Cosmonauta do brinco de Pérola

Cosmonauta do brinco de Pérola

Inspired by the Domestika competition, I created a graphite reinterpretation of Johannes Vermeer's iconic work "Girl with a Pearl Earring," establishing a direct dialogue between the unique artisanal form of his time and the democratization of materials in the contemporary era. While Vermeer, in the 17th century, relied on artisanal preparation and the high cost of pigments to compose his masterpiece, inaccessible to most, the graphite project uses materials that symbolically represent technological advancement in favor of accessibility (the first creative insight). This transition from limitation to abundance reflects the human capacity to adapt and create new technologies, resulting in the ultimate representation of our time: space exploration, which will be the conceptual backdrop for "Girl" in its new visual guise.

To carry out the work “COSMONAUTA DO BRINCO DE PÉROLA (Reinterpretation)” I used the following supplies:

Artistic Materials:

- Canson 180g paper - refilled with 32 cm by 32 cm area.
- Faber-Castell SuperSoft Graphite EcoPencil
- Smudge sticks - 5.5 mm to 10.5 mm.
- Erasers: Black, Precision and Electric.
- Kraft gold marker and gold gel pen.
- Mechanical pencils: 0.7 and 0.9
-3m blue adhesive tape
-Matte spray
-Acrilex Black India Ink

Artistic Materials:
Miro - application

To exclusively represent my stylized realism, I chose the Graphite technique, which summarizes my first days of contact with art when I was a child until my current evolution, which goes beyond the outline of the sketch, the mastery of lights and shadows in dramatic forms and the textures represented in the work produced.

The initial stage of the "Cosmonaut with a Pearl Earring" project establishes the central conceptual and visual pillar for the reinterpretation. The research began with the personal magnetism felt by the central figure of Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring," which motivated me to delve deeper into its history, technique, and symbolism. At the same time, the central insight into technological evolution and the need for human adaptation—which links Vermeer's pigment craftsmanship to modern technology—directed the search for visual references from astronomy and, specifically, astronaut costumes. All of this preliminary material was organized into a digital flowchart in Miro, which serves as my primary data organization methodology in the research. Here, the focus is on visual collection for the moodboard, seeking specific images from the original work, the contrasting elements (the "Cosmonaut," planets, teacup, and smoke), to begin fusing these ideas into a composition with my artistic style, consistent with my initial proposal.

Marked by the transition from research to the realization of "Cosmonaut with a Pearl Earring," this stage involves the graphite painting process. It begins with the meticulous selection of materials and tools. Physical preparation of the workspace is crucial: the paper is secured and the edges are delimited with blue 3M tape, and the reclining drawing board ensures optimal angled viewing.
The initial sketch is carried out smoothly and uncompromisingly (using soft graphite), ensuring respect for the established elements and conceptual references. The essence of this phase lies in discipline and concentration in execution and time optimization.
Technically, the project makes extensive use of super-soft graphite to create light, shadow, and volume. The blending and softening process is achieved using various smudge sticks, creating a smoky, soft finish. The fabric texture of the central "Cosmonaut" costume was explored in detail.
Finally, the introduction of a gold pilot and pen adds visual character and specific details throughout the work, contrasting with the monochrome of the graphite.
It's crucial to emphasize that the execution doesn't follow a linear flow; I adopt a non-sequential approach, alternating work areas depending on concentration and fatigue levels. This flexibility ensures that each new section of the painting remains challenging and engaging, maintaining creative engagement throughout the process.

This final stage concludes the creation of the work, focusing on technical refinement and protection of the piece. The process begins with intensive darkening of the necessary areas with graphite, ensuring the desired tonal depth. Small errors and smudges were corrected with an electric eraser, allowing for tiny, precise movements to clean up the image.
The ambiance of the reinterpretation was finalized with the application of India ink to create a black background, intentionally seeking to resemble the dark atmosphere of Vermeer's original work. The edges were then adjusted by removing the blue masking tape, using a precise 1.5cm reduction on each side using a utility knife.
The next step is to apply a matte spray varnish, ensuring the protection of the work and permanently fixing the graffiti, preventing any future smudging.
This was the final stage of creating "Cosmonaut with a Pearl Earring," a work that followed its own methodology. The entire process, from the in-depth research and conceptualization phase to the painting and finalization, proved entirely rewarding for me as a visual artist.