Date Presented

Spring 5-15-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Art

First Advisor

Prof. Siobhan Byrns

Second Advisor

Prof. Brooke Marcy

Third Advisor

Dr. Laura Kicklighter

Abstract

The emotional aspect of the visual arts has been researched and reviewed for decades, and many artists have completed work with the purpose to instill an emotional response in the viewer. How are emotions communicated and perceived through the visual arts? Utilizing knowledge from centuries of art theory, other emotion-focused artists, and the science behind the core emotions, I completed five multimedia pieces in complete isolation whilst triggering only one singular core emotion per piece. I used my understanding of myself and my emotional responses to center each piece around a different schedule, diet, look, and routine complimentary to the selected emotion. The emotions include five of the seven basic emotions identified by psychologist Paul Eckman; enjoyment, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust. This research and performance piece will provide insight as to how emotions can be used as an artistic tool, as well as how emotions can be translated through the visual arts from the artist to the viewer. My media and medium for the series will be: acrylic paint, ink, charcoal, and graphite on canvas that is 5’6” (my height) by 2 feet. I reviewed each piece on how well it communicates the selected emotion by evaluating art theories in relation to how they are implicated in my series, and also by providing insight to the experience of isolation and emotion in this manner.

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