Drawing Lab Reflection

      A strength this term was exploring new materials that I had never used before. It was interesting to see how each one was used and how different they were. Out of all the new materials that I explored I really enjoyed the watercolors. Class did not seem like as much of a challenge as some other classes have been for me. This was because that I knew most of the things that were being taught and some of the basic rules. The project that I am most proud of this year was the text project. I thought that it came out really well and I like the secret and hidden part to it because that is what makes people so interested in it. Over all my thoughts and feelings about this class and my work this term was well accomplished I got many art pieces done and they were with materials that I had never done before. I do wish that the class was more challenging for me because I want to become a better artist.

Map Project

     For the map project I first started off with Lily taking a side photo of me then I cut out my face and painted it with black so it would look like a silhouette. 

Then I just started to draw of objects that I thought were symbolic of things in my mind or things that have happened. I drew over pencil with sharpie to give it more of a definite line and I added color with watercolor. The objects in the photo are as follows: A factory (With billowing smoke), A faucet with the water turned out (which then turns into a waterfall which then turns into a polluted lake. Then the lake turns into a river and flows under a watermill. A hurricane lantern, the Arc De Triumph, a flashlight burning something, an old record player with a dog listening to Fur Elise coming out of it, and then a tree. 

Final Personal Project

For my final piece I did a short text project. I found my old journals and sketchbooks from when I was in middle school and wrote down sentences and recreated drawings. Some of the things that I said were pretty odd.

Text Project

     Brainstorming for the text project I came up with many ideas. First I wrote down five names, "Mimi, Grayson, Carmen, Jen, and Molly." From there I wrote down words that make me think of them. After thinking for a long time I decided that i wanted to keep the project anonymous. So it would still be about someone but only I would know. I began to write long, handwritten, cursive letters. But instead of writing to who it was to it was just, "Dear ___," There ended up being 20 letters. Three of which were typed in different fonts. Mostly because we had to have different fonts and sizes. All the letters were different and each one leading into the next. It was a story. A Letter Love Story. For the twenty first card I wrote in a black card "Dear ___," but instead of the blank I wrote the person's name. Then I taped it, put it in a while envelope, taped that, then put that into another white envelope, then on that envelope I waxed it. In the olden days they used to do that and since we had to include one body part I put an imprint of an eye on the wax. Which I cut out of an eraser type material. After all the letters were written I hung up a white string beween two chairs then wrapped a red string around it (to add more color). Taking wooden clothes pins I put them on the long and glued them to the cards so that they would hang down without falling. If you read them in order they tell a story. Letters from me to ___.

Midterm Student Reflection: Drawing Lab

     Engagement for art portfolio class was easy for me. I came prepared for class everyday, was excited for new upcoming projects, and was just excited for that time of day when art class started. During this term we worked on a few small projects and two big ones such as the windows and doors project and the map project. For each one I worked systematically and was organized on my approach to directions on the projects. The process for each project also came easily to me. If I was stuck it would help to jot down or draw ideas in my sketchbook. If I had any nervous thoughts on what I was doing or was not sure on the way I was going to handle something I was not afraid to ask my friends or Ms. Pollack for assistance. When they gave their opinions I was respectful and open to their ideas. This class was a very successful time for me. I got to use many materials such as water color and painting that I have never used before. Sometimes I have this bad tendency to want to make something that is perfect the first time and if it is not then I start to lose hope. This class has taught me that we are human and it is natural to make mistakes.

     Sketchbook assignments were sometimes a bit difficult for me. Sometimes was hard to incorporate drawing in my sketchbook once a week because of a hectic life. I also got confused on some of the assignments or how many drawings I was suppose to do. But when I do draw it calms me down. 

     Drawing from observation was a good break from other projects. Some of the types of drawings we did were an overview for me but it was also good to get back to the basics. 

     Blogging has been enjoyable. Although we have not been asked to blog much I still do keep a chronological order of all my artwork for the future. It will come in handy one day when showing colleges and just to see all the work that I did. 

