This creative discourse “Tree Man Mood” expresses the dark shadow of my life. By researching on the theoretical foundation and creating wood engraving, I explore the deeply hidden untouchable dark side of my heart, analyze the inner emotions in the past and present, and uncover the vague shadow. I am able to tell my story with my art, and transform the past experience and emotions into a new narrative. I try to reflect the dark shadow in my works, face the shadow bravely, and have a dialogue with myself. In the end, the shadow becomes my strength, and I am able to create a better new world for myself.
Chapter 1: Introduction. It talks about my motives for my works: my childhood background, the dark shadow, and how I overcome the shadow and transform it into my strength to create a new world. This chapter also includes the purposes, methods, process, and definitions of words.
Chapter 2: Theoretical foundation. It includes semiotics, psychology, and art history, to correspond the forms and contents of my works.
Chapter 3: Creative practice. My creative concept starts with the dark shadow, and how it evolves into my strength. For the creative contents and forms, I use the symbol “Tree Man” to represent my moods and tell my story. My technique is wood engraving, as it expresses the delicate feeling the best.
Chapter 4: Creative analysis and interpretation. This chapter includes my artistic statements for Darkness Series, Shelter Series, Glimmer Series, Bloom Series, and New World Series.
Chapter 5: Conclusion. This chapter contains the review from the purposes to the final presentation, and the self-expectation for the future.
Keywords: Tree Man, Mood, Semiotics, Wood engraving