Mixed Media
Thanks for the Tax Cuts!
91 cm x 91 cm
Mixed Media
December 2018
Exhibition Text:
A mixed media piece on canvas, Thanks for the tax cuts, reveals my frustration toward the Republican Party. It is inspired by Edmon de Haro's Boycott the Republican Party, Robert Nelson's Mr. Monopoly. For this piece, wire sculpture, Fun Bucks Play Money, Acrylic Paint, and fabric were used to compose this piece.
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Inspiration
Critical Investigation
Around the time I was brainstorming ideas for this project, it was the final few weeks before the midterms elections. Through those weeks, I became more and more annoyed by politics, more specifically, the policies of the Republican Party. It infuriated me when I heard about the party gloat about the Tax Cut and Job Act of 2017. Although the bill lowered federal taxes across the board, it mainly benefited the rich. The bill reminded me about the Monopoly mascot, Rich Uncle Pennybags. As time went on, I calmed myself by exploring political art.
One of the pieces I came across is from Edmon de Haro. Composed for an article from the Atlantic, both are called Boycott the Republican Party. "Edmon de Haro (Barcelona. 1984) is a graphic designer and illustrator whose work focuses on concept illustration and visual communication" (de Haro 2018). From his editorial illustration, I was inspired by use of the elephant as an opposing force in U.S. politics. After coming across his piece, I knew that I was going to incorporate contrasting colors in my piece. I was also inspired by his use of clean lines. This along with the contrasting colors promote movement from the elephant to its tusk and the country. Another piece I came across is from Robert Lyn Nelson. A contemporary artist, Nelson "... def[ied] categorization, having extensive bodies of work across all styles of painting & sculpture" (Nelson 2018). Although in my piece, I later decided to use it sparingly, I was inspired to incorporate money into my piece. I was also inspired by his use of Pennybags with a money bag. His use of the black line and bright, contrasting colors that surrounded Pennybags embraced movement, inspired me to surround the elephant with black paint as well. A dull background contrasts brightly painted Pennybags, which inspired me to apply bright colored figures on a white background. |
de Haro Edmon. "Boycott the Republican Party" 2018, editorial illustration
Nelson Robert. "Mr. Monopoly" Acrylic/collage on canvas.
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Planning
When I created these sketches, I had it set in stone that I wanted my piece to incorporate a red elephant (to symbolize the Republican Party) and Pennybags. For sketches one and three, I wanted Pennybags and the money bag to be on the elephant, because I considered the possibility of the elephant painted to big. I thought sketch #2 was too simple for assignment. The elephant drawn in sketch #1 was oddly shaped, so thus I went with sketch #3.
Outline of Steps
- Make Canvas (Gesso it)
- Sketch, the paint elephant on canvas
- Outline elephant with black paint (1-2 cm thick)
- Outline in bubble letters in pencil first phrase, THANKS FOR TAX CUTS, then use ink from pens, to fill in
- Create money bag with old fabric
- Create Pennybags from Wire Sculpture
Process/Techniques and Experimentation
Experimentation with Paint Mixing
Once I decided to paint my piece, I had to experiment with the paint. I noticed that the ¨Ruby Red¨ look more like a pink, rather than a red so, I considered adding some black paint. Mixing black and the "ruby red" made a magenta-like color. After adding a lot of orange, I noticed the orange turned the color into a orange-brown color. I presumed adding a little more "Ruby Red" would turn it into a more vibrant red, which was satisfying when it did.
Experimentation with Ball Point Pen Ink
To acquire the ink from the pen, I had to disassemble it, and only use the cylinder-shaped tube that holds the ink. I noticed that tap the ink, then drag it softly against the paper made it easier to bubble letter rather than blow ink off. (Blowing ink was more likely to end up with spit on the medium, since the ink and water didn't mix as I attempted to blow ink on the paper.)
Process
To begin, I had to stretch a canvas. After stapling four congruent stretcher bars and making sure it corner was at a 90 degree angle. A friend held down the stretcher bars as I stapled the canvas (material) around the bars. After that, I applied a layer of gesso onto the canvas until it was completely covered with it.
Here, I sketched the elephant, then I outlined it with black paint
Then, I mixed up some paint and painted the elephant.
From here, I assembled the monopoly figure. I first made its head and shoulders by loosely looping wire around my finger and then giving a 2 cm of wire for shoulders (for both sides) then bend at 90 degrees down. After that, I created the chest by giving a good 6 cm wide and 7 cm long area for chest. I made sure it is curved shaped near where lower back should be. I looped the head over the shoulder in order to make the wire figure look more like Pennybags. I then twisted the two wires together and made the wires extend into to form legs.
