Growth: The werid gap

So now I’m in my junior year of college, I find myself in a difficult place. I’ve spent so much time doing schoolwork, that I haven’t spent much time making art. At least not art that represents who I am as an artist. Although truthfully, I’m not even sure what that looks like. Who am I as an artist? What is my voice? What am I trying to say? These are things I am in the process of discovering. As well as wading through the gap of what I want to create versus what I have the skills to create. It is a frustrating period but, everyone must go through it. I just wanted to update on where I am right now since my health situation hasn't really helped my posting schedule.

Today I Won Awards at a Show

No. You didn't read the title of this post wrong. Today I won 2nd place at the Alabama State University Art Show as well as the Chair's Award. I've been on a roller coaster since. I'm elated, shocked, and grateful all at once (I guess it's not a roller coaster?). When I went to the reception today I didn't think that I would win anything, I just showed up. Seriously. I just wanted to enjoy the reception, talk to my fellow students about their work, and show my mom around since she really wanted to come. I didn't even plan on staying the whole time because I had a meeting at the same time. I didn't invite people for the same reasons.

So now some of you are like, "why did you enter and not expect to win?" Because I don't make art to win. I make art as a form of expression, to say something, to make people feel something, and other things along those lines. I enter shows so more people can see and experience what I have to offer. Of course placing is awesome and I'm really happy to be recognized. As far as the Chair's Award goes, it's a very awestruck feeling to know that my work is now part of the University's art collection. I don't even know what else to say about that.

Anyway, so the work at won both awards was Lightman.

I found to be so interesting because it never really seemed like anyone got it but me. That was a sad thought at first but then I decided it was ok if no one got it or appreciated. As long as I continued to appreciate it, it would just be a nice little moment between God and me. 

As you may have seen in one of my previous posts, this was a school project. Truly, it was a life revitalizing project. In a slew of projects I had absolutely no interest in, during and after it was over gave me strength to push through. Don't get me wrong I learned a lot. I thank God for it too. It just really reminded me to stay in my lane. When it comes to graphic design, I'll mainly stick to web design and social media. Yes even though I don't post about my life on any given network, it's all about communication. Those happen to be my preferred methods of digital communication. 

Lightman itself was inspired considerably by the Christian Bible verse Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that ehy may se your good works and glorify your Father in heaven," as well and a few others.

It's about how we have so many choices in life and needing to make choices that align with our goals and purpose. It's about how God provides many opportunities for us and blesses us abundantly. It's about staying true to ourselves so that our lives and our testimonies help direct one another. It's about how sometime we're the only good in the world that people will ever see. It's about whether things look fertile or dry it's really just a matter of perspective. It's about standing tall and holding on to the promise of God's peace. 

Anyway it's about a lot of things but that is the gist of it. I'm looking forward to the things that God has for me to do and the results thereof. All glory and honor goes to Him. I'm grateful that He made me an artist and I wouldn't change it for anything. 

Be joyous and thrive!

Sculpture 1: Self Portrait Bust

The second project we did for Sculpture 1 was an in the round a self portrait bust made out of clay. My final one was approximately 12in tall, 7in wide, and 8in deep. I didn't get to take proper measurements because I didn't measure before the firing process and my bust exploded during the firing process. Yep, in fact no one had a completed sculpture and all but two completely exploded. I did take a picture before tat happened though.

She doesn't look like me. Related to me? Sure but actual me, not at all. Nonetheless I loved her anyway. I had big plans for her too. I wanted to turn her into a multimedia piece It's not me but us. But well, she blew up. More than likely due to air in the clay, uneven drying, and areas that were too thick such as the hair.

The process was tedious at first. The instructions we followed weren't that great and had terrible pictures with them. It left us pretty dependent on our instructor, but after this project we all had a sit down on how to improve this project for next time.

Will I make another one? Doubtful and if I change my mind it will still be awhile. Now that I have a better idea with what I'm doing, I think it would be much more enjoyable this time. Plus the idea of making bust is really exciting. The problem is the clay really hated my sinuses. I had to wear a mask whenever anyone worked and couldn't stay in the studio with them to long even while they were cover. The mold that started to grow on many people's pieces didn't help either. The impact on my health was worse than the plaster from the relief.

All in all, even though I only have scrap pieces I kept to use for multimedia purposes, it was a highly educational and enjoyable (when I wasn't feeling sick) process.

