My idea for this painting was based on a card that I chose. I chose this as I wanted to learn how to create definitions with paints. I first started by making a sketch of the pencil. I then started on the main part of the pencil and mixed a lighter and a darker shade of orange. This helped to create the different sides of the pencil. I then started on the end side by the lead. I mixed a light shade of pink and tan to create the shaved wood part. I also made a darker gray for the lead. I used a lighter shade of gray for the medal part on the other end of the pencil as well as a darker shade of gray to make the details. I finished with the pink eraser. This painting gave me an idea of where my painting skills were starting and what I needed to do to improve.  Since this was my first painting, the most difficult part was learning how to mix the right colors to match the different shades of the pencil. I overcame this by mixing the paint until it matched the colors on the card. If I were to change anything, I would try to add a lighter shade of gray to the medal part to give it more definition and make it stand out better. This painting is in a realistic style of art as it is an exact representation of the card I chose. I love how I was able to make the pencil look 3D and not flat on the paper.  

My idea for this project was based on a picture that I had from showing cattle. I first painted the entire canvas green to match the green shavings. I then traced the image onto the canvas using a projector. I then started working on the top bleachers part, painting it a dark shade of blue. I then worked on the tunnel and the band below it. I then painted the space below, which has the other section of bleachers, a dark shade of gray. Next, I went back up to the top section and added the details to create the different rows and the walkway. I used a light shade of blue for the different rows and then a slightly darker shade for the walkway.  I then added white to some areas to give it some definition and create some seats. I also added the details to the lower set of bleachers as well as the windows and doorways. Once the top seconds were done, I started working on the fence line and the shavings. I used a variety of different shades of green to create the texture and definition of the shavings. For the fence line, I painted it all a light shade of gray and then added the white fence posts. I also added the red, white, and blue banners. I started with the base color and then added different shades and white to some areas to make it look more textured. On the fence line, I also added a few flower pots using a light shade of green and yellow. I painted the whole cow white and then painted the spots black. I then added white and gray throughout the black spots to create more dimension. I used a lighter shade of green and yellow to create the glow from the shavings on the belly and legs of the cow. This also helped it separate from the white part of the banner. Lastly, I painted the shirt a few shades of purple and added grey and light green to create a shadow effect on the white pants. This relates to my life as this picture is from the show where I won Reserve Supreme of the Junior Show at the NAILE with this cow. She also recently passed away, so this is in some ways a memorial painting of her. The most difficult parts for me were creating the different shades of paint to match and creating all of the fine details. If I were to change anything, I would make the fence line straighter and also make some of the details in the background less defined so that it looks further away and doesn't draw away from the cow as much. This is a realistic style of art as it is based on a photo. I like that this painting is a representation of something that is very close to me and represents something I enjoy doing.  

My idea for this painting was based on a photo that was taken of my siblings and me this summer at the county fair. I first started by painting the canvas a light shade of grey to match the color of our shirts. I then traced the details of the photo onto the canvas using a pencil. I then painted the sign a shade of white and then painted the green triangle part. I then moved down to painting the wall a peach/grey color to make it look more worn down and aged. I then did the harness on the shirt and the green clover. Next, I painted the face and hair as well as the necks and arms that are visible. Lastly, I painted in the facial features as well as any other missing details like the 4H emblem on the shirts. This relates to my life as it is of my siblings and I doing something that we all enjoy. The most difficult part for me was doing the facial features because of how small the details were. I was able to overcome this as I took my time and used a smaller paintbrush. If I were to change anything, I would practice more on the facial features before adding them to my work. This is a realistic style of art as it is based on a photo. What I love about this painting is that it got me out of my comfort zone as I typically do not paint portraits and is also of my siblings and me.