VCD101: WEEK 4
Andy Warhol (1928 – 1987) is one of the most significant figures in the Pop Art era. His works explored the connect between celebrities, culture and artistic expression. He created on a variety of mediums such as; painting, silkscreening, photography, film and sculpture. But some of his most famous works are that of silkpainting, like the Campbell’s Soup Cans, 1962.
“His aesthetic was a unique convergence of fine art mediums such as photography and drawing with highly commercialized components revolving around household brand and celebrity names… Warhol loved to maintain an element of personal and professional mystery, admitting that he never discussed his background and would invent a new persona every time he was asked.”
(https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-york/new-york-city/articles/andy-warhol-and-his-artistic-influence/)
Warhol himself was infactuated with the concept of fame itself. He understoof the artificial and superficial nature of stardom: the way images of celebrities were used to sell, used to promote things. Which he himself used in his own practise. His response to the world, was a response to the world he found himself in, the limelight, hence why a big portion of his art was heavily celebrity, ‘Hollywood’ and consumerism based.
(https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/andy-warhol-2121/what-was-andy-warhol-thinking)
Wes Wilson (1937 – 2020) was an American artist who created in the Psychedelic period of art. Famous for his Psychedelic Posters in the 60s he first became known for his rock show posters advertising for shows at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.
“Posters had been used to advertise stage shows for decades, but most were utilitarian conveyors of date, time and place. Mr. Wilson, along with several other poster artists, took the form to a different level, one full of loud colors, attention-getting imagery and vibrant typography. He didnt let the posters he created just be used for advertising purposes, if he was going to design… he was going to DESIGN. (Image: The Young Rascals, Sopwith Camel, The Doors, 1967) (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/30/arts/design/wes-wilson-dead.html)
The 60s were those for the free of mind. An era known for its peace signs and blurred lines, Wilson took insiration from his surroundings. He worked around artists and music while creating this posters so he responded with what he felt the music sounded like. Though he was influenced when working to promote rock shows his earliest work was actually a poster as a response to America’s involvement in Vietnam. And he didnt shy away from sharing his political thoughts. Seen in Are We Next, 2013. Wilson created an extension of the Psychedelic artmaking with his use of typography but he also created new world within his posters with his use of colour and aesthetic.
STUDIO REFLECTION
I think from the very beginning of the task when we got into the studio I was already letting design history dictate and influence the way I edited my images. I like how Warhol let his fascinations guide his art making since the beginning to the end of his career.
I’m definitely refrencing Pop Art AND the Psychedelic colours of the era. In photoshop im trying to get this certain colour scheme going with my letters.
I want the reference to Pop Art with the kind of dots and clutter of blocks of colours to be prominent in my letters. So I feel my composition is Pop Art but my colours (I hope) refrence more of a Psychedelic style.
I have this aethetic of these like of pastel colours blending with dark blocky lines and colours. Here of some exmaples that I feel I was able to properly execute these thoughts I had.
swoon 