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.

Drawing 1

So I was about to make a post about Drawing 2 when I realized I never made this one!

About Drawing 1, it was hard but worth all the hard work. I was dreading this class. I was and avid "I can't draw" person. To the point it could have been the poster child. As I took this class I realized that was an incorrect statement. I should have said, " I draw all the time but not realistic or naturalist stuff." Although after this class, I can do that if I want (but I really don't want too).

We started doing Structural Sketches the academic way, lots and lots of structural sketches. Like this chair.

The enemy of my classmates and myself

This frustrated me a lot. If fact it got so bad, one time after class I cried. Seriously. However after much prayer and seeking wise counsel, I started making progress. It turned out I wasn't as bad I as thought I was.

Eventually we started learning about contour lines too and received our first official project: 4 Hands

Four Hands was an assignment were we drew four separate hands on a 18 X 24 sheet of paper using contour lines. Contour lines are lines that defines a form or an edge.

Four Hands

Next we did an organic and found object composition of our choice with contour and cross-contour lines. Cross-contour lines are line that go across the surface of an object. I choose to do keys and leaves on a flat surface.

Keys and Leaves

Then it was a matter of repetition. We did two self portraits: one in contour lines and another in cross-contours.

Self portrait in contours

I don't have a picture of the one in cross-contours because once I realized I should start photographing my work I had already entered in into an art contest. It's been in contests ever since but that's a different post for a different time.

Our final project was a diptych which is a two part work of art.

I documented this experience in my first few posts:  Drawing One Final: Diptych Drawings, Subject Acquired, Change In Plan!, and I finished It (For class anyway).

Overall it was hard work but a great experience.

Art History Survey 2

We all have to take it, at least those of us getting a BFA or a BA in art. Art History Survey 1 and 2. This past spring semester I took part 2. I bombed it but that was my own fault for not paying enough attention to my assignments. However, it was still really inspiring. Post-Impressionism has always been my jam, Surrealism too but I really enjoyed learning about Realism, Fauvism, Dada, Futurism, etc. Way better than Survey 1... but let's not talk about the past. (Pun unintended) All that is beside the point. What is the point? Romanticism with a capital R. (*o*) So be on the look out for some appropriation and some innovation inspired by this period.

Winter Break Update

Yes I am perfectly aware that is June, I'm just picking up where I left off. So the only thing I accomplished on the list from my previous post was finishing my entry for the King contest.  I was really frustrated with this. I did numerous sketches and started over several times. It took me a while to realize I shouldn't have entered this contest because what they were looking for isn't what I wanted to give them. I wanted to create something that was more than a nice looking drawing of King. I wanted to make something that would get people thinking. So I quit trying to put myself into the box and made what I wanted. I didn't win of course and I could have done better but I was satisfied with this start. It's called Contemplate the Dream, for now. Here's what I came up with:

Contemplate The Dream

 

 

Contemplate the Dream is a conceptual portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He of course is the main visual focus of the work. He is surrounded by quotes he spoke and the word dream repeated many times. This work was created as a contest entry in tribute to Dr. King. The theme was the “Moods of King” as the Dreamer, Dream-maker, and the dream-keeper. It is on a 16 X 20 sheet of paper created with black, blue, and red ink.

The first thing you notice when looking at this work is Dr. King drawn in contour and cross-contour lines with blue ink. There is no chiaroscuro in this work. All three-directionality is created by cross-contour lines and variation in lines weights. The lines used to make King are heavier than the ones used to write the words in the background. Even though the whole work is in shallow space, the difference puts King in front. In a color contrast, the word dream, which makes up majority of the background, is inked in black. “Dream” is repeated throughout the background with alternating capitalization of its letters. Scattered in between are quotes from King written in red ink. The used of blue, black, and red separate the components and enforces the roles each play in the work.

I wanted this to be more than just a tribute or acknowledgement to Dr. King. I wanted the viewer to think about what Dr. King stood for. I specially choose the quotes to inspire and challenge people to move to action. Also to encourage us to still work towards equality in a peaceful manner and not just ride on what we have already obtained. Particularly the only words written in blue “Through the chaos of life the dream still stands and never dies,” to be a reminder to continue the dream.

I have mixed feelings about this work. I really like the concept and layout. I like that to fully understand it you can’t just give a quick glance but actually have to examine the work. Often times we look at art at quickly judge it to be good or bad, or just pass it by, instead of really taking it in. The execution however, could have been better. For example, the words on the left side of King go at an angle while the words on the right go parallel. Also may be the quotes could have floated a bit more instead of being so close to King’s head. Which should have had a heavier outline to match his body.

Close up of things that could have been better

 

Those things aside, I think this work has merit because there needs to be more like it. Especially on the subject of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. I feel that, all be it a small part, "it's pretty" art is part of why millennials aren’t interested in African American art. Particularly art about the ever present fight for equality. Since they only see picture but not the message, the message is usually lost. As I practice my skills and get better, I'd like to do a whole series like this on the Civil Rights Movement along with other works that reflect that I am indeed an African American.