I attached two same sized lengths for the arms, which I then trimmed so that the arms stopped where the knees should be. I created loops for the feet After creating the general frame of wire figure, I created Pennybags's hat by looping wire with top of the head until it made a 1.5 cm height base. From there, I added more wire to build off that base. Finally, I added additional wire to Pennybag's frame until it had his body dimensions. To stick wire figure to the canvas, I extended a piece of the figure's head onto back of canvas, so it can suspend on it. (Gluing did not work.)
I began with sketch a money bag in my process journal. I then cut it out and traced over onto the fabric. After cutting out the fabric, I sewed the two pieces together, and checked if the sack covered the moneybag I sketched on the painting. After that I filled the bag with balled up pieces of paper and then super glued it to the canvas. After tracing it with black and green markers, I glued the paper used for to make the money bag onto the actual money bag.
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Initial Product
Revisions
Upon further reflection, along with some advice I got from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Katie Martin-Meurer, we agreed that the elephant seemed to big for the canvas and it seemed best if it was slightly smaller. We also agreed that that I should cover the entire canvas with the Fun Bucks Money. After I made these revisions, I covered up of the Ball Point Pen Ink and replaced it with marker because it looked off place through closer inspection. I also managed to glue the wire sculpture to my piece, by super-gluing excess canvas to the side of the canvas (and placing the sculpture in the middle.)
Final Product
Reflection & Critique
de Haro Edmon. "Boycott the Republican Party" 2018, editorial illustration
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Thanks for the Tax Cuts!
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Compare
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Contrast
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Nelson Robert. "Mr. Monopoly" Acrylic/collage on canvas.
Compare
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Thanks for the Tax Cuts!
Contrast
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Reflection
When creating this piece, I was primarily inspired by de Haro. My use of experimentation with the paint, helped me a lot, as it improve the overall quality of the painting. (The color was smooth.) In general, I am content on how my piece turned out but, I could say that I could sense that there is room for improvement. My wire sculpture has been improved upon, since it was, at first, hasty applied to the canvas, but after super-gluing to the canvas made it stick. I knew that the ink from the ball point pens was not something I wanted to keep, sine it needed retouching and and it was impossible to remove without rubbing it off, and then painting over it. A success I had with this project was that the work that after evaluating it, I could sense the unity all the elements the portrait has. Overall, although this piece at first was not well done, it is better.
ACT Response Questions
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
de Haro's use of the elephant in his piece, inspired me to do the same in mine.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author approached the topic in a biographic way, while explaining Nelson's style and purpose.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered that when people observe work from de Haro, they can connect to social issues in the status quo.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research was to find a artist that expresses political frustration through their work.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Throughout my research I inferred that de Haro created pieces related to political issues from the status quo.
de Haro's use of the elephant in his piece, inspired me to do the same in mine.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author approached the topic in a biographic way, while explaining Nelson's style and purpose.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered that when people observe work from de Haro, they can connect to social issues in the status quo.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research was to find a artist that expresses political frustration through their work.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Throughout my research I inferred that de Haro created pieces related to political issues from the status quo.
Bibilography
de Haro, Edmon. “About.” Edmon De Haro, 2018, www.edmondeharo.com/filter/The-Atlantic/About.
de Haro, Edmond. “Boycott the Republican Party.” Edmondeharo, 2018, edmondeharo.com/Boycott-the-Republican-Party.
Nelson, Robert. “Mr.Monopoly.” Robert Lyn Nelson, 2018, https://robertlynnelson.com/mr-monopoly/.
Nelson, Robert. “RLn RaN – AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY ARTIST.” Robert Lyn Nelson, 2018, robertlynnelson.com/about-rln/.
Wittes, Jonathauch Benjamin. “Boycott the Republican Party.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 25 Oct. 2018, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/03/boycott-the-gop/550907/.
de Haro, Edmond. “Boycott the Republican Party.” Edmondeharo, 2018, edmondeharo.com/Boycott-the-Republican-Party.
Nelson, Robert. “Mr.Monopoly.” Robert Lyn Nelson, 2018, https://robertlynnelson.com/mr-monopoly/.
Nelson, Robert. “RLn RaN – AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY ARTIST.” Robert Lyn Nelson, 2018, robertlynnelson.com/about-rln/.
Wittes, Jonathauch Benjamin. “Boycott the Republican Party.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 25 Oct. 2018, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/03/boycott-the-gop/550907/.