Having completed some artworks with various styles and techniques, I decided to undertake a project with silk screen printing. I think that the idea will be unique and distinct from what I have been doing so far and will help me gain a different experience altogether. I have learned from my research that fine art print or silkscreen printing is very commonly used by Charles Fazzino who uses “different techniques depending upon the desired effect” (www.fazzino.com) an idea which I liked greatly since as an artist, I too do not like to follow any single style or technique but like to blend many techniques together in my works of art.
Silk printing enables artists to “utilize bright bold and true colors” in the process of reproducing their original and creative works of art (www.fazzino.com). Through my considerable experience with various artworks, I have learned the distinct elements of design that make a creation attractive and appreciative. Having studied Fazzino’s art and style of silk screen printing, I decided to begin work on my own creation based on this process. However, since I am not used to this form of painting, I am finding it very difficult to adapt to it and continue working on it. I am even contemplating stopping work on this and starting work on something with which I am more familiar. I think that even though I am not comfortable with the idea of working on a novel idea like this, I should continue because this is the way humans learn new things and we should not shy away from innovative ideas. I finally decided to begin work on this creation and so far I have developed an interest in it and have begun enjoying it.
The creation of this artwork was indeed a challenge since I wanted this piece of art to be distinct from all the rest I have done so far. I am trying to deviate a little from my basic idea which generally revolved around destruction, bloodshed, environmental degradations and problems on the earth. Through this creation, I aspire to depict the perfect world and what it would be to have such a picturesque and beautiful world without pollution and environmental problems around us. The creation required me to be perfect in order to achieve the 3D look with great precision. I also noticed that most of Fazzino’s creations have glitter on the edges, a technique that I liked and decided to use in my creation as well.
I first painted my illustration on canvas and traced it twice to get the best effect similar to what Fazzino does in most of his creations.
However, being a great artist that he is, Fazzino sends his original line drawing to a fine art printer, which I obviously cannot do at this stage of my learning process. I noticed that the printer plays a crucial role in the creations and works of Fazzino and this helps him to maintain perfection and precision. I deviated a little from Fazzino’s style which mostly involves painting the canvas, and used photo collage, a technique with which I have tremendous experience and have mastered the art. Even though I am using photo collages instead of colors, I have decided to retain similarity to Fazzino’s style by using Vibrant and bright colors, similar to the types he uses.
I began to feel innovative and highly creative and suddenly hit upon the idea of mixing some paint with the photo collage. I also used hot glue sticks which I cut in small sizes so that I could stick them below the pictures to give them 3D effect. However, I had to elevate some parts more than others so that some portions of my work had a single layer, while some had a double or even triple layer of glue to provide the necessary elevation. Fazzino creates individual screens of distinct colors which is a technique I tried to inculcate in my works.
I painted the background with different colors to achieve this effect. I also used collage for some trees in addition to paint. I tried to bring out the natural element as much as possible, which was not an easy task, given the fact that the 3D effect had to be achieved. I placed a parrot in the trees which was an extremely difficult task to achieve because I had to fit the parrot in the tree precisely and also ensure that it would be visible. More importantly, I had to ensure that the entire color scheme blended perfectly and did not look blurred or made up, since I wanted to retain the natural element of the creation. I also added some dry artificial flowers and leaves in the trees to give it the real effect and to make the entire look as natural as possible. The leaves and flowers were added on top of the college which made the entire creation look realistic, and this was a very satisfying trial.
Indeed, I am getting more creative and innovative by trying different styles and techniques. The addition of artificial leaves and flowers on the collage also achieves the purpose of lending beauty to the environment, something which I would not be able to achieve completion by the use of paint alone.
The fixing of flowers has ensured that the creation looks like a perfect landscape, one that appears very attractive and appealing to the human eye and people “feel like” being in such a place. By trying to achieve this effect I want to show people how beautiful the earth will be without all the pollution and related problems and how much humans would enjoy being a part of this beautiful earth.
A distinct problem I faced while painting the collage was my initial trial with water collage, for which I painted the collage with white paint. However, this did not turn out to be a very successful idea since the effect was not appealing. The creation was looking very “flat” and not attractive. Additionally, the colors in the background were not getting the much-required boost and the entire effect was dull and lifeless. So, I decided to change the entire color scheme and I removed the collage and re-did it all over again, this time without painting, only using water.
Although the entire exercise was tiresome, I managed to achieve the desired effect after much toil and labor. Apart from achieving the completely perfect look, there were other problems I faced during the course of my creation. Most difficult was the cutting of pictures, which I had drawn in multiple layers to achieve the 3-dimensional effects and then gluing them all together so that the entire creation looks like one coherent piece rather than single bits and bits and pieces of cuttings stuck together.
This is one of the greatest challenges of creative artists, and I had to ensure that my work looks like someone who has been working on and –practicing art for a long time; not like an amateur who has recently developed a newfound love for art. I also found that this process of mine is similar to Fazzino’s, though not in the actual sense. Fazzino derives his final look by drawing, cutting, painting, coloring and hundreds of pieces of museum board and paper which are then drawn and hand-printed. The process takes up to six months to complete the final effect.