     With technology so available to us we sometimes lose the meaning of art. Images can be copied so easily and what was once a priceless picture that was one of a kind can now be produces in mass quantities. Pieces like the Mona Lisa can now be hung up in your old bed room. The feeling that the artist may have expected us to feel when we saw their original painting may have been lost through the time. Creating art of our own is a way to get that feeling back into art. We can look at art differently and with our own artwork because we have nothing to compare it to because it ours. 

     From experience drawers and artists look at the world differently. We do not only see objects or the way they may seem as a first glance but we see them as shapes, colors, meaning, and so much more. We look more in-depth in just the simplest things.  

     All together this class has been enjoyable, successful, and a new experience. I am excited for the up coming term and for the new projects to come with it. I want to keep exploring new materials and get better at them.

The Curtain

     The process of the windows and doors project took longer then I expected. From my last ideas of my dad in the silhouette with the ocean in the background I used that as a base. The image looks similar to it in shape but the person is not in silhouette. To add more of a meaning to the picture I added a curtain, for a more mysterious factor. For the shape and folds of the curtain I took a picture of my best friend standing behind one.

     When I was home one night I was cleaning out my room when I looked under my bed and found many art materials! It was a great find. One material that was under there (for who knows how long) were water colored pencils. It was interesting using the pencils because I never had used water color before but I liked how it gave the picture a layered, full covered, look. When the painting was finally done I thought that it turned out better than I expected and that there was a lot of hidden meaning in it (Which I attentional tried). 

Windows And Doors

1) How have artists throughout history used windows and doors in their work to show more than one space?

• Two different stories → One window/door could show one aspect while the other door could show another
• Lighting → Different moods
• Inside and outside → Nature
• Moods → Different lights create different moods 
• Shapes and light → Geometric shapes

2) How can windows and doors work on an emotional or metaphorical level to communicate big ideas?

• Freedom
• Closed door/window could mean the blocking of freedom 
• Someone opening a door or window could mean the want of freedom 
• Open window/door could mean the ability to have freedom → More relaxed setting (Less tension) 
• Safety 
• Closed door/window might mean that someone is safe 
• A closing of a door or window could mean that someone is trying to get free from the outside world or things that might harm them
• An open window or door could mean that someone or something is more susceptible to harm (Burglary, murder, stealing, ect.)
• Any of these can add emotion to the artwork by adding a story, tension, calming, or really any kind of emotion. This is what the artist is trying to do → Open up your emotions make the person who is looking at the artwork feel something weather it is dislike, controversy, or happiness. 
• Controversy in the painting gets people talking

Presentation

Starting The Project

Other artists images:

Dining Room in the Country, 1913

Pierre Bonnard 

Wind From the Sea, 1947

Andrew Wyeth

Hallway 3, 2008

Gage Opdenbrouw

My images:

Suki, Dedham MA

Raindrops On Car Window, Duxbury MA

My Dad In Silhouette, Puerto Rico

My Earliest Marks

     Including Beaver I have only been to two schools in my life. In my old school, Thacher Montessori, art was very important. Every since I started their (Kindergatten) the students were making art. We didn't have an art class in Kindergarten but we would have these "free" periods where we could do anything we wanted in the class. They had little play easels that were set up and finger paint in jars. So my first art experience was finger painting. When my dad gave me my first sketch book I remember drawing something with my sister. She went to college for art so is a great artist. Of course my little scribbles were nothing compared to her drawings but it was still fun to be creating art with her. She would draw something then I would attempt to color it in. Or she would draw something and I would add something onto her drawing then she would add something onto mine. In Thacher when we started first grade that is when we started taking art classes with Ms. Mills. We did all kinds of art with her: Clay modeling, painting, drawing, glass cutting, wood working, and mostly any kind of art. It was fun to work with different materials everyday.

What Is A Drawing?

      Drawing can be an action or a thing. It can be what ever the artists want it to be. Today, in class, people were saying that a drawing can only be only 2D, I don't think that. Even the littlest doodle can look 3D. It depends on how you look at a drawing and how you use it. Some people say that they can not draw because they don't have the skills. But anyone can draw. Sure some drawings are better than others but a drawing can be anything.