EXPLORATION OF SNAKE MOTIFS IN PAINTING

By

Author

Presented To

Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
This project is an experimental research which seeks to create a body of paintings by exploring the surface quality of lives and forms apparent on eight snake patterns. The designs and patterns on the snake are a source of inspiration for creating diverse art works. This research discovers unique ways of exploring and interpreting motifs from snakes in abstract rendition and providing conceptual painting compositions using the patterns and line formations. The researcher employs a studio based methodology for this study whereby the independent variable is subjected to a creative manipulation. This experiment proves that snakes often feared by man could be harnessed for art production. The researcher finds out that the snake patterns offers opportunity for artists to adapt various visual artistic qualities for artistic expression. The spiral lines, the geometrical shapes, brilliant colours, the smooth and rough texture are the major sources of inspiration in this research. It is observed that snakes have not been explored to a large extent and adapted by Nigerian artists for painting experiences. Lines was manipulated to cause change and to remove the scene of representation in realistic form. In the same vein, some of the works are conceptual looking less complicated while geometric interpretation of the subject matter is exhibited. Artists in general, are inspired either by nature or their own environment or fellow artists, in their creation of art works. This research, therefore, draws the attention of Nigerian contemporary painters to explore more on nature for visual art expression with an in depth studying of snakes as it relates to the elements of art and design. The critical studio analysis and exploration of the snake hopefully ignites a new direction and understanding to visual artist to look at nature with creative minds to enable them create art works using snake as a source of inspiration in painting.