I am also impressed with Fazzino’s style and the fact that he gains inspiration from so many places and tries new things like “sketching on paper, envelopes napkins” or anything he finds. I share a similar attitude of trying and testing things before I decide to do something finally. For instance, I used dry flowers and leaves, something which is not generally tried in this kind of artwork. I also used collage and tried using paint to try out new things before actually deciding to use something finally. This method and technique of work is something that I truly enjoy and it gives me immense sense of satisfaction when I am able to achieve the picture I have in mind. Since I was trying to achieve a totally novel style and technique in this creation of mine, I faced several problems, which I now do not regard as problems, but as milestones that enable me to achieve perfection through practice, perseverance and hard work.
The 3D layering style was very troublesome and required me to be completely focused on my work. However, after I achieved the final effect I was happy that my level of concentration had greatly improved. I also used several techniques of paint including oil and water paint before actually deciding what is best for my creation. One of my greatest hurdles was trying to mix paint with the photo collage, which despite the experience proves to be a challenge each time. But I endeavored and succeeded in the end.
Finally, this creation, this unique artwork of mine gives me a great sense of satisfaction because I have been able to achieve what I had imagined this creation to be. From the very beginning, I had wanted this creation to be a picture of beauty, which is itself a totally different idea from all of my earlier works which illustrate destruction, devastation and death. This creation is not only my individual desire for a beautiful earth but everyone’s wish for a clean and green world.
I have also noticed several similarities in mine and Fazzino’s artwork. His artwork Sun Day in San Diego also represents happiness and joy similar to my artwork. The colors used in both the creations are vibrant and bright. However, Fazzino’s artwork is more artistic and reflects greater precision as compared to mine, which I would like to perfect, over a period of time. Additionally, the artwork has a monument with a flag on it, clouds, waves, water and trees which are similar to my artwork. The work is also similar to mine with regard to the water scene created in the artwork. What I like most in his creation is the beautiful dolphin which gives it an extremely realistic and natural look.
My creation is a similar depiction of the potential of Bahrain to become a living heaven for people due to its advantage of being surrounded by water on two sides. The presence of the fort of Portugal architecture in the picture is also an indication that the artwork is Bahrain. The clouds, the beautiful rainbow, the vibrant colors and happy people, is my idea of a beautiful Bahrain in a beautiful world. Thus I can conclude that I have achieved greater skill and expertise through this creation. I have improved my ability to work with glue and give my creations a neater look. I am extremely pleased with the use of vibrant and contrast colors which bring out the beauty of the island.
I have used the medium of photography to create the mood of happiness and joy. I have maintained balance in the colors of this creation by using bright and dramatic vibrant colors such as red and yellow along with muted and subtle colors which give a pure and gentle effect such as blue and pastel greens. there is a wide range of tonal contrast in the work which has been achieved through the use of saturated, bright and strong colors in addition to subdued, delicate and faded colors to depict nature. There is a kind of buoyant energy depicted in the artwork as opposed to my other works. Energy and movement have been depicted through the creation of waves and I feel that I could have done more by adding some water animals for adding more life to the creation.
The distinct styles and techniques of collage, paint, water colors have all added to the overall beauty of the creation. Through my precision in cutting and joining, I have ensured that the line, shape and texture and well balanced in the work. I have also ensured that there is emphasis on natural and realistic beauty by the use of natural mixed colors. This creation is a true reflection of my practice, toil, effort and focus in creating new works of art, which I am now beginning to enjoy and relish. The whole process gives you a sense of satisfaction like giving birth to your own child and being happy when it looks so great after completion.
It is through the entire process which involves effort, toil, commitment, focus and the desire to succeed that I have been able to achieve true mastery in bringing my imagination and ideas to life. By using vibrant and a variety of lively colors I have added buoyancy to the work to promote the idea of fun and frolic on the earth, something which every one of us loves and desires to have in life. I have also maintained balance in the artwork by using realism as much as possible for instance, the flowers and leaves which I used in the creation. The texture of the artwork is accomplished using a mixture of collage and variety of paints and colors which provide the piece with a uniform look, more specifically, the 3D look which I wanted to accomplish. Another aspect that helped me tremendously to achieve a realistic picture is the use of glue which I used to make several layers of the different aspects of the creation which enabled me to elevate the different aspects of the picture, for instance the waves which had to be slightly higher and not on a uniform plane.
The creation is an illustration of my deepest and true feelings of a clean, green and lively Bahrain, one in which all people are happy and maintain the environment well, as a result of which mother nature blesses all its people. The use of The Bahrain flag is a clear has been used by me to demonstrate that the idea of the creation is based on Bahrain and this has been further endorsed by the use of the Bahrain boat. The entire scene in the creation is full of life and happiness with people swimming, playing, relaxing, tanning and thoroughly enjoying themselves on the beach. Indeed, this aeration would be a dream come true, if it were to happen in real life, something I wish for from the bottom of my heart. Truly, this artwork can be appropriately named “Walking on Sunshine– A Reality in Bahrain”.