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inspiration artworks  - collage + op art + dreamlike scenarios (surrealism)

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inspiration artworks  - collage + op art + dreamlike scenarios (surrealism)

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This was the first sketch of the Op-art for the background of our final artwork. It is a design that counts with different sizes of curved lines and types of curvature, that together, creates the illusion of different spheres moving in different directions. This draft was made with only a graphite pencil and eye-copying from an image of inspiration. By creating this sketch, we were able to identify some areas of error and improvement. One of them was that when trying to create the final drawing based on this image, we realized that the center lines were too thin to draw using a pen. Thus, we had to change the image into another that followed the same concepts but had larger lines. The concept behind the choice of this kind of Op-art is: as it is the drawing that's going to be behind the collage, serving as a background, the lines should create depth and perspective, drawing the viewer's eyes to the center of it. If it contained other elements (like animal illusions, etc), it would dissociate from the context of the image. So, having just different geometrical figures adds up to its purpose of being a background.

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There are many ways that our artwork is connected to science. Firstly, as our piece intends to play with perspective and different size ranges, like a giant human, we will create a scenario that reminds the viewer of a dream; a place where no rules need to be followed and creativity is nourished. Dreams are electrical impulses that mix memories with thoughts during our first stage of sleep. Because of that, they may not make sense most of the time, as it is a bunch of stored information that together, create almost like a story. Furthermore, we are enhancing this idea of confusion with Op-art. As studied in the project, we learned that optical designs have the ability to trick our brain into seeing figures moving or even completing an empty space with its corresponding figure. So, when applying this technique, we work with brain functions by impacting brain wave patterns, emotions, and the nervous system.

In our literacy course, we read “Turtles All the Way Down”, which tells the story of Aza, a teen girl who suffers from OCD. Throughout the book, we come across multiple episodes of her obsessive thoughts, which consequently impact her life. She states that she doesn’t feel human and that she feels that she doesn’t have a voice over her own body. This can be connected to the sensation we feel while we are dreaming. As dreams are directly connected to  unconscious memories, we don’t have the power of controlling them, just like Aza not having the power to control her compulsive behaviors. Furthermore, OCD is a condition that arrives from traumas, which are also part of our unconscious memories.

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In the first place, a huge man in gray is purposefully used to convey an unreal scenario aiming to display an external creature. In the foreground, the extravagant delusional delineation with muted tones captures the viewer's imagination, inviting them to unravel the depths of the atmosphere. The town's vibrant reddish color adds contrast and earth caracterization.

The art piece aims to encourage reflection on the significance of recognizing the things presented to us and enduring the process of understanding their value. It invites us to embrace the unknown and expose ourselves to challenges.

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1 - remove the background of the chosen image 

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1 - remove the background of the chosen image 

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2 - create a blank space where the op-art will be merged in the collage using the sphere tool

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2 - create a blank space where the op-art will be merged in the collage using the sphere tool

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3 - using the magic wand tool, select the part of the background that will be deleted from the person's image 

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3 - using the magic wand tool, select the part of the background that will be deleted from the person's image 

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4 - place the person in the curated image and adjust its size

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4 - place the person in the curated image and adjust its size

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Artwork explanation/  Intended impact on the viewer

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Artwork explanation/  Intended impact on the viewer

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For our Surrealist-inspired work, we decided to take an approach that goes beyond traditional surrealist artworks. Our art piece involves blending Op-art and collage to create a "dream-like" scenario, which englobes one of the concepts of surrealism. For that to happen, we began our process by researching different pieces of inspiration, such as final artworks that used both media, raw photographs, and different optical drawings. After analyzing each of the components, we discussed what scene we wanted to create and what would be necessary to transform our idea into a well-planned piece. Thus, to achieve our goal, we decided that we needed good-quality images to create the environment and set the "storyline" of our artwork. Furthermore, Thiago and I will use Adobe Illustrator to generate an overview of the final picture, as the app is a great tool for arranging and organizing the images around. In addition to that, this adjustment is crucial as it enables us to re-size (increase or decrease) and delete parts of the images, allowing us to create depth, contrast, and most importantly, the dream-inspired illustration. Moving on to the second part of our idea, we also had to think about the Op-art that was going to be intercalated with the images. To create the designs, we picked two different images: one for the background, which relies on more geometrical shapes and patterns, and the second one that's going to be in the center of the picture. This one will have a spiral design, to create the illusion of a hole. For the drawings, which are going to be handmade, Thiago and I will use carbon paper and pen, so we can strictly re-create the lines and shapes.

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The sketch served as a deliberate pre-test for the materials and skills required for the final artwork. It all began with drawing inspiration from the excellent reference above. Initially, I printed the reference and familiarized myself with using carbon paper. Then, I positioned a piece of paper beneath the carbon paper with the printed image on top and traced it. Consequently, the sketch was produced. The significance of the sketch in the process was that it allowed me to gain experience with carbon paper. The most challenging aspect was not being able to see the drawing underneath and also being mindful of the potential for staining the paper. As a result, I was better prepared for the final artwork. Moreover, the main concept of the sketch is to produce an Op Art that provokes illusion; with its highly contrasting colors creating depth. In conclusion, the sketch connects to the theme of Op Art as it is an optical illusion piece that represents and brings on its lines all the history since mid 1960's.

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Our central concept for the art-work is Surrealism, however, represented using a merging of collage an op-art, in order to illustrate one of it's main pillars: dreams, the unconscious, and the irrational. The Surrealist movement emerged in Europe between World War I and World War II, as a reaction against "the destruction wrought by rationalism". With that, most artists involved in the movement created pieces surrounded by free form, which emphasized the idea of revelation of the unconscious. Overall, it focused on expression and the exploration of different worlds; fantasy, dreams, escaping reality. One of its main techniques was chaotic images, that evoked a psychic responses. In other words, exotic. Thus, by mixing Op-art with collages, we are able to reach something similar to what Surrealism aimed. In addition, we chose to work with this topic because it sparks creativity. When working with different medias and basing our selfs on this movement, we are able expand our inventory of ideas, as we get to play a lot with crazy and out of the usual artworks. Also, after learning how both Optical illusions and Surrealism have connection to the brain, me and Thiago were strucked on making something with an impact.