Winter Break Update

Yes I am perfectly aware that is June, I'm just picking up where I left off. So the only thing I accomplished on the list from my previous post was finishing my entry for the King contest.  I was really frustrated with this. I did numerous sketches and started over several times. It took me a while to realize I shouldn't have entered this contest because what they were looking for isn't what I wanted to give them. I wanted to create something that was more than a nice looking drawing of King. I wanted to make something that would get people thinking. So I quit trying to put myself into the box and made what I wanted. I didn't win of course and I could have done better but I was satisfied with this start. It's called Contemplate the Dream, for now. Here's what I came up with:

Contemplate The Dream

 

 

Contemplate the Dream is a conceptual portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He of course is the main visual focus of the work. He is surrounded by quotes he spoke and the word dream repeated many times. This work was created as a contest entry in tribute to Dr. King. The theme was the “Moods of King” as the Dreamer, Dream-maker, and the dream-keeper. It is on a 16 X 20 sheet of paper created with black, blue, and red ink.

The first thing you notice when looking at this work is Dr. King drawn in contour and cross-contour lines with blue ink. There is no chiaroscuro in this work. All three-directionality is created by cross-contour lines and variation in lines weights. The lines used to make King are heavier than the ones used to write the words in the background. Even though the whole work is in shallow space, the difference puts King in front. In a color contrast, the word dream, which makes up majority of the background, is inked in black. “Dream” is repeated throughout the background with alternating capitalization of its letters. Scattered in between are quotes from King written in red ink. The used of blue, black, and red separate the components and enforces the roles each play in the work.

I wanted this to be more than just a tribute or acknowledgement to Dr. King. I wanted the viewer to think about what Dr. King stood for. I specially choose the quotes to inspire and challenge people to move to action. Also to encourage us to still work towards equality in a peaceful manner and not just ride on what we have already obtained. Particularly the only words written in blue “Through the chaos of life the dream still stands and never dies,” to be a reminder to continue the dream.

I have mixed feelings about this work. I really like the concept and layout. I like that to fully understand it you can’t just give a quick glance but actually have to examine the work. Often times we look at art at quickly judge it to be good or bad, or just pass it by, instead of really taking it in. The execution however, could have been better. For example, the words on the left side of King go at an angle while the words on the right go parallel. Also may be the quotes could have floated a bit more instead of being so close to King’s head. Which should have had a heavier outline to match his body.

Close up of things that could have been better

 

Those things aside, I think this work has merit because there needs to be more like it. Especially on the subject of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. I feel that, all be it a small part, "it's pretty" art is part of why millennials aren’t interested in African American art. Particularly art about the ever present fight for equality. Since they only see picture but not the message, the message is usually lost. As I practice my skills and get better, I'd like to do a whole series like this on the Civil Rights Movement along with other works that reflect that I am indeed an African American.