Sculpture 1 -- Relief Sculpture

So Fall 2015 I took Sculpture 1. Yes I finally got to take the class I've been waiting on since I got back in college. I was pretty cool. I did realize that I don't like working with clay but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Relief Sculpture

Our first project was to make non-objective (devoid of any reference to the natural world), organic (shapes with a natural look and a flowing and curving appearance) relief sculpture. Thee medium we used was plaster and the method was carving. We had to have high, mid, and low reliefs.

We started by mixing our plaster and pouring it into the box above. Then we let it dry and get hard. In the mean time we drew 25 sketches of what we wanted to create.

After it dry we transferred our sketch on the plaster via grid transfer method. The carvinbg then ensued.

After the carving was done we sanded with sandpaper, used turtle was to seal it, painted it with acrylic, and sealed it again.

Tada! Sculpture.

I loved carving. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it. I liked the plaster too but it really didn't like me at all. If my masked slipped a little bit, my nose was on fire and if my hands touched to much of it for too long, they itched like crazy.(I wore gloves) Let's not even talk about accidentally touching it left over on my clothes. Yeah... so more carving less plaster. Overall great learning experience.

Graphic Design 1: Photoshop

Graphic Design 1, taken Fall 2015, was my first time using Photoshop. Some of it I liked and some of it I didn't but all of it was a good learning experience.

First was the Duck

 

The goal of this project was to get acquainted with Photoshop by placing a duck in a pond. We used the pen tool, gradient tool, and the brush tool. Our instructor walked us through how to use several tools as well as their basic workings.

Magazine Covers

The goal was to recreate three magazine covers. Three because aside form the Ducky, our instructor made us do everything in threes. He said anyone can make something good once but a good designer has to be consistent. We used the pen tool, text tool, and the gradient tool.  (I don't own Mandisa's image but I do think she's awesome)

Surreal Project

Lightman

The Birds

Tulips in the Morning

The goal was to create a Surreal Art piece using high resolution images. We used the pen tool, quick selection tool, layer mask, and various layer filters. Finding images I wanted for free was challenging.

Liquify Project

The goal was to create a cohesive or thematic works using the liquefy filter. We also used the pen tool, type tool, and crop tool. I don't own any of the images and truthfully I didn't watch any of the movies.

Like I said it was a good experience. The Surreal project was my favorite because well Surrealism. (*-*)

Painting 1

So finally after many years of running and doing what I want, in the Spring 2015 semester I took a painting class. Painting 1 to be precise and boy did I learn a lot. The main thing being, I am not a Renaissance/Baroque type gal. I'm a Post-Impression/Expressionism gal. Naturalism/Realism can be done however it is not my friend. I felt very imprisoned and sad doing our first two projects. Also, I'm grateful that I took Drawing 1 or I would have been beyond miserable.

Project 1: Monochromatic still life

Project 2: Color still life

So this is what we used for the second project

And this was the result

Although the second two projects were quite enjoyable. Most likely due to the bit of freedom given. I had fun working on them simultaneously.

Project 3: Texture and Geometric shape

I'm really happy with this and is was great art therapy for me. Believe it or not, this was the result of me pouring a lot of stress and sadness out so I could focus more clearly on how things would get better. Which they did of course.  

Project 4: Make what you want

It didn't come out the way I envisioned at all but it was alright. I'm keeping my sketches so as I increase my skills, I can try again in the future.














Overall it was a great class.

Drawing 2

Drawing 2 was not my friend and I'm still trying to recover. Okay that may be a bit too dramatic but not totally wrong. In Drawing 2 we learned about value. Since we see objects and understand objects because of how dark or light they are, value is incredible important to art. Generally speaking, as long as there are dark values in harmony with light values, your artwork will look pretty good. But the whole process was lost on me. I understand it theoretically, it just doesn't translate well when I try to produce. (To me anyway) Nevertheless, it was a good experience to have. 

So here are some examples of what we did.

Cow skull still life

Female bust

The skull wasn't bad but the bust was a bust. (Yes I typed that on purpose) We also did some on toned paper.

skull still life

male bust

We also did some torsos and a self portrait.

male torso

female torso

self portrait

The final was interesting. We had to make a replica of a drawing.

Overall I learned a good bit but I still need lots of improvement.