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Description

Hope Diminishing

For Sale?: No.
Type: Natural Media / Pop-up / Mannerism
Media/Tools: Watercolour paints on cardboard
Based on: Original Concept
Canvas: Approximately 10" x 13"
Date Created: October 2003
Special Information: Debuted at City Hall
My Comments:

.: intro :.
This is one of my favourite artworks I've done... completed back in October 2003. It was my Mannerist studio from my Grade 11 art class. It is one of my few completed religious-themed artworks, unfortunately... I would like to do more sometime. The Mannerist art style birthed art pieces that were a sort of revolt against the picturesque, religious paintings of the Renaissance. Although I do like the technical aspects of this art style, I wanted to use its almost depressing, mellow atmosphere as effectively as possible. It was the most appropriate for conveying my feelings on the religious theme I chose for this art piece.

Hope Diminishing was chosen to represent our high school at a city wide art exhibition at City Hall. It was then selected again to represent the top 100 art pieces chosen in the city, from all the high schools in the Catholic and Public boards. It was exhibited at City Hall for around a week. Unfortunately, I never did get to see it on display, and this art piece was almost lost after I couldn't find out where to claim it. Thankfully my art teacher managed to track it down. It was safely kept at the city's art centre . And now it's back with me, and recently, it served as a Sheridan portfolio submission.

This is the only pop-up piece I've ever completed formally, and probably my last watercolour I've done.

The rest of this commentary will include what I wrote in an art critique for this piece when I completed it:

Description:
In the foreground of the artwork "Hope Diminishing", a crowd of high school students, two angels and Jesus bearing His cross are standing on a road/pathway mixture. One of the school students is trying to assist Jesus, who has fallen, in carrying the cross. The angels grieve as they watch Jesus suffer. The pathway they stand on leads to the background and splits into a fork in the road, separating the path's two components. The road continues to the left, surrounded by leafless trees and streetlights, then disappears behind a hill where a city can be seen. The pathway leads to the right surrounded by leafy trees, disappearing behind a hill on which three crosses stand. The skies bear the colours of a sunset yet a large moon is the only source of light.

The painting was done in watercolor on cardboard, approximately 34 cm x 30 cm.

Analysis:
In this artwork, the elements used include space, colour, texture, form, shape and value. Value is created through the unnatural lighting, space through the perspective and sizing of the figures, colour from the skies and acid tones, form through the shading of the figures and objects, and shape from the various rectangular or circular objects in the background. The principles used include balance, harmony, variety and contrast. Balance is symmetrical in the way the larger figures near the bottom complement the detailed smaller objects near the top. Harmony is created through the unison of the acid-tone colours and in how the pathway/road links to all parts of the picture. Variety is used in the different kinds of shapes and forms. Contrast can be seen between the colourful skies against the murky greens of the ground.

Interpretation:
The artwork I have created contains a variety of messages or themes that can be perceived differently depending on the viewer. My exact intention was to portray a feeling of religious unrest between the Catholic faith and young teenage Catholics of today. Jesus falling with his cross is symbolic of the Catholic faith itself, in its diminishing of importance and power, dying in the rise of secularism. The angels that watch from a distance are representative of the good and compassionate people of the world who watch the suffering of the Catholic faith, but can do little to change it. The teenagers in the background represent young Catholics of today who feel alienated or at opposition to their religion, and instead encourage the rise of secularism. The young man who decides to help Jesus is representative of the small population of Catholic youth who still strive to keep the faith alive proudly. The double-pathway splitting into two directions shows the great division between secular societies of today (the city) versus the humble lives of faith (Calvary). The fork in the road demonstrates that at one time or other, many will have to choose between the two.

In a non-Christian perspective, Jesus can be seen to be symbolic of any person or persons that are suffering. The angels are again representative of those who have good will and feel empathy yet do not put in the action needed to make change. The high school students are representative of those who look on snidely and uncaringly while others suffer (ex. Bullying), while the one helpful boy is representative of those who still try to make a difference by helping others in any way they can. The roads can then demonstrate the split in the path between modern technology of today and life of the past. The dead trees of the modern times can symbolize the pollution and environmental problems of the present.

Judgement:
To achieve an effective mannerist style, I have used the following elements: acid tone colours in the grass, school uniforms, skin colours and sky; perspective through the vanishing of the roads/paths into the distance; elongated bodies for the figures; unnatural lighting with the moon in the sunset and almost day-time illumination of the scene; crowding between the figures; emotion in the grieving of the angels and concern of the young boy; religious tension between the characters and background; and the confusion of whether the setting is from the past during biblical times, or the present day.

I have put much thought and consideration into the symbolism of the artwork as a whole and its individual components, as well as the actual artistic composition. I believe it is a successful art piece while also being representative of the Mannerist style.

Peace. Love. Anime.

