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.

3rd Finished Piece

Yesterday I started and finished my third painting (on the top). It is based off a photo (on the bottom) that Emma took of Jellyfish at the aquarium. It is a small painting, but I thought the Jellyfish would look better on a smaller canvas. Although the coloring of the background is a little different, I think it still looks fine.

2nd Finished Piece

I finished my second piece, the painting of a deer, before vacation. Here is the final.