Cognitive Emotions

Abstracting Emotions #6

(C) JOHN FANSMITH 2019

ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #6 is the sixth in my “Abstracting Emotions” Series which uses two different types of my handmade paper. The printing, a hand inked and hand pulled monotype, was done on paper made from scrap watercolor, BFK, and business correspondence paper which were shredded, boiled together, sheeted and Plexiglas dried to create a white/off white relatively monochromatic and smooth printing paper. The print was then mounted on a different sheet of my handmade paper which was made from kozo and black dyed kozo in order to create a patterned and textured counterpoint to the print. (16” x 16”) (2019) ($250.00)

Abstracting Emotions #5

(C) JOHN FANSMITH 2019

ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #5 is the fifth in my “Abstracting Emotions” Series which uses two different types of my handmade paper. The printing, a hand inked and hand pulled monotype, was done on paper made from scrap watercolor, BFK, and business correspondence paper which were shredded, boiled together, sheeted and Plexiglas dried to create a white/off white relatively monochromatic and smooth printing paper. The print was then mounted on a different sheet of my handmade paper which was made from an old pair of blue jeans. (16” x 16”) (2019) ($250.00)

HESITATION, DEJECTION, and REVULSION accepted at the Fe Gallery

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I am very pleased to announce that three of my hand built, raku fired paper clay sculptures from the “Cognitive Emotions” Series: HESITATION, DEJECTION, and REVULSION have been accepted into the “Pattern and Abstraction” Show at the Fe Gallery, 1100 65th Street, Sacramento, CA 95819. For this national juried show, only 54 pieces were selected from 784 entries, and I am honored to have had three of the 54. The Show will run from June 2, 2019 until July 26, 2019.

DEJECTION

(C) JOHN FANSMITH 2018

DEJECTION, like all the three dimensional pieces in the “Cognitive Emotions” Series relies on the primary contour of the piece to evoke a particular emotion  and the glaze pattern and color to explore the role of cognition in that emotion. In DEJECTION the figure is erect but the head has a downcast aspect and a subdued and somber color. Hand built and raku fired using artist made paper clay. 15” x 12” x 11” on an MDF base.

 

RAGE

(C) JOHN FANSMITH 2018

RAGE, a hand inked and hand pulled dark field monotype, is a two dimensional piece in the “Cognitive Emotions” Series. The two dimensional pieces in the “Cognitive Emotions” Series use color to evoke the particular emotion and the internal lines to show the cognitive element of the emotion. Matted and framed to 20” x 16”.

 

REVULSION

(C) JOHN FANSMITH 2018

REVULSION is one of the strongest pure emotional pieces in the “Cognitive Emotions” Series containing the least cognitive involvement. The figure is twisted, turning away and pulling back from what is in front of it – an instinctive and unthinking reaction. The color is strong and consistent throughout the piece showing the depth of the emotion. Hand built and raku fired using artist made paper clay. 10 3/8” x 8” x 7” on an MDF base.

HESITATION

(C) JOHN

Until recently, cognition and emotion were thought to be separate elements.  Now, new research indicate a strong relation with cognition affecting emotion. HESITATION is part of my “Cognitive Emotions” series, in which the primary contour of a piece is intended to suggest or evoke a human emotion such as surprise, elation, or skepticism and the glaze to create a secondary contour showing the interplay between cognition and emotion.  HESITATION is hand-built and raku-fired using a smooth variation of my own artist-made paper clay and a high-gloss/high-reduction raku glaze, set on a MDF base.  15″ x 9″ x 9″.