Cecily Brown, in an interview, described her approach of printing numerous photographs of classical artworks and repeatedly redrawing and translating them in her sketches. This insight prompted me to critically reflect on my own process of appropriation. It led me to question whether I had developed a sufficiently deep understanding of the original works I was referencing. Appropriation, as a creative strategy, requires more than mere visual borrowing; it necessitates a meticulous comprehension of the original artist’s techniques, intentions, and historical context to effectively recontextualize their works within a contemporary framework.

 

To address this gap, I incorporated watercolor and marker-based drawing into my creative process to engage more deeply with the artistic language of the works I aimed to emulate. These mediums allowed me to investigate the gestural and tonal qualities of the originals, providing insights into the technical and emotional undercurrents embedded within the imagery. This deliberate, research-driven approach not only enriched my understanding of the referenced works but also uncovered previously unnoticed elements, such as compositional dynamics and the interplay of materials.