https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18etB_isdeGCAYCnXAcE-EnlP13sMdfyqdAnYtZ8eSTw/edit?usp=sharing
0 Comments
Oh boy. It's sort of surreal that this class is over, honestly. I remember at the beginning of this year, I was so excited about the prospect of finally being in AP art. I'd seen all of these talented students taking the class before me, and it felt like this weirdly unattainable thing. I knew I'd be in the class one day, but part of me still felt like I was still sitting in Art II looking over at the AP kids in independent study. It's funny to me that at the end of Art IV last year I said that it was "one of the most stressful experiences of my high school career." I just want to look back at myself and be like "honey, you've got a big storm coming." I don't think anything really prepared me for the emotional and physical stress of doing 12 pieces in a semester (give or take). As many times as I just wanted to throw in the towel and not even do a portfolio at times, and after so many pieces that I was so frustrated with I just wanted to give up, I can honestly say that this class was crazy fulfilling. I learned that I'm way more hardworking under pressure than I'd previously thought, and I can actually do the things I set my mind to. Beyond that, it was just so cool to have the experience of having this huge body of work (24 pieces, y'all) and being able to share it with other people. Having an art show at the end of the year definitely brought things home as well, because I'd never had the experience of having these real, meaningful conversations with other people about my art. And I'd be lying if I didn't say how gratifying it was that total strangers were able to identify with some of my pieces, and really understand my work. It's so hard to explain how I feel when I think about all of the people who were just so kind to me the night of the art show. I feel like crying and laughing all at the same time. I know some people would say it's superficial to take what other people say about your work so seriously, but when you've been working for all of this time on like, a million pieces, hearing other people say that they love what you've done is incredible. This class has brought me so many amazing relationships, friends, and memories. Even through all of the stress, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm not really sure where or what I'll end up doing in the future, but I know that art is going to be a part of my life no matter what. It always has been, from back when I painted my entire body blue, or drew on the walls of my older brother's bedroom. Art is part of who I am now, I'm stuck with it, and I couldn't be happier about it. Just please don't ask me to create a 24 piece portfolio ever again.
Everyone knows the classic metaphor "rose-colored glasses" when referring to optimism and having a positive outlook on life. I wanted this piece to play off of that idea, but have a slightly darker and more thought-provoking theme to it. It was mostly about being too optimistic, and sort of being blinded by it. There are people who always choose to see the good in things and people, which is usually a good quality, but can be hurtful in some cases. This is why I wanted it to look like the roses were bruising the skin around them, as if they were something harmful.
I chose watercolor for the medium for this piece because, for one, I was in a major rush and watercolor was the quickest thing I could think of to use, and also because I liked the sort of abstract feel it gave the piece. Blending out the skin tones with watercolors is so much easier and faster than doing it with colored pencil, and it really allowed for a cool effect with the colors I used. I like making the colors of my pieces pretty cohesive, and I feel like this piece is one of the most cohesive ones I've done. The lips match the roses in the eyes,and the skin tones as well, and even though the purple around the roses works well with the other colors, it is different enough to really pop out and contrast with the rest of the piece. I started off kind of hating this piece, but it's interesting, because the more I look at it, the more I actually find myself liking it. This piece was based around the idea of being weighed down by everything happening around you, and being overwhelmed at the same time. I named it after a song lyric(this is becoming a theme if you haven't noticed) by the Lumineers that goes "or is it hard work, dear, holding the atmosphere." I decided to use this as the title because it worked so well with the imagery I drew, and also with the theme of the portrait. I liked the heaviness and turmoil that the clouds insinuate in the emotions of this portrait, and I felt like the idea of "holding the atmosphere" worked really well with the idea of holding your own inner thoughts. I definitely wanted this piece to be one of my more emotional and thought-provoking ones, and I honestly love the way it came out.
In terms of the actual processes, I think this piece came together pretty quickly in contrast to some of the other pieces. I feel like I was in a groove of sorts, and the actual sketching/getting the proportions right came really easily to me for this portrait. It's definitely true that doing something over and over again improves your skill, and I'm glad I picked this theme as a later piece, because I think my technique had improved a lot. That absolutely made this piece feel more rewarding, and I can honestly say it's one of my favorites. I know I say that for literally every one of my pieces, but there's something about this piece that I just love. Maybe it's the movement in the clouds, or that the color combinations I used to make it more cohesive. Regardless, I'm very proud of this piece. The natural element behind this piece is the bark of birch trees, which are known for their peeling effect. Even though the peeling of the bark is totally normal in the trees, I thought it added a cool effect of decay to a portrait. I wanted it to show a good representation of the feeling of everything coming apart, and being overwhelmed by life in general. I liked the angle of the portrait and the emotion on her face because it shows some vulnerability, which I think adds a different layer and element to the piece.
Technique wise, I think this is one of the best portraits I've done. I think the proportions and colors all came together really well, and surprisingly easily. I would say that after doing so many portraits in a row, it has definitely become a lot easier to get the proportions of faces down, as well as figuring out the shadows and highlights of the skin. I will say that consistently practicing the same techniques and different portrait angles, expressions, and shapes has been soo beneficial in growing my technique and skill with portraiture. I'm not 100% sure what it is about this piece that I love so much. Maybe it's the cohesive colors, or the fact that I love birch trees so much that this piece just immediately is a fave of mine, and it might simply be the fact that it's a portrait I did relatively quickly and genuinely like. Regardless, I know this will be one of my favorite pieces for a long time, and I'm so pleased with the way it came out. I also love how interpretive it is, it could totally mean something different to everyone who looks at it, and that's really cool to me. |
Archives
May 2018
Categories |