Murray State's Digital Commons

Collection Title

Transience

Author/Artist Name

Savannah YoungFollow

Files

Academic Level at Time of Creation

Senior

Date of Creation

Fall 2016

Artist Statement

I’ve always been attracted to organic beauty and the inherent transience of nature, as well as the dichotomy of life and death and how one cannot be without the other. I’m interested in bringing the narrative of life into my work as well as paying tribute to the complex beauty of what occurs naturally in the world around us. I often focus on one subject in depth to give emphasis to their story in particular, whether it be a place or a living thing.

When conveying these ideas I rely on descriptive illustration and concise line work, because of my attraction to the definitive nature of line and stability in a piece that it can imbue. The medium I prefer is ink, which allows for precision and, when desired, adequate rendering. I enjoy the instant gratification and am able to enhance a drawing by means of detail and contrast. I typically choose subject matter that pertains to nature; whether it be organic decay, animals, insects, or plant life.

I want my audience to think when they see my work, and to read into the detail as they would a novel; finding the bits of information that I include to inform the viewer of the main subject. For artistic influences, I’m most attracted to the linear language of Art Nouveau. Specifically, the lyrical quality of Alphonse Mucha’s line work. I’m equally as inspired by artists like Christina Mrozik for the ability to create substantially beautiful work that is heightened in effect by her subject matter; she paints and draws flowers and animals that are unnatural in position, often with bone and muscle exhibited in a borderline biological analysis.

What attracts me to these things is how they’re able to pull attention to the beauty that is already around us, and create a dialogue between viewers and the things they ignore that live alongside them. If I can give an old story a new face for someone, it would be a greatest success.

Advisor/Mentor

Dale Leys; Nicole Hand-Bryant

Description

My work is an personal analysis of nature in a narrative fashion, I'm interesting in organic forms such as animals, bones, flowers, and various other plants to tell individual stories. My work is influenced by Art Nouveau in detail and line, and I often integrate free form sketches made subconsciously into my work to ink it back to myself.

The artwork listed is a combination of drawing and printmaking; in drawing I primarily use ink pens and washes, while in printmaking I largely use lithography. Both are fantastic for emphasizing line, contrast, and detail. All of which I try to implement liberally.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Young, Savannah, "Transience" (2016). Professional Practices (ART 399). 21.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art399/21