What to do with the stump and the old man?

The man is resting on the stump enjoying himself, wondering how he can give something back to the tree. Because he is so old and tired, he decides to lean back and take a nap. While sleeping, he dies peacefully. It lightly snows and eventually covers him up. Throughout the seasons that follow, his body decomposes into the ground around the stump, becoming rich nutrients for the soil.

With this added nourishment, after many years, a leaf begins to sprout from the stump. It is the beginning of a new life for the tree stump. As the years pass, apples begin to appear on the tree. The man gives the stump his life as it gave him throughout his life.

A possible sculpture could be a tree stump with one limb that has an apple hanging from it.

Beginning Woodwork

For me, working in wood was fun, yet aggravating at times. It took a lot of getting used to and familiarizing myself with the tools and saws. Once I started to get a feel for the tools, it got easier to cut wood in the right sizes and shapes I needed. I enjoyed painting on the wood, which is something I haven't done before. It was nice to work in wood because I never have before, but I probably won't use it much anymore.

Something that I needed to actually do was practice using the tools before cutting the pieces I needed for my box. It would have been hard to visualize this at the beginning, but when cutting the strips of my piece, the sides sort of shrunk. I needed to understand how to account for how much it changed in size in order to cut the correct size pieces for the other sides of the box.

Planter box progress and sketch

Rock #4

Upper field re-take

Rock Photo #3

Tree Stumps

Rock Photo #2

Planter Box Location

Dimensions: 48" by 18.5"

Final Product Visualized

Studio Space:

• My piece just lays on the table in my studio space, which will not be the case in the gallery.

Gallery:

• I want to hang my final piece on the wall somehow surrounded by my other paintings that are connected to the theme of looking through things like a tunnel or a window. 

The reality of my work in the gallery:

• Figure out a layout
• How to hang it all
• A note saying people can open and close the doors of the frame on my main piece.

Thoughts on the recent presentation

I thought the presentation was fun to look at. The photos were cool, and the idea that things and ideas change and develop so much over time is really interesting. Also, when we talked about how when something is made for a particular reason, the people who made it know what it's for but 500 years later people might have no idea what it's for. I also loved the way the tree in front of the sun, the tree in a bubble, and the carved trees looked.

Beginning Group Work

I helped to recreate this snake by taking apart the original animal and shaping the material into what it is now. Then I helped paint the stripes and head.

Beginning Pictures

End of the Week Reflection

This week, I made 3 paintings. The paintings of the flag and chair I already posted about. Today, because I wasn't sure what to do, I decided to do a water color pencil/painting of a peacock feather. Looking ahead, I want to start my final piece. I decided I'm going to do a painting of something looking through something else, whether it's a window or tunnel. I'm not sure yet whether I want to do it on canvas or maybe wood. I will look for inspiration on materials over vacation. Maybe I will begin painting over vacation.

208 Squares #12

This week's theme is The Chair. I decided to do a painting of a somewhat simple wooden chair.

7th and 8th Finished Pieces

I finished two more painting for my holiday calendar. I am now done with all the pieces for the calendar and hope to order it soon.

This painting represents Thanksgiving for November. I didn't want to do something too cliche so I decided to do a realistic closeup of a turkey. It took me about an hour to finish.

This painting represents Labor Day for September.

6th Finished Piece

I finished my 6th painting this term. It's based off a photo I took when I was in Saint John over a vacation. I loved the way the walls looked like a frame for the tree, so I decided to try painting it. This painting took a little longer than my others so far this year. It took much more precision and detail to give the walls some depth.

208 Squares #11

This week's theme is Your Birth Date. I decided to keep it simple and write my birthday and color the background.

208 Squares #10

Last week's theme was Your Horoscope. My horoscope is Gemini. I decided to use lots of buttons to make the shape of it and glued them down. I also put my initials in the middle.

Critique 2

Today we had our second critique in groups. I showed them my most recent paintings and talked about how I kept with the "blue" theme. They liked that I have continued to use blue in all my paintings. They seemed to like the painting I am working on now, and they said that it had so much detail. When I told them my idea for the final project about paintings of looking thought thing, they thought that I could use or paint a window.

Watercolor Painting 2

This watercolor painting is another painting based off a photo I took in Florida. It is a photo of a knife on a table with a table clothe, reflecting an umbrella, palm tree, and the sky. I used watercolor pencils to make it. 

