As I’ve started exploring artistic mediums and genres and figuring out my own personal style, I’ve also began experimenting with incorporating emotions in my art pieces. I started out with just drawing simple things like vases and cats and landscapes, but I realized even basic pieces like that can embody various emotions that the viewer can be made to feel.
That, I believe, is what successful art is – it doesn’t really matter what it makes one feel, as long as something can be felt from it: joy, anxiety, rage, connection, despair, disgust, serenity. I’ve seen a lot of art, and I definitely haven’t liked it all; but regardless of personal taste, it’s the pieces that bring up strong emotions in me that make me pause in appreciation. Sometimes I agree with the message of the piece and sometimes I don’t, but no matter what, I’m able to learn something more about myself by what I feel from it.
Of course, the same art that speaks to me might not speak to others, and vice versa, so the notion of labelling art into categories of “successful” and “unsuccessful” may not always be relevant. The more I delve into the world of artists, whether painters or musicians or magicians, the more I realize how paradoxical it is.
Anyway, that’s a subject for another post. For now, I wanted to share my venture into weaving emotions and art together, in the hopes that I can make others feel, too.
I drew this piece with vine charcoal and charcoal pencils for my art class in school. It was inspired from Edvard Munch’s oil painting Weeping Nude; I loved the mood of the original piece and wanted to add my own interpretation to it. So far, this piece is untitled. I wanted to capture the despair and hopeless posture of the woman featured, as well as create a darker and deeper atmosphere around her. One of the beautiful things about artistry is that it can enable others to relate and connect with the artist through their work; I believe that is the hope of many artists. To be seen, and to know that others feel seen by their creations.
I hope to share more of my art as well as photography in the months to follow. Stay tuned for more of my work!
Great post Hazel! Your piece definitely emits feelings of darkness and sorrow. I remember how impressed I was when I first saw the drawing, and the emotion emanating from it. You are at the level of artistry where you convey emotion very well. I agree with your idea that many artists hope to be seen, and cause the viewers to feel seen as well from their connection to the art and the sense of relating or understanding. It’s much easier (or maybe it’s more acceptable?) to talk about hope and optimism, there is more discomfort around despair and struggle.
Thank you, Mom! <3
When I first saw this piece as you were working on it, I was hit hard by its darkness, and how well you captured that. As a parent seeing this, I can’t help but instinctively leap to “my kid needs help!” but I sat with the feelings this piece invoked and realized that it’s ok. It’s hard, but it’s ok. Great work, as always.
Thank you <333
To me this drawing has the potential to be of equal status as the painting of “Mona Lisa”. As a geoscientist, I see the personification of “Mother Earth” or “Mother Nature” as she experiences the “Anthropocene Epoch”.
I appreciate your analysis <3