Sketches/Process:
As far as sketching goes for this project I didn't do much of it in a sketchbook. I decided to draw directly onto the wooden surface. I initially started drawing the female's face from imagination and it turned out "okay" but I wasn't satisfied so I looked online for a reference picture and that did the trick. The drawing looked more realistic and had a bit more for to it. That sketch was done with a normal pencil. Later on I went in with a red prismacolor colored pencil and drew over the graphite sketch to add a bit more detail and to sketch on the Dia de Los Muertos decorative patterns. It was very fun seeing the deck's design starting to come to life even without it being started yet. Process (contd.):
Again with this skateboard I started off trying to paint with skin tones that I mixed using only primary colors. It was working but I didn't want to continue to try to mix the same tone of flesh. So once again I decided to buy an already made skin tone and add a burnt umber or brown for the darks or white for the lighter ones. There was just much area that ended up needing to be painted in flesh tones. After painting in the main colors I went in with colored pencils over the paint just to give it a bit more depth and feeling of realism. Now i realize that this isn't the greatest nor realistic looking piece of art out there but I tried me best and it is one that I am most proud of. I still have a few finishing details I want to add to this piece but after that I will be spraying it with a coat of gloss for protection and putting one some grip tape to complete the look of a skateboard. This one however will remain just a show piece primarily because the skateboard deck I painted it on would more than likely not withstand much abuse from normal usage. |
Title: Calavera
Medium: Acrylic on Maple Deck Skateboard Size: 8in x 30 in Inspiration: Sylvia Ji, Brian Viveros, Dia de Los Muertos (Mexican Culture), Skateboard Culture Exhibition Text: In the creation of this piece I wanted to make a skateboard that I would want to own. The reason I say it's something I'd want to own is because it's a reflection of me. I took inspiration from my Mexican culture and Sylvia Ji for the Dia de Los Muertos style of face paint. As well as other personal symbolism that I try to incorporate in a lot of my work. Inspiration:
For this skateboard I drew inspiration from two different artists. The first one being Sylvia Ji (shown to the left). She creates portrait of women depicted wearing traditional Dia de Los Muertos (day of the dead) makeup. Her monochromatic color way and pattern were what originally attracted me to her art. She uses acrylic on wood panels which made her easier to relate to when painting on a wooden surface. The other artist that I drew inspiration from was Brian Viveros. I chose to also use him as because he is an artist I've been following for a couple of years now. His art was actually very inspirational for this piece because of how his girls are depicted. He uses their femininity to their fullest. Shows their inner as well as their outer beauty. He paint them nude but not exposing their naked breasts or female genitalia. This gives the viewer a chance to appreciate their sensuality and also allows them to view them in a vulnerable yet eccentric manner.
This picture is just to show the difference between the sketch and the final painted piece. A before and after if you will. I am very proud of how concise the painting is when compared to the sketch.
Difficulties:
The hardest I found difficult from doing this skateboard was having to use an old skateboard I had laying around. It was difficult because it wasn't the best skateboard quality compared to the first one. I was beat up and sanding it was a paint because it's not actually real would. Seemed to be a synthetic material. I fixed that by applying gesso to the surface. Other than that it was a piece of cake. I used my knowledge from the previous skateboard to make this process a bit less painstaking. |