Watercolor Painting 1

I decided that I wanted to do a watercolor painting. I looked through my photos and found one that I took at a beach in Florida. I used watercolor pencils to make it. 

Vija Celmins and Josephine Halvorson

I looked at the artwork of two Artists: Vija Celmins and Josephine Halvorson. Both of them paint realistically and neither of theme really use bright colors with the exception of a couple. I love way how some of their paintings seem so simple but are so detailed that they aren't simple. Here are some of the pieces of theirs that I like.

Vija Celmins

Vija Celmins

Josephine Halvorson

Josephine Halvorson

5th Finished Piece

I finished another painting this week. Last year, I decided to make paintings or some other kind of piece to represent one holiday for every month, that I would later turn into a calendar. This painting represents Mother's Day for May. I still have to do pieces for September, October, and November.

Art And Fear: Conceptual Worlds By David Bayles & Ted Orland

1. What is the difference between craft and art?

• The net result is that art is less polished- but more innovative- than craft.
• A work of craft is typically made to fit a specific template.
• One real difference between art and craft: with craft, perfection is possible.
• "The difference between art and craft lies not in the tools you hold in your hands, but in the mental set that guides them. For the artisan, craft is an end in itself. For you, the artist, craft is the vehicle for expressing your vision. Craft is the edge of art."

2. What do the authors mean when they refer to artist habits as a style?

• respond automatically to the familiar, and you're then free to respond selectively to the unfamiliar.
• notice the objects you notice
• make objects that talk- and then listen to them
• The trick, of course, is cultivating habitual gestures that are yours.
• whatever theme and technique attracts you, someone has already experimented with
• habits are deep-seated, reliable, helpful, and convenient. They are stylistically important.
• Habits are style
• Style is not an aspect of good work, it is an aspect of all work. 
• Style is the natural consequence of habit.

What is your style?

• I paint what I see
• realistic painter
• calm
• seeking engagement
• I enjoy making art almost more than the art itself

3. "All art is autobiographical?" Based on what you read what is your opinion?

• Even if it is used to express or connect with something outside of yourself, the need to express or connect to something outside is part of who you are. So even if the motivation to make art is connected to something outside of yourself, it is still a statement about yourself and your needs. Consequently, I believe all art is at least a little autobiographical.

208 Squares #9

This week's theme is Blank. I decided to a Mad Libs with lots of fill-in-the-blanks. I used pen.

208 Squares #8

Last week's theme was Google. I wasn't sure at first what I wanted to do, but then I thought of how on every holiday, Google has a theme, so I decided to do one of those themes. I painted it using water colors. To get the text, I googled the I have a dream speech, copy and pasted it into a document, and then printed it. Lastly, I transferred the writing to clear tape but putting tape on the printed out sheet and then soaked it in water for a couple hours.

Exhibition Formats

I find Kara Walker's art work very interesting. Because of the way the art is installed, it feels like the viewer just walked into a storybook, in which there are many different stories being told, or at least hints of stories being told. The characters seem to be from the past, perhaps from the slave era. Many of the characters look as if they are African American. Some of the characters seem to be in the air as a result of some kind of violence. While there does seem violence in the figures, there also seems to be some humor. Because the figures are all silhouettes, the viewer must imagine both the expressions on their faces and the feelings that they have. 

My Complement, My oppressor, My Enemy, My Love, by Kara Walker

Critique 1

Today we had our first critique in groups. After showing my group members what I have done so far, they told me what they noticed and some suggestions. One thing they said was that most of my paintings are blue and maybe I could do a blue series. Also, they said my paintings were all of realistic scenes and that maybe I could try doing an abstract painting. Also, I showed them the wood piece that fell on me last year and told them that I wanted to make some sort of sculpture of a cleat. They thought maybe I could make it out of clay.

208 Squares #7

This weeks theme is Shades of green. I decided to drawing lines and shapes in a silver color and fill each shape with a green something. I used a bunch of found green objects that were laying around my house and the art room and glued them down. I used buttons, foam, string, balloons, fake grass, and much more.

Inspiration for sculpture

Last year, while I was sitting in the art room during lunch block, there was construction on the roof. All of a sudden, this piece of wood, with nails sticking out, fell from the ceiling and hit me in the shoulder. I want to make some sort of sculpture with it, but I don't know what to make. It will be something with found objects. I have to brainstorm what I can make with it.

New Art: Nova

What is meant by "New Art" in the film? Explain.

