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Section 1: Inquiry Question and Concept Exploration
Explanation of the guiding question or concept
Inquiry Statement: How can combining different materials and personal objects in a still life communicate layers of meaning about who I am?
Inquiry Writing: - This inquiry focuses on how combining different materials and personal objects in a still life can communicate layers of meaning about who I am. By selecting objects that represent my experiences, interests, and emotions, I explored how each material contributes to the overall message of the artwork. Through experimenting with mixed media, I investigated how texture, layering, and contrast can help express identity and personal meaning beyond what a single material could show.
Section 2: Connections
Cultural, historical, and artistic influences with critical evaluation.
Artist:
Janet Fish was born in May 18, 1938.
Painter from Bermuda and New England.
Lived and worked in New York.
In 2009, she stopped painting due to physical limitations.
2012 she is awarded the Smith College Medal (Given annually to alumnae who exemplify in their lives and work the true purpose of a liberal arts education).
Lived from 1938-Present (87 years old)
Artwork:
Raspberries, Flowers, Vases, Glass, Goldfish, Curtains, Butterfly, Bowls.
The lightning in the artwork is used to make every object create a reflection and a glass look, making every colored item more vibrant and outstanding with its colors.
The artist might be communicating how every object, no matter their tone, has vibrant and is filled with life by bringing out the colors in every object in the art.
This artwork is inspiring and creative to me because it truly brings out the life and color of every object, and I love that. It gives a warm and happy feeling, and it teaches me how every tone, material, and the lightning matter into doing my own significant still life.
Reflect:
Some ideas I want to borrow from this artwork into my still life art are the details. I love how every object, every corner, every color, has their own details, it gives texture and life.
This artist makes ordinary things feel meaningful by every detail and color. What you would normally see as usual, like a goldfish and raspberries, has more meaning because the artist included it in the title. Also, how every color can contrast one another, and making it feel alive and vivid makes normal or ordinary things get more attention and meaning.
In top 3 choices
In top 3 choices
In top 3 choices
Selected Photo
Artist Connection:
Source - Classroom Website
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Source - Classroom Website
Source - Classroom Website
Personal Connection:
Orchid
In the art, the orchid is kind of like the base element. The biggest one that gives structure for the rest of the objects to find a place. For me the orchid symbolizes that, support and beauty. I have a contrast in my art, the golf ball symbolizes growing up with the men of my family, meanwhile the orquid is the opposite. My grandma, girl cousins, aunts, and ESPECIALLY my mom love orchids. I dont remember not having an orchid at my house in any moment of my life. When I see an orquid, I instantly think of my mom. She was my base growing up, just like the orquid symbolizes in my art.
Book
A book is included in my mixed media still life artwork. Yes, I believe including a book is different than from what people around me would have chosen because this generation mostly doesnt like reading, but I do. I included it in my art because it is one of my differences I have from my loved ones and friends. I feel it can also highlight something different about me in an art, and although my passion for reading is recent, as of in 7th grade I started to actually like reading, I still feel it has become a big part of my life and now of my art.
Painting
I have always felt a personal connection to the painting in my digital media still life. My older cousin Conti (Constanza) painted it for my mom before moving to Australia. I have always felt connected to Conti since she had cancer when she was younger, and I feel we share a bond because even though I never had it, I went trough it with my little brother and it was really difficult for me, so having her close always made me feel a little better throughout my little brothers cancer treatment. Now that she is gone at least I have that painting that deep down keeps connecting me to her, no matter how far away we are from one another.
Sea Shells
The seashells are impleneted in my art because I grew up by the ocean. I was born in Lima, but I have lived from ages 0-7 in the North of Peru, Mancora. I have a whole life established there with memories, friendships, and love. I know Mancora like the back of my hand, it is my home and it will always be. My main memories from Mancora and growing up in general is the beach, the ocean. Sea shells symbolize all that, my childhood.
Golf Ball
The golf ball in the art may seem to be added just to give shape, but it has a different meaning. I have grown up with the expectation to play golf. My grandfather, father, brother, and even relatives play golf. I have grown up next to it, golf has been a core part of me growing up, and till this day I still play golf. When I was younger I used to dislike it, I felt obligated and bored, but also with the weight of having my family expectations of me becoming great. But, while I grew up I started to enjoy golf by my own, so my relationship with golf could be seen from hate to love. I adore playing golf now, I go every week at least once.
Necklace
This necklace is very important to me. It was given by the hospital to my little brother when he had cancer, a brain tumor. Even though the beads in it dont have that much meaning, it spells his name, and I have it next to my bed. Every time I wake up I feel protected by his soul, like my guardian angel is looking after me. Every 8th of November I wear the necklace because it was the last day he was still on earth with me, he resisted until after my birthday to say goodbye and I will always love him for that. This necklace brings a lot of emotions to me, and even though it may seem dark and sad, at the same time it looks at me with strength. As much strength as I want because it was my brothers, and he was so strong during all this.
Section 3: Investigate
Visual evidence of material tests, alternate compositions, sketches.
Blind Contour
05/11/25
Day #1
Modified Contour
05/11/25
Day #1
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Value Scale
11/11/25
Day #3
Mug
11/11/25
Day #3
Blind Contour:
Selected Photo
13/11/25
Day #4
Grid Drawing Practice:
13/11/25
Day #4
Different Water Colors:
04/12/25
Day #_
Section 4: Create
Visual documentation of steps of creation
Picture #1
Picture #2
Picture #3
Picture #4
Picture #5
Picture #6
Picture #7
Picture #8
Picture #9
Picture #10
Picture #11
Picture #12
Section 5: Final Artwork
Title: Colors of Life
Size: 35.5 x 21 cm
Date of Completion: 19 - 12 - 2025
Why: I named this piece "Colors of Life" because it symbolizes my most precious things in my life in one painting. In section 2 on my personal connection I explained every object, but the pop of blue added at the end really changed up things. It has been my favorite color my whole life and I felt like this art needed a pop of color, it was not planned but felt it was needed. To be completely honest, I am not sure if I love it or not with the blue, but I do love the meaning it adds to give a more scent of myself.
Section 6: Communicate & Reflect
Evaluate, Reflect, and Possible Revisions of Final Work
Creating this mixed media still life was a meaningful experience because it allowed me to express my feelings and personal identity through objects that are important to me. While working on the artwork, I felt both challenged and motivated, especially when experimenting with different materials that did not always work the way I expected. At times this was frustrating, but it helped me become more patient and confident in making creative decisions. Using mixed media made the piece feel more expressive, and I enjoyed seeing how the textures and layers added emotion and depth to the artwork. I am proud of how the final piece communicates a personal story, and if I were to improve it, I would spend more time refining the composition. Overall, this project helped me realize that art can be emotional and personal, not just visual, and it encouraged me to express myself more honestly through my work.
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