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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?
Writing: In my still life, I use the cup as the main element, and other elements, including a wine bottle, a book, and a headset, some of them with oil pastels and colored pencils. Through my still life, I aim to create a leisurely scene, as I enjoy listening to music and reading books.
Section 2: Connections
Cultural, historical, and artistic influences with critical evaluation.
Janet Fish
She was born in Boston, USA, in 1938, and she is a renowned contemporary American artist, famous for her still-life paintings. Her works are distinct from traditional still-life paintings. They are characterized by bright, eye-catching colors and are captivating due to their unique brushstrokes. Her bright and transparent colors have become the objects of imitation and study in A-level/AP/IB art creations. From her painting, I can sense the rich colors and vibrant vitality within it, and also notice many modernistic elements.
In this painting, the main objects are transparent plates and cups, along with some oranges and potted plants scattered among them. The light may come from the front and shine downward, causing the shadows of the objects to lean downward. This painting is in warm tones. All the objects are in warm colors, among which the yellow and orange in the oranges and plates are the most prominent, contrasting with the light blue background. In this painting, the plates and oranges are the main subjects.
Fish is skilled at using natural light to create rich reflections and refractions on glass, metal and liquid surfaces. In my still life paintings, I can also consider the light as the "main character", using projections, reflections, and semi-transparent textures to create depth and movement.
Section 3: Investigate
Visual evidence of material tests, alternate compositions, sketches.
Contour Line Sketches (day 1)
Value Scale and mug (day 2/3)
Grid practice (day 3)
Contour Final images (day 3)
Material Tests (day 4)
Through the five investigations, I have learned to use pencils with a single color to depict the shades of the colors in the picture, as well as the shadows and light. Additionally, through calculation and measurement, I used the grid mapping method to accurately match the positions of the items in cases where the size of the picture and the drawing paper differed. Besides, the last material tests help me to try to create works using different brushes on various materials.
Section 4: Create
Visual documentation of steps of creation
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
After the investigation, I try to use the grid mapping method to describe the main elements of my still-life paintings. And then, I use the same method for different materials, which is the same as the material tests on A4 paper. On day 3, the main framework of the still life painting has been presented, but some details are still missing. During the creative process, I made numerous revisions until I found the appropriate colors and materials.
Section 5: Final Artwork
Title: Relaxing Time
Size: 28/35.5cm
Date of Completion: 15/12/2025
Why: It's novel for me to use different brushes on various materials.
Section 6: Communicate and Reflect
Challenges, successes, and self-evaluation of how the artwork aligns with the inquiry question.
Have I drawn my contour lines boldly, with some variation in line thickness to show texture or value? - Yes.
Have I used 2 paper types and 3 drawing materials on my final? - Yes.
Am I drawing what I actually see, not just what I think the object “should” look like through accurate grid drawing? - Yes.
Have I used hatching or cross-hatching in at least one area to build value or form? -Yes
Did I test materials or techniques in my sketchbook before applying them to my final piece? - Yes
Is my work clean and professional-looking? (No eraser smudges, fingerprints, wrinkles, or rough marks.). - At the beginning, there were some fingerprints on my art paper. However, I eventually erased these traces.
I have worked carefully on my final piece, not rushing, with thoughtful choices and application of materials? - Yes
Have I stayed focused, worked hard even when it got challenging, supported classmates, and cleaned up my materials? -Yes
Reflection Notes: At the beginning, I sought advice from my companions and selected the most suitable picture from the ten options. During the painting process, my initial line drawing was quite good, but when the materials were applied, the picture became somewhat distorted. In future paintings, I will pay attention to such issues and make improvements. In conclusion, through this process, I learned that drawing is not only about accuracy, but also about interpretation and experience. This work pushed me to trust my observation skills and accept imperfection as part of visual truth.
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