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The Shining: Edvard Munch's The Scream

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Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” inspired numerous other works of art, my piece included. Appropriately titled “The Shining,” it plays off of Munch’s work created in 1893, although containing a very different subject matter. Munch’s piece captures raw emotion and immediately demands attention. The use of contrasting lines in this work form a unique composition, each one having a specific purpose. For example, the curvilinear lines in the sky mimic those of the main figure, while the straight lines in the bridge compliment those of the figures in the background. The harsh line formed by the bridge breaks up the image and allows the audience to make sense of the forms. Furthermore, Munch uses color to delineate space and create a scene filled with despair. The color scheme in this image is mainly blues and oranges - adding further contrast to the work by placing warm colors against cool colors. Just as Munch utilized those elements of art, he also worked to create a balanced composition. The …show more content…

As I created “The Shining” using micron pens and watercolor rather than a thick, opaque medium, the overall composition is very different. Depicted in the scene is Wendy and Jack Torrance from The Shining, one of my all time favorite movies. Similar to “The Scream,” this piece contains a contrast in color, although both the warm and cool tones are much more muted. The use of diluted watercolor throughout the painting in contrast with black ink illustrates the eerie mood seen throughout the Overlook Hotel. Additionally, my piece utilizes line similar to the appropriated work, as curvy or spiral-like lines balance the harsh, straight lines of the bridge. As an artist who is exposed to the media, I used a movie as my inspiration for this piece. It is as much an homage to an incredible movie as it is a depiction of human suffering and mental

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