Vanessa Tignanelli: 2011

10.10.2011

Series: "De Amicitius" Fatidus ("On Friendship" Fading)

Judy

Ink, Retarder and Acrylic on wood panel

12 x 25 cm

Vikki

Ink, Retarder and Acrylic on wood panel

12 x 25 cm

Libby

Ink, Retarder and Acrylic on wood panel

12 x 25 cm

In the Studio

9.28.2011

New Body of Work

I am currently in the process of creating a body of work on wood panel (approximately 1.5 x 2 feet) which investigates individuality, self-consciousness, gender, dynamic poses, the beauty of the body and creating a relatable image.

Self-Portrait

Ink, Retarder (Glaze) and Acrylic on wood panel

12 x 25 cm

Series

4.30.2011

And There They Were, Holding Feet Along the Way

Oil and paint scrapings on canvas

12x12inches

April 2011

Point of Creation

Oil and paint scrapings on canvas

April 2011

Where Hand Meets Foot

Oil and paint scrapings on canvas

April 2011

I began to concentrate solely on hands and feet, understanding their expressive and abstract qualities, while continuing my exploration of line, paint scrapings and textiles. The paint scrapings as nail polish are decorative and sculptural, yet are not gender-specific.

Liberated

Oil and paint scrapings on canvas

12x12inches

March 2011

Inspired by Jan Vermeer's "The Milkmaid", but with a contemporary spin. Rather than being portrayed in the kitchen doing her duties, I have rotated the composition so that the liquid would be pouring on the female instead, representing modern-day female rights and liberation.

Seduction vs. Comfort

30x40inches

Oil and paint scrapings on canvas

March 2011

My latest body of work merges my interest in line and paint scrapings onto a single canvas. I began to look at artists such as Egon Schiele and contemporary artist Hope Gangloff as inspiration for using line and drawing aesthetics in figure painting. I also began to look at Renaissance paintings for their themes, use of symbols and expertise. This specific painting references seduction and how this theme was presented in a Renaissance painting using symbols such as wine, textiles and musical instruments, all of which are found in this painting.

3.06.2011

Profiles

Paint Scrapings, Acrylic Paint and Glossy Spray on Masonite and Canvas Board

February 2011

Working in a collective can be a very useful tool during experimentation. I gather dried paint scrapings from others' palettes and make works that cannot exist without other artists' painting practice. The paint scrapings have the physicality of skin and allow me to dramatize the undertones of skin pigments.

Communication, 2011

Acrylic on canvas

January 2011

This painting symbolizes the relationships of today. First with the invention of the telephone, to texting, MSN Messenger and Facebook, face-to-face communication no longer exists as it once was. We seem to believe that relationships over a screen are viable and true. Yet what is missing is the emotion and expression of speaking to someone in person. This painting dramatizes the lack of face-to-face communication as a call for help.

1.20.2011

"How To Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass" by Dr. Christopher DiCarlo

This past Christmas holiday I was commissioned to illustrate the latest work of non-fiction by Dr. Christopher W. DiCarlo, entitled "How to Become a Really Big Pain in the Ass: A Critical Thinker's Guide to Asking the Right Questions". DiCarlo is a Philosopher of Science and Ethics who currently resides in Guelph, Ontario. The book focuses on human reason, brings together aspects of philosophy, biology, the neurosciences, chemistry, physics and the social sciences, and attempts to explain why Homo sapiens value the actions and behaviours that they do. It is being published by Promotheus Books, New York, going on a world tour throughout Canada, the USA and Europe this year and begins sales July 1, 2011. The following are pen and ink illustrations that I have created for use in this novel: