Category: 325

Mythical

by kdehart

Mythical

Keeley DeHart

5.5 x 8.5 inches ink on paper

This depicts the mystery behind mythical creatures like fairies and pixies. Recently, they have been depicted as kind and whimsical creatures that care for land and largely go unnoticed by people. However, in Irish folklore, fairies and pixies are evil creatures that kidnap whoever steps into their domain or even their traps known as “fairy circles.” Those trapped by the fae are not subject to time and have spent hundreds and even thousands of years within the faeries’ land. I wanted to convey this mystery and juxtaposition between renditions of the same creature by presenting a silhouette easily recognized as a fairy, while hiding the details that hint as to which kind it is.

Let The World Burn

by kdehart

Let the World Burn

Keeley DeHart

22 x 30 inches, watercolor and ink on paper

This project was created using watercolor and ink on paper. I wanted to create a romantic tragedy inspired by classic literature such as Romeo and Juliet. The scene depicts a couple within a crumbling ballroom, fire and and destruction in the background. The couple is dressed appropriately for the event, fit with formal wear. They are seen kissing and holding each other passionately and perhaps with desperation. The colors are bright and vivid, almost clashing with each other in order to depict the intense chaos within the scene. The fire and the characters are both center in order to grab the viewers attention while also emphasizing the passion and chaos of the setting and the relationship between the characters.

Artist Bio

by kdehart

Keeley DeHart studied studio art with a focus in drawing, painting, and printmaking at Stony Brook University, where she also minored in art history and digital art. She was born on April 12th, 2000. She grew up as the middle child in New Jersey along with her sister, half brother, and stepsister. Her house was always filled with pets that she loved dearly. Though briefly living in Rye, New York at the age of 13, Keeley moved in with her mom in Somers, New York in 2014, where she is based to this day. Her large family and her separation from them can often be seen within her works. Her love for nature and animals is often the subject of her pieces as she is an environmentalist who yearns to educate her audience on topics that impact the earth and the future of humanity. Dance also greatly influences her work as she has been a performing artist since high school and is currently on 3 dance teams based in New York City- Evermore Dance, Not Shy Dance Crew, and OFFBRND. She loves the dynamics dancing allows her to implement within her own paintings.

Keeley’s favorite medium is graphite as it is easy to use anywhere that inspiration strikes. However, she developed a special technique using acrylic and thinning medium. This technique required mixing very little paint with the thinner in order to create a sheer layer on top of a preexisting painting. Although being shortly mentored by artist Alan Reingold, Keeley DeHart has never received former art education outside of her major, and largely credits her skills to being self-taught and naturally gifted. Keeley DeHart has been a part of the “Spaces of the Mind” student exhibition at the Staller Center in addition to the 2021 Fall Senior Honors project online exhibition (in-person exhibition TBA), and expects to graduate with honors accredited to this esteemed achievement.

Artist Statement

by kdehart

My name is Keeley DeHart, and I am an artist with a focus in drawing, painting, and printmaking. My art has various common themes throughout, such as fantasy concepts, mental and physical illness, and using the body as a form of expression. This is due to my childhood and upbringing as a dancer in addition to being surrounded by fantasy and myths as I matured. I frequently found myself digesting Disney, even running a 10k throughout Walt Disney World. These story book tales often inspire my own artwork as they are easily recognizable due to the prevalence of Disney in Western culture and media. This allows the audience to connect and relate to my work by recognizing themes and characters from their childhood. Even if not portraying the characters themselves, the fictitious and illustrative style is often found within my own work as I often use Rococo designs and 1800s fashion as inspiration for my art. However, I also like to change the style of these garments worn by my subjects in order to allow them more movement and dynamics within my pieces. This brings me to my next theme of using the body. As a dancer and someone who emphasizes physical health, I often use the body as a way of expressing myself and my messages throughout my artwork. I also have been attempting to overcome my own physical limits. I have lumbar spondylosis and SIJ dysfunction, which greatly impacts my ability to create art and dance, both of which I am extremely passionate about. Both consciously and subconsciously, I use the human form as a way of coping with these limitations and my own story in overcoming them. Despite this physical disability, I strive to create captivating art and dances that can inspire or connect with the audience. It is hard to stay positive and mentally and physically fit when dealing with such a prevalent feature of my life, and this depression and seemingly hopelessness is conveyed within my art by depicting injuries, muted and dark color palettes, and mature subject matters. The joy of movement and the nostalgia associated with fairy tales also influence my work through bright colors, dramatic lighting and shading, and so on. Every piece I create and exhibit is also a piece of me, and gives the audience a glimpse into my life and my own vulnerability.

