Sarah Ludlow and Professor Robert Barrett, Visual Arts Design
From my Fall 1998 submission of an ORCA proposal, I have since been extremely involved in the completion of my proposed project. As an Illustration major seeking a religious emphasis, I feel that the worth of a picture is to develop and motivate the mind to a better understanding of the truths of this eternal world. I proposed to paint a series of five large narrative paintings depicting the last three hours of Christ’s life in the Garden of Gethsemane. Because of the sacred nature of this project I felt like it was very important to increase my own knowledge and senses of the subject to a greater level of understanding.
My preparations have been valuable in every aspect of my spiritual and temporal understanding of the subject.
I began with extensive research on the books of the Old and New Testament. I also discussed process and plans with several church artists and design experts such as Del Parson, Robert Barrett, Bill Whitaker and Ralph Barksdale. I found their advice very valuable in procedural and artistic suggestions.
I soon became more interested in learning more about the cultural costumes worn at the time of Christ. I spent another semester involved in a course studying historical costume. As one of the best historical costumers in the nation, Carma Anderson has helped me tremendously with an accurate understanding of the articles of fashion and custom in the Holy Land worn nearly 2000 years ago. I’ve found her expertise and knowledge a great asset and resource in this project.
After all of my reading and research, I extended my study to a first hand experience in the Holy land. I spent two weeks studying the landscape and culture as well as specific places of historical and spiritual significance.
The sum of my project and feelings about art are perhaps best explained by an artist by the name of Richard Schmid, a painter who has become one of my favorites.
No one has your mind or your feelings. They do not notice what you notice, and do not have precisely the same sensitivities or fears. No one has the same idea of God as you. No one longs to embrace life or ponders death and beyond as you do. No one is human in the same exact way as you are. Once you understand this, your task is to get in touch with yourself. Find out what moves you, what you believe in, what you truly understand about life, who you are, and what this great experience of being alive means to you. Then put it in your paintings.1
At this time I have not yet finished the paintings. My plans now are to combine all of my preparatory work for the completion of the Gethsemane Series during Fall 1999 and Winter 2000 for my BFA final project in the Visual Arts Design Illustration Program. They will be displayed in a final show at the end of Winter Semester 2000.
References
- Schmid, Richard. Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting. Johnson Printing, Boulder, Colorado. 1998. pp. 191.