Criticism What if?

The feedback I got on my project was very helpful. My idea was to have a coffee cup tipped over with the city pouring out into ice water with ice bergs and polar bears on it. The question is What if everyone stopped caring? The feedback I got on my project was that I should change the coffee cup from a world wide cup to a Starbucks cup. Also they said it was a little confusing to visualize and that maybe I should work on the sketching a little more. They asked helpful questions that helped me to think more critically about my project and idea.

Source images

Text as a Visual Medium

My nature word project is supposed to be about Simplicity. My word is Simplicity and in the top corner I think it will say essential. In each letter of Simplicity is going to be an aspect of nature. Each letter will be complicated. It is supposed to say Simplicity but then each letter shows complication. This piece is supposed to represent my summer. This summer I spent 4 weeks back packing through Europe. To me it was just so simple compared to real life because our biggest problem was what exactly was for dinner and if it was going to rain or not. Being in the woods seems so simple and calm but then at the same time their are many different complicated obstacles to run into. The word essential relates to my experience as well because all we lived with was the essentials. We didn't have phones or computers or tons of clothes. We had everything that was on our backs. Which was a few pairs of clothes and some food and tents and sleeping bags. And that was all we needed. The feedback my group gave me was to add a background which I was planning on doing in water colors. And maybe to cut off some of the white space. Also to put a fish into one of the letters which is a possibility. They liked my idea which makes me proud because I love this project and I am intrigued by it.

Blindfold Drawings

When you heard the directions what thoughts went through your head?

Right away I knew what I was going to draw. my quite spot. It was a place in my room where I could be quite and it was in a window in a comfortable space the relaxed me. This summer I took an art class and we had to do something very similar and that made me think of it so I was nom freaking out. Because I knew that I cant see so its not expected to be my best.

How did the blindfold help or hinder your ability to picture a place?

It helped me to think about this place because with my eyes closed I just thought about that place the whole time. And now about what It would look like.

How did you start to translate your thoughts into marks on the page?

I felt out the page to get a feel for how big the paper was and what I would be working with. Then I just let my hands flow with the pencil and my thoughts of what it used to look like.

How did the act of drawing blindfolded change if at all as time went on?

Overtime I felt more relaxed about it. I sure how it would come out. But then time felt longer and I wasn't sure how long it would be before time was up and I didn't know what else to add.

How do you feel about the outcome?

The outcome is a little messy but not to bad. It shows the curtains and I can tell what it is but I dont know if anyone else would be able to tell.

How is the resulting drawing similar or different to drawings you have made in the past?'

Well I dont think I have ever tried to draw my quite spot but I know this drawing means something to me. I dont know if I have ever made a drawing like this in the past though. But it wasn't exactly from imagination it was more from memory.

Drawing from imagination vs. drawing from observation

Drawing from imagination always seems like more of a creative way of drawing to me. I feel like when you are drawing from imagination its more yourself and whatever you feel like drawing such as doodling. As opposed to drawing from observation which is more along the lines of what you are looking at and being exact and having more of a different feel. Drawing from observation can be more challenging for me because I feel like it needs to look exactly like what I am looking at. Drawing from imagination is something I feel is more laid back and whatever you want you can express on the page. I definitely like both kinds of drawing though they both have a totally different meaning and come out looking completely different.

Reflecting at the End of the Course

Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Everyone in my family is an artist. My mom works with ceramics and all the plates and cups and bowls in my house were made by her. My brother is a very serious photographer. My aunt designs business cards. My Grandmother makes paintings and collages, and my grandfather was an architect. And my cousins makes jewelry and drawings and paintings. So pretty much everyone in my family does some sort of art. I also have an extremely artsy house instead of spending money on expensive shoes my parents spend money on art. It makes them happy but I think someday soon my house will burst open with overload of art! Last year I chose to do art instead of theater. I spent the entire year working on designing fashion. I took a course two summers ago on fashion design and ever since I have had an interest in it. I am also really interested in collage. I have a wall in my room that I worked on for a long time and it is covered in a collage of fashion designs and pictures and other interesting things I found along the way. The wall is very overwhelming but it makes me happy when I look at it because its so detailed and it represents me. This class has helped my art and inspired me soooooo much! I feel that I learned so much and it wasn't soo strict on exactly what the assignment was we still had space to make it our own. Before this class I did not feel so confident in drawing but now because of all those drop everything and draw days I felt it got much better. Art has been my favorite class this year. I have felt I have worked so very hard in the class. I would come in to art an extra 1-2 hours a week during x-block or lunch so that I could spend extra time on my art. My art grade was important to me and I wanted to feel satisfied with my art. For me my favorite project we did was the found objects sculpture. I felt very inspired making my house and I could just keep adding to it and I loved the outcome of it! However the project I am most proud of is my self portrait. I spent so much time working on it and I had a little struggle in the begging but by the end I loved what I had created. I was sad to see the flower had broken but we still have a picture of it so its okay! This class was a good get away from other classes I was always happen when I walked into the open room. I also made so many friends from this class it ended up really helping me! I see art playing a big role in the rest of my life. I know that when I am older my house will be artsy. I also want to keep taking as many art classes as I can next year and the rest of my life so that I can get better. I truly loved this class and I think I have never had such an organized art class in my life. It was just a great experience for me! It made me feel very inspired with the variety of work we were doing! I also think drop everything and draw days were very creative and a good way for a break and to learn. If we really think about it we probably learned so much from those days (even though some of them made us hyper) I dont think that I can answer the question how does it end? because it does not end. I dont want it to I want to keep doing art and keep being inspired!

Self Portrait as a Ostritch

When we started this project I was stuck by choosing between animals. I knew my animal had to be something that could run and was tall and had characteristics like mine. I realized I picked that hardest animal to make out of clay. I picked an Ostritch because it can run and its tall. Making the animal took alot of time and was definitely a challenge. At first I was a little stuck because the clay was being difficult and I was having problems making the legs and neck. The hardest part for me was picking a place to be in. If i could go back I would change the place. I put myself in a city because I love the city and the marathon takes place in the city. But if I could change it I would put myself in an airport. I would be there because I love the airport I think its so much fun and I love to travel. Also I think its interesting that this one place can take you so many places. And you can get on a plane in Boston and get off somewhere totally different with a totally different culture. I love traveling and I think that an airport is kind of a magical place that opens new dreams and ideas!