Project 3

by kdehart

Disney’s Deception, 2021

Keeley DeHart

12x18in print

 

Artist Statement:

 

We all grew up hearing renditions of the same fairy tales meant to teach us a valuable life lesson while preserving the childish hope that we, just like every protagonist, will get our “happily ever after,” the original stories, however, often tell darker tales with less desirable endings. I wanted to present the stories both as censored and as originally presented, with pivotable moments within the plot that show the original, darker plotlines juxtaposed with the utopian version we have grown accustomed to. I utilized a high quality image with a lowered opacity in order to mimic the stained glass textures often depicting fairytale murals. I used the bucket tool in order to fill the spaces drawn to mimic the designs of stained glass. The rectangle tool was utilized to create the white borders that distinguish each postcard. Different shades of each color were used in order to create the image while still remaining unique and creating visual complexity; Various shades of blue were utilized to create Cinderella’s glass slipper, and purple dipping into orange conveyed the feeling of a sunset in the background without the use of blending. These cells were made by creating random geometric shapes and patterns by using the pen tool with a stabilizer in order to prevent the lines from being shaky or jagged. I utilized the mixer brush tool with a chalk-like brush in order to create the blood and foam patterns on the “original” glass panes. Additionally, when creating the original frames and compositions, I made use of the symmetry tool again in order to make the compositions symmetrical in order to highlight both the similarities and juxtaposition within the original stories and their watered-down versions.

 

External sources:

 

https://pixfeeds.com/images/27/560173/1200-82925511-frosted-glass.jpg

 

Project 2

by kdehart

KeeleyDeHart325.Project2.BalancePoster

Balance (2020)

9inch x13inch 

 

Artist Statement:

 

With climate change and rising sea levels threatening our homes, lives, and world, I wanted to instill hope in the audience that positive change is possible if we try to save the environment.

 

I drew the figure of the young girl to represent the future generations most impacted by climate change. I drew her with traditional pencil and paper, then colored her in using colored pencils and markers. I then scanned her onto my computer. I utilized a filter to give her the appearance of appearing underwater, or that she herself is made out of water in order to depict the symbiotic relationship of man and nature. I then added warm yellows and oranges emitting from  her chest to depict a glow coming from the globe within photoshop. The globe is made by combining several images of textures together to mimic a globe and yin and yang symbol in order to depict the harmony and balance between man and nature required to save the Earth. I used a background and painted over it with the paint tool and smudge tool in order to create the light, ripples, and sky. The image as a whole was brought into InDesign, which I then put text over to convey my message, highlighting the impactful words in a complementary color to make them stand out. 

 

Source Images:

 

https://www.artstation.com/marketplace/p/6Y33/moss-lake-water-ground-environment-forest-river-grass-mold-seamless-pbr-texture

 

https://wallhere.com/en/wallpaper/1979089

 

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/AOaZm

 

 

Project 1

by kdehart

Keeley_DeHart_project1.

Queendom

Keeley DeHart, 2020

9×13 inches

Artist Statement:

 

The concept for Red Velvet’s Queendom album cover is inspired by both the innocent and elegant side of Red Velvet depicted through rococo motifs and colors with regal and unique visuals of the group members, in addition to the darker side as depicted by the blood red and black design hinting at witchcraft on the backcover, which is a nod to the music video for the title track, Queendom. 

I utilized photoshop in order to create the rococo designs utilized for the background. Using the symmetry tool, I created a background inspired by rococo textiles and interior design in order to create an interesting visual that fulfills the theme of elegance and royalty. The visual of the members on the front was edited in photoshop in order to create more distinct features, shadows, and changing the colors of the dresses and perspective to fit the cover and concept of Queendom more. I decided to make this a deep blue color for the front cover, while making it black and dark red for the back in order to create a noticeable and unnerving juxtaposition while utilizing the same design for both the front and back. Also using the symmetry tool, I created a crown inspired by the same art style, with 5 gems and crown spikes to represent each of the members. I also added a pentagram and witch hat that is most noticeable through rotational symmetry (by turning the visual upside down), in order to add to the unnerving symbolism and tie the innocent and devious themes together. I also made this crown and witch hat symbol a lighter shade of red than the rest of the background of the back cover in order to make the imagery stand out. The tracklist on the back cover is white with a red outline in order to be distinct from the background, while also avoiding seeming out of place, which is why I utilized the red outline. The members’ names at the bottom of the back cover are in their representative colors in order to be both consistent with the visual on the front while making the back cover more distinct. 

Source Elements:

Peekaboo Album Visual (2015)

Keeley_DeHart_project1.325-2