.

Composition-

The composition is mainly a horizontal dynamic, from left to right. The Shadows are deepest on the horns which directs the viewer's attention to the left of the image. Following the other shadows that are lined on the eye socket of the skull, deeper ridges prevalent on the skull and the gaping hole that used to be the nose, the composition can move in this direction. Using appropriate shadows and highlights close to each other allows a more 3-D appearance of the skull, therefore adding depth to the object. Since little attention was placed on the background, the object becomes the main focus of the drawing. 

Concept-

Since I almost never used the eraser tool to get rid of any loose lines, there is a flow to the image. Similar to a gesture drawing, there are several holes seen in the image which gives the image a more spontaneous feel to it. The drawing itself can be seen as a work that focused on the process rather than the product. In other words, the artist is forced to focus on the steps regardless of whether the piece looked complete or not. The piece would appear abstract until just the right amount of proper strokes and shades were added, creating the final image. In a way, this particular piece was frustrating to make because of the initial limitations (i.e., forced to use one stroke per layer, one shade per layer) and it was hard to want to keep working on it because I was not pleased with the way how it was looking during the process. Once the piece was given enough time, suddenly the piece became recognizable to me even though a couple of layers ago, I wouldn't have had any idea what the object was. Therefore, give a piece enough time, produce a work of art.

"Tiny teapot"