My Sins-Block Print
Title:My Sins
Size:71.12cm x 27.94cm Medium:Block Print Completed:September Intentions:Using the artist Kathe Kollwitz and the Church's Seven Deadly Sins I created a series of block prints to explore and show the sins that I felt I committed the most. These sins are lust, wrath, greed, and gluttony. Even though I am not particularly religious I thought it would be intriguing to examine just what exactly tainted my soul in the eyes of the church. Made or Found:Made |
Artist & Culture
Hunger Kathe Kollwitz
Kollwitz, Kathe. "Hunger - Kathe Kollwitz." Www.wikiart.org. N.p., 15 Sept. 2016. Web. 15 Sept. 2016. The artist Kathe Kollwitz from the German Expressionism art movement best fit my piece, because visually they look very similar. There is a harsh contrast between light and dark in both pieces. She also uses the same process of block printing/ printmaking. However there is a difference in our intentions. Kollwitz's works focus on sorrow, war, and poverty. I would consider these a result/product of committing a sin.While I on the other hand chose to focused on sins. |
"What Are The 7 Deadly Sins of the Bible." The 7 Deadly Sins of the Bible. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2016.
Greek monastic theologian Evagrius of Pontus first created the list of deadly sins. It was later condensed by Pope Gregory the Great. The seven deadly sins are sins that the church as claimed to be unforgivable by God. They are sins that will constantly taint your spirit. The official list contains lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. My block prints are intended to symbolize wrath, lust, and greed/gluttony. These are the sins that I feel I have committed the most. “Seven Deadly Sins.” ReligionFacts.com. 10 Nov. 2015. Web. Accessed 14 Sep. 2016. |
Tools
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Process0. Sketch the image you want to create ona separate sheet of paper, the transfer that image, using the graphite transfer method, onto the linoleum.
1. Lay down newspaper where you are going to work 2. Using the plastic pallet knife, transfer the ink onto the cookie tray 3. Using the roller spread the ink evenly on the cookie tray 4. Spread the ink evenly on the block print 5. Carefully place the block print, ink-side down, on the white sheet of paper, cover the back with another sheet of white paper 6. Using the barren evenly apply pressure onto the back of the block print for 1-2 minutes 7. Take off the sheet of white paper covering the back of the block print, and then slowly separate the block print from the paper on which it printed on.y 8. Repeat all the steps as necessary Planning First I had to analyze myself and choose what sins I wanted to represent. Then I had to sketch a symbol to represent that symbol. These sketches were done to fit the size of the linoleum so I would be able to transfer the sketch easily. |
Creative Process
I have no religious affiliation. However, that doesn't stop my mother from forcing religion into my life. I did not want to confirm into the Christian faith, so my mother and I worked out a deal. I would teach religion class with her every Monday for an hour. Learning about this faith over and over, I could not help but think of all the unchristian things I do wrong in the eyes of the church. I have always been fascinated by the seven deadly sins and there are some I feel I commit more than others. The first sin is lust. Let's face it, we are teenagers. Hormones and testosterone are raging through us in this point of our lives. Having wonders and desires about the body is a natural part of these changes. This is symbolized through the image of the naked bodies in an embrace. The second is wrath. Occasionally, I have a "bad attitude". I am prone to having anger outbursts towards the ones I love most. This is symbolized the the angry eyes. The last sins, greed and gluttony, I combined into one print. I eat way more than I should and I am extremely materialistic. These sins are represented by the naked fat woman's body.
I have no religious affiliation. However, that doesn't stop my mother from forcing religion into my life. I did not want to confirm into the Christian faith, so my mother and I worked out a deal. I would teach religion class with her every Monday for an hour. Learning about this faith over and over, I could not help but think of all the unchristian things I do wrong in the eyes of the church. I have always been fascinated by the seven deadly sins and there are some I feel I commit more than others. The first sin is lust. Let's face it, we are teenagers. Hormones and testosterone are raging through us in this point of our lives. Having wonders and desires about the body is a natural part of these changes. This is symbolized through the image of the naked bodies in an embrace. The second is wrath. Occasionally, I have a "bad attitude". I am prone to having anger outbursts towards the ones I love most. This is symbolized the the angry eyes. The last sins, greed and gluttony, I combined into one print. I eat way more than I should and I am extremely materialistic. These sins are represented by the naked fat woman's body.
Experimentation
I had to experiment with levels of pressure and amount of ink on the block print in order to get the amount of clarity in the image that I desired. When printing the first image I used the thinnest layer of ink and the lightest amount of pressure. There is clarity in the lines, but the background isn't the as solid as I would have liked it to be. The second imaged I increased the amount of pressure and ink. The line clarity was good and the background was darker. I decided to attempt printing one more time. The last image had the greatest amount of pressure and the thickest layer of ink. The background was a pretty solid black, but the line clarity is lost.
Reflection
This was the second time I have created a block print. I had to apply a lot of the skills I learned last year to this project. I feel these skills are improving with practice. I am learning how to better control the carving tools. I was really worried about carving the fine, detailed lines in the lust print. One print in particular gave me a difficult time. The wrath print had a small lip at the bottom of the linoleum, making it very challenging to get the ink to transfer from the bottom onto the paper. I had to use a greater amount of pressure and ink to make a good print. One last observation that I would like to make is I think my drawing skill have improved over the years in Reagan's art. I was able to draw all three of the sketches for these prints without a reference. I think I am developing a better understanding of the human body and proportions.
Act Questions
1. Kathe Kollwitz and the Christian beliefs in the seven sins have impacted my works. Kollwitz's influence can be seen in my medium, which was block printing, a medium she is popularly known for using. Also our works both focus on serious topics, her are most commonly war and grief while my topic was sins.
2. In a way the sorrow, war, and poverty that occurred in her country and that inspired her are products of sinning. Kathe Kollwitz would probably feel the same need that I do, the need to analyze the sins that she herself commits, that the people around her commit, and that the people in power commit.
3. Even though these sins are seen as unforgivable, and that was what I was taught, I don't necessarily believe that to be true. Clearly everyone "sins" however, I think its a matter of what people do after the do what is considered "wrong" that decides whether or not they can be forgiven.
4. I wanted to focus on sins and I knew I wanted to it be in the block print medium, because the contrast between black and white makes a bold, focused image/statement. So I researched the seven sins and Kathe Kollwitz to find a way to connect both ideas.
5. I concluded that Kollwitz created very powerful imagery. Some of her pieces just tugged at my heart strings. I also concluded that the seven sins in the Christian faith is a form of keeping people morally "in check."
2. In a way the sorrow, war, and poverty that occurred in her country and that inspired her are products of sinning. Kathe Kollwitz would probably feel the same need that I do, the need to analyze the sins that she herself commits, that the people around her commit, and that the people in power commit.
3. Even though these sins are seen as unforgivable, and that was what I was taught, I don't necessarily believe that to be true. Clearly everyone "sins" however, I think its a matter of what people do after the do what is considered "wrong" that decides whether or not they can be forgiven.
4. I wanted to focus on sins and I knew I wanted to it be in the block print medium, because the contrast between black and white makes a bold, focused image/statement. So I researched the seven sins and Kathe Kollwitz to find a way to connect both ideas.
5. I concluded that Kollwitz created very powerful imagery. Some of her pieces just tugged at my heart strings. I also concluded that the seven sins in the Christian faith is a form of keeping people morally "in check."