Elise Dosch

Sustained Investigation Series
My sustained investigation is exploring the different ways that various body parts can convey an emotion. Each painting focuses on one specific body part and a corresponding emotion that it is showing. I was able to convey each emotion by using specific and purposeful positioning of each body part along with the combination of the color palette that went along with the emotion. The first piece in my investigation is a painting of legs showing confidence through their position and the background colors. I went on to explore anxiety in the shoulders, happiness in the mouth, anger in the hand, sadness in the eyes, curiosity in the feet, longing in the hand, flirtatiousness in the mouth, contemplation in the eyes and relief in the neck. 
With each piece I created my own reference images in order to position the body exactly the way I intended. This entire investigation was a challenge for myself that pushed me to learn and grow in my painting skills. Prior to this I had done mostly abstract or design oriented paintings. I never attempted to painting the human body realistically. 
Each painting helped me grow in my skills and made me more confident in my ability to paint the human body. The paintings that were the most challenging were the eyes showing sadness and the neck showing relief. I even had to completely re-do the sad eyes after I had painted the eyes showing contemplation because I had grown in my ability just in that amount of time and knew that I could do better. The eyes showing contemplation was my aha moment. I had really mastered my technique of expressive brushstrokes and unblended colors, as well as emphasizing the lines, shadows, and highlights throughout the skin in order to accurately show the part of the body. I was very proud of myself for how the eyeballs turned out in this piece, and it is still my best painting that I have done to this day. 
As an artist I expanded my abilities in what style I can paint in successfully. I tried something new and along the way I learned how to do it well. I grew in my confidence as well. Before I never would have attempted paintings like these. Now I am very confident in my ability to paint the human body in my own style. 
"Confidence" | 14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | The figure’s position, the crosses legs and pointed toes, is meant to give off a confident mood/feeling. I specifically chose the dark purple as the background color to further show the confidence, given that purple typically symbolizes royalty.
"Confidence" | 14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | The figure’s position, the crosses legs and pointed toes, is meant to give off a confident mood/feeling. I specifically chose the dark purple as the background color to further show the confidence, given that purple typically symbolizes royalty.
"Anxiety" | 14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | his piece is meant to focus on how how the tense shoulders can show that someone is feeling stressed or anxious. I made the background a dark grey with small, black scribbles that show chaos and stress as well.
"Anxiety" | 14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | his piece is meant to focus on how how the tense shoulders can show that someone is feeling stressed or anxious. I made the background a dark grey with small, black scribbles that show chaos and stress as well.
"Happiness" | 20” x 20” | Acrylic on cardboard
"Happiness" | 20” x 20” | Acrylic on cardboard
"Sadness" | 10” x 20” | Acrylic and clear varnish on canvas
"Sadness" | 10” x 20” | Acrylic and clear varnish on canvas
"Frustration" | 8” x 24” | Acrylic and gel medium on canvas board | This is a mini series in my investigation that explores how the hand can convey frustration through its clenching.
"Frustration" | 8” x 24” | Acrylic and gel medium on canvas board | This is a mini series in my investigation that explores how the hand can convey frustration through its clenching.
"Curiosity" | 14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | I chose this position to insinuate that the person is standing on their tip toes to reach and see something, to show curiosity in seeing something.
"Curiosity" | 14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | I chose this position to insinuate that the person is standing on their tip toes to reach and see something, to show curiosity in seeing something.
"Flirty" | ​14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | This painting is exploring how the mouth can convey a flirtatious and seductive feeling.
"Flirty" | ​14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | This painting is exploring how the mouth can convey a flirtatious and seductive feeling.
"Longing" | 14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | I painted the hand in black and white to show how the emotion of longing seems to imply that you are missing something, like color, that makes you complete and happy.
"Longing" | 14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas | I painted the hand in black and white to show how the emotion of longing seems to imply that you are missing something, like color, that makes you complete and happy.
"Contemplation" | 9” x 19” | ​Acrylic and matte medium on watercolor paper and mat board | This piece explores emotion in an older person. It focuses on how the eyes convey contemplation and deep thought. I cropped in on mostly just the eyes to keep the focus on them and the lines surrounding them.
"Contemplation" | 9” x 19” | ​Acrylic and matte medium on watercolor paper and mat board | This piece explores emotion in an older person. It focuses on how the eyes convey contemplation and deep thought. I cropped in on mostly just the eyes to keep the focus on them and the lines surrounding them.