• process of art makes the art important
• connection, art, science
• make cohesive, consistent, and evolving
• new art: moves, technology, organic
• technology and rate of change is a major factor
• a lot of collaboration
• lots of possibility
• art combines painting, design, technology, music

What is the young artist attitude toward making art or the "business" of art?

• 50% of it is business
• freedom within a system
• enjoy life- freedom to create, do whatever they want
• computer is like a musical instrument, paintbrush
• you don't think about it, just enjoy it
• you have to do things that represent you
• do things you want to see

4th Finished Piece

I finished my 4th painting today. It is based on a photo of a look out tower in Puerto Rico. I made 2 other painting before of the same area but from different views.

Imagining the 2014 Senior Show

When thinking about putting my work up in the Nancy Lincoln Gallery, I imagine having a few paintings. I want to have a multi-piece painting set that hangs side by side by side, based on one image or theme. I have no idea what that might be yet. As for the size, I want it to be a little bigger than what I usually do, maybe about 2ft by 1.5ft for each painting. Maybe I could include a couple different materials, but I would have to experiment with that first. 

Brainstorming for next painting

After making many smaller, faster paintings, I would now like to make a bigger, long term painting of some sort. I want to make it a multi-piece set. I don't know yet what I might paint but, here are some examples of the kind of set I want to do.

208 Squares #6

This week's theme is Infinity. I decided to paint the infinity symbol in dark blue and half it fade away to a lighter blue color.

Sketch of 4th painting

Today I started my fourth painting. It is based off a photo Emma took in Puerto Rico. It is the third painting I have done based on the same spot, but from different angles. I will start painting tomorrow and finish next week hopefully.

Art & Fear, By David Bayles & Ted Orland

Quote 1
"The seed for your next art work lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece."

• When I was in 8th grade at my old school, I took a painting class with my friend. We had to paint a bowl of fruit. I had never really painted from observation before. Every time I thought I was finished, my teacher would mention multiple things that needed to be fixed. It took the whole semester to paint the bowl of fruit. All of my mistakes helped me to learn to be a better painter. 

Quote 2
"Artmaking probably does require something special, but just what that something might be has remained remarkably elusive - elusive enough to suggest that it may be something particular to each artist, rather than universal to them all."

• While I sometimes have difficulty coming up with creative ideas for my art, other people may easily be able to do that. For me, what's special and comes easily is being precise, patient, and hardworking, which are all illustrated by the work I produce.

Quote 3

"The lessons you are meant to learn are in your work."

• When I look at my paintings, I like what I see. I see that I have really improved in my painting skills. I also see that most of what I have painted are landscapes, beaches, and nature in general. Before this term, I hadn't really painted animals. Looking at my paintings, I realized I had a fear that I would not be able to paint animals. This inspired me to try. I painted a deer. Because I liked the way the deer turned out, I decided to paint another animal, jellyfish, which also ended up looking good in my eyes. I guess I still need to try and paint new things and learn from them. I need to trust myself and expand my subjects.

208 Squares #5

This is my fifth square. My theme this week is Birthday. I decided to take a literal approach and draw/paint presents. I sketched it first and then used paint markers to color it in.

208 Squares #4

This is my fourth finished square. My theme was Secret. I couldn't decide on a secret to show, so I decided to make paper doors that open up to a question mark because secrets are unknown by others. I attached the paper doors with string and painted a start on the front.

DeCordova Museum

Yesterday we went on a field trip to the DeCordova Museum. I wasn't a huge fan of most of the art there but here are a few piece that caught my attention, whether it was the color, technique, or style.

Reaction to Austin Kleon and Kirby Ferguson

Austin Kleon:

• "When people give you advice, they’re really just talking to themselves in the past."
• Every new idea is just a mashup or a remix of previous ideas.
• For example 1+1=3. If you draw 2 parallel lines, and ask how many lines there are, the answer is 3 because there are the 2 lines that are drawn and 1 line made up of the space in between, therefore making 1+1=3.
• You are made up of everything and everyone you surround yourself with.
• "It’s in the act of making things that we figure out who we are."
• Fake it 'til you make it.
• Better to write what you like, not what you know.
• Have a hobby.
• Be seen.
• Be nice, be boring.

Kirby Ferguson:

• Everything is a remix
• For example, often new music comes from old music.
• Beats are edited- made faster, slower, louder, softer
• Audiences prefer what is familiar.
• New works are made up of bits and pieces of past works.