Kaliko Rosa
h t t p : / / w w w . k a l i k o . c j b . n e t

Kisses to my love, Tenshi Musouka

"Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."
-1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

"Let everything you do be done in love."
- 1 Corinthians 16: 14

Description

Hope Diminishing

For Sale?: No.
Type: Natural Media / Pop-up / Mannerism
Media/Tools: Watercolour paints on cardboard
Based on: Original Concept
Canvas: Approximately 10" x 13"
Date Created: October 2003
Special Information: Debuted at City Hall
My Comments:

.: intro :.
This is one of my favourite artworks I've done... completed back in October 2003. It was my Mannerist studio from my Grade 11 art class. It is one of my few completed religious-themed artworks, unfortunately... I would like to do more sometime. The Mannerist art style birthed art pieces that were a sort of revolt against the picturesque, religious paintings of the Renaissance. Although I do like the technical aspects of this art style, I wanted to use its almost depressing, mellow atmosphere as effectively as possible. It was the most appropriate for conveying my feelings on the religious theme I chose for this art piece.

Hope Diminishing was chosen to represent our high school at a city wide art exhibition at City Hall. It was then selected again to represent the top 100 art pieces chosen in the city, from all the high schools in the Catholic and Public boards. It was exhibited at City Hall for around a week. Unfortunately, I never did get to see it on display, and this art piece was almost lost after I couldn't find out where to claim it. Thankfully my art teacher managed to track it down. It was safely kept at the city's art centre . And now it's back with me, and recently, it served as a Sheridan portfolio submission.

This is the only pop-up piece I've ever completed formally, and probably my last watercolour I've done.

The rest of this commentary will include what I wrote in an art critique for this piece when I completed it:

Description:
In the foreground of the artwork "Hope Diminishing", a crowd of high school students, two angels and Jesus bearing His cross are standing on a road/pathway mixture. One of the school students is trying to assist Jesus, who has fallen, in carrying the cross. The angels grieve as they watch Jesus suffer. The pathway they stand on leads to the background and splits into a fork in the road, separating the path's two components. The road continues to the left, surrounded by leafless trees and streetlights, then disappears behind a hill where a city can be seen. The pathway leads to the right surrounded by leafy trees, disappearing behind a hill on which three crosses stand. The skies bear the colours of a sunset yet a large moon is the only source of light.

The painting was done in watercolor on cardboard, approximately 34 cm x 30 cm.

Analysis:
In this artwork, the elements used include space, colour, texture, form, shape and value. Value is created through the unnatural lighting, space through the perspective and sizing of the figures, colour from the skies and acid tones, form through the shading of the figures and objects, and shape from the various rectangular or circular objects in the background. The principles used include balance, harmony, variety and contrast. Balance is symmetrical in the way the larger figures near the bottom complement the detailed smaller objects near the top. Harmony is created through the unison of the acid-tone colours and in how the pathway/road links to all parts of the picture. Variety is used in the different kinds of shapes and forms. Contrast can be seen between the colourful skies against the murky greens of the ground.

Interpretation:
The artwork I have created contains a variety of messages or themes that can be perceived differently depending on the viewer. My exact intention was to portray a feeling of religious unrest between the Catholic faith and young teenage Catholics of today. Jesus falling with his cross is symbolic of the Catholic faith itself, in its diminishing of importance and power, dying in the rise of secularism. The angels that watch from a distance are representative of the good and compassionate people of the world who watch the suffering of the Catholic faith, but can do little to change it. The teenagers in the background represent young Catholics of today who feel alienated or at opposition to their religion, and instead encourage the rise of secularism. The young man who decides to help Jesus is representative of the small population of Catholic youth who still strive to keep the faith alive proudly. The double-pathway splitting into two directions shows the great division between secular societies of today (the city) versus the humble lives of faith (Calvary). The fork in the road demonstrates that at one time or other, many will have to choose between the two.

In a non-Christian perspective, Jesus can be seen to be symbolic of any person or persons that are suffering. The angels are again representative of those who have good will and feel empathy yet do not put in the action needed to make change. The high school students are representative of those who look on snidely and uncaringly while others suffer (ex. Bullying), while the one helpful boy is representative of those who still try to make a difference by helping others in any way they can. The roads can then demonstrate the split in the path between modern technology of today and life of the past. The dead trees of the modern times can symbolize the pollution and environmental problems of the present.

Judgement:
To achieve an effective mannerist style, I have used the following elements: acid tone colours in the grass, school uniforms, skin colours and sky; perspective through the vanishing of the roads/paths into the distance; elongated bodies for the figures; unnatural lighting with the moon in the sunset and almost day-time illumination of the scene; crowding between the figures; emotion in the grieving of the angels and concern of the young boy; religious tension between the characters and background; and the confusion of whether the setting is from the past during biblical times, or the present day.

I have put much thought and consideration into the symbolism of the artwork as a whole and its individual components, as well as the actual artistic composition. I believe it is a successful art piece while also being representative of the Mannerist style.

Peace. Love. Anime.

Kaliko Rosa
h t t p : / / w w w . k a l i k o . c j b . n e t

Kisses to my love, Tenshi Musouka

"Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."
-1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

"Let everything you do be done in love."
- 1 Corinthians 16: 14