"Relief" | 16” x 20” | Acrylic and gel medium on canvas | This piece explores how the combination of the shoulders, neck and mouth can show relief. I was inspired by an image by Jackson Carvahlo. I recreated my own version of the image with my own body. I decided to use a light blue because it evokes a sense of serenity.
"Relief" | 16” x 20” | Acrylic and gel medium on canvas | This piece explores how the combination of the shoulders, neck and mouth can show relief. I was inspired by an image by Jackson Carvahlo. I recreated my own version of the image with my own body. I decided to use a light blue because it evokes a sense of serenity.
Process Development for Sustained Investigation
Additional Artworks
"Emit Light" | 12” x 12” | Acrylic and matte medium on canvas For this painting, my goal was to accurately create a figure in an expressionist paint style with the paint strokes visible and the values not fully blended. At first, the background was a wall of abstract-looking vines that crossed over her body, but then I decided to redo it and change the background to this yellow color. I wanted to make it look almost like a sun behind her, or as if there was light being emitted from her, giving the idea of a girl who emits light and makes people happy. I was inspired by Van Gogh's style of painting.
"Emit Light" | 12” x 12” | Acrylic and matte medium on canvas For this painting, my goal was to accurately create a figure in an expressionist paint style with the paint strokes visible and the values not fully blended. At first, the background was a wall of abstract-looking vines that crossed over her body, but then I decided to redo it and change the background to this yellow color. I wanted to make it look almost like a sun behind her, or as if there was light being emitted from her, giving the idea of a girl who emits light and makes people happy. I was inspired by Van Gogh's style of painting.
“Up Close and Foamy” | 12” x 12” | Acrylic and gel medium on canvas | This painting was inspired by a compilation of different images of waves in the ocean.
“Up Close and Foamy” | 12” x 12” | Acrylic and gel medium on canvas | This painting was inspired by a compilation of different images of waves in the ocean.
“Surrounded by Feeling” | 12" x 16" | Watercolor and Copic pen on watercolor paper
“Surrounded by Feeling” | 12" x 16" | Watercolor and Copic pen on watercolor paper
“Tension” | 20” x 24” | Acrylic and gel medium on canvas | For this painting, I intended to convey the feeling of tension and self-consciousness of the girl and how she feels about her body. I wanted her shoulders to be tensed up and her arms to be covering herself because she isn't comfortable in her own skin. ​
“Tension” | 20” x 24” | Acrylic and gel medium on canvas | For this painting, I intended to convey the feeling of tension and self-consciousness of the girl and how she feels about her body. I wanted her shoulders to be tensed up and her arms to be covering herself because she isn't comfortable in her own skin. ​
“A Head Full of Dreams” | 18” x 24” | Mixed-media collage on canvas | This collage is supposed to represent the dreams and aspirations that I have for my future self.
“A Head Full of Dreams” | 18” x 24” | Mixed-media collage on canvas | This collage is supposed to represent the dreams and aspirations that I have for my future self.
“Design of the Depths” | ​10” x 20” | Acrylic, sand, molding paste, and plastic bag on canvas
“Design of the Depths” | ​10” x 20” | Acrylic, sand, molding paste, and plastic bag on canvas
“N.O.L.A.” | ​10” x 10” | Watercolor, Copic pen, and India ink on watercolor | The focus of this painting was to successfully and accurately show the architectural aspects of the trolley on a street in New Orleans.
“N.O.L.A.” | ​10” x 10” | Watercolor, Copic pen, and India ink on watercolor | The focus of this painting was to successfully and accurately show the architectural aspects of the trolley on a street in New Orleans.
“Searching” | ​10” x 20” | Acrylic and white gel pen on canvas |
“Searching” | ​10” x 20” | Acrylic and white gel pen on canvas |
“In the Midst of Chaos” | ​20” x 24” | Acrylic, molding paste, paper and 3-D pen on canvas |
“In the Midst of Chaos” | ​20” x 24” | Acrylic, molding paste, paper and 3-D pen on canvas |
“Books” | ​14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas |
“Books” | ​14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas |
“Somewhere in Italy” | ​14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas
“Somewhere in Italy” | ​14” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas
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Artist website: https://elisedosch.weebly.com/
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