Progress & Goals 

this week we worked on value, contrast, blind contour, and thumbnail sketches. the picture to the left is a drawing i did this week of a shell. I used highlights and shadows to accentuate the round shape of the shell. a challenge i encountered was creating the part of the shell that outside. it was difficult to draw that part of the shell while trying to show how its lighter than the rest of the shell. I tried my best to use shading around the edges to make it look deep instead of flat. For next week my goal is to try and make my shading look more polished and have no white spots. 

Progress and Goals

This week we focused a lot of shading. We shaded a lot of different objects but the picture to the right is copying a texture. The first texture I choose to do is leather. I didnt know it was leather when I choose it but I really like the final look. It took me a long time and was challeging but I am satisfied with how it works. The highlights and getting the shape of everything was the most challeging part. I have a hard time finding quite the right shape but with help from my teacher it ended up looking great. My goal for next week is to make it look smooth. No visible pencil lines or smudges below the image. Its challenging to figure out how to do that but its my goal next week to accomplish it. 

Progress and Goals 

This week Ms.Keeney was absent so we didn't do a whole lot. However we made collage diaries which was something I really enjoyed. We cut out pictures from magazines and glued them on the paper to make a really unique collage. I finished mine at home because I wanted to print out some pictures to put on the collage.  This activity reminded me of making a mood board. I tried my best to make a collage of all the things I enjoy and the aesthetic I like. This activity is definitely something I would again for art pieces to hang in my room. I think I am improving in my vision skills, seeing how thigns fit together. I am very proud of my collage.

This week we worked on our still life drawings. I choose to draw the tea set I set up a while ago. I wanted to do something with food so Ms. M would hang it on her wall.  I am still deciding if I want to draw in black and white or color. I am just going to finish the main outline of everything and see what happens. coloring with the colored pencils is a big challenge for me because Its hard to blend the colors together. I am still deciding if I am up for the challenge or not. IN conclusion, I really enjoyed this week. 

This week I worked on shading my drawing. I added shading to the teapot and the cake. Ms Keeney gave me advice on how to add the crunchy texture to the end of the cake. I think possibly with a little more work it can look more realistic. So far I am enjoying the process and I am trying to make it more realistic. With all the textures its going to be difficult to finish but I am very determined to finish. I am going to make a more clay look for the pot with the pear tree. In conclusion, I am excited to see the finished product. 

Are methods like grid, tracing, transfer paper another tool in the tool box or is it cheating?

I believe that using the grid isnt cheating. You are just using lines to help you measure out where the features on the face should go. If it helps you map out the face and its not directly copying the face onto the paper. However, using tracing paper or tracingI think is cheating. You are not drawing what you see and copying it on the paper. You are just copying the exact image which isnt from your own hand. Art is unique because every piece is different. WHen you trace its just copying what already exists instead of trying to make something different. In conclusion, I think tracing is cheating in art. 

This week we started working on the memory project. I am drawing a girl named Berinyuy. I choose to do a traditional portrait instead of a conceptual one. I think this will help me with drawing people and using the chalk pastel pencils. I am starting with the eyes which I already messed up but i am gonna try and fix it. thats al for now peace.

The struggle:

For the memory project I am attempting to draw a realistic portrait because I wanted to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone. However,  I have done 3 attempts to draw a portrait of this girl and everyone so far has been a failure. I am starting over today because I was not being the smartest and tried blending with white. I think you can guess how that turned out. I am going with a new technique and doing shorter pencil strokes, starting with the darkest parts of the face first. Before that I will do the eyes so shes not scary looking. I am trying not to just give up:)

Detailed description of your favorite color?

The color green generally connotes life, rebirth, nature, growth, and rebirth. Olive green has its own meaning and can be related to knowledge, hope, harmony, and compassion even if it still has all the same associations as other shades of green. You can buy upscale things in many tones of olive because the color is likewise linked to refinement. Olive green is a sophisticated yellowish-green color that is frequently used to signify peace, harmony, and refinement. As you might have guessed, green olives are the source of this color's name. Additionally, it may stand for perception, empathy, and humanity.

Whats the hardest part about figure drawng?

Each artist will have a different opinion about what they find most difficult to depict, not just one item. Faces are notoriously difficult for beginning artists to depict since there are few lines to follow and more contour and form. Some painters have trouble with their hands. Because of their structural complexity, hands provide a more difficult effort. To avoid having to deal with them, it's typical to simplify the shape of hands and even reduce their use in drawings. I've noticed throughout the years that rather than one specific aspect, getting bodily proportions correct tends to be the most difficult. If the proportions are correct, you will typically have a good image; if not, the drawing will never be accurate.

Photographs of the subject being drawn are frequently taken by artists for reference. For instance, if someone is out sketching the city, they can continue their work by using the reference photo they have at home. I am aware of some aspiring painters that use line drawings or images as teaching aids. Some claim that observing another artist's work can assist them learn how to draw. Some people divide an image into smaller portions by using a grid on a photograph. Regardless of the methods you choose, drawing is a skill that can be mastered, but it does require practice. People frequently claim that sketching is a skill rather than a talent. 

What conditions, attitudes, & behaviors support creativity & innovative thinking?

Many situations, mindsets, and actions can encourage originality and creative thinking. An open and inquisitive mentality is essential, to start. Thinking creatively is facilitated by adopting a readiness to consider novel concepts, question presumptions, and pose queries. Second, it's critical to foster an atmosphere that encourages risk-taking and experimenting. Innovation is encouraged by a culture that accepts failure and encourages learning from errors. Creativity may also be stimulated by encouraging cooperation and a range of viewpoints. Collaboration between people with various backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise fosters a wealth of creative ideas. Additionally, allowing time for introspection and seclusion might improve creativity. Deep insights and innovative ideas are encouraged by allowing for undisturbed periods of thought and brainstorming. Finally, a welcoming and judgment-free environment promotes individuals' freedom of expression and their willingness to take chances in their creative endeavors. Organizations and people may unleash their creative potential and promote innovation by fostering certain environments, attitudes, and behaviors.

How do artists tell stories through their art?

Artists have a remarkable capacity to convey narratives via their work, using a variety of strategies to draw spectators into stories that go beyond simple words. Artists can give their works of art a deeper meaning by carefully incorporating symbolism, which enables viewers to understand and relate to the narrative in their own unique ways. The arrangement and perspective of the pieces in the artwork, along with their composition, direct the viewer's eyes and produce a visual narrative flow. Imagery is essential because artists use it to communicate ideas and elicit feelings by creating settings, characters, and events. Contextual hints and references give the tale more depth and context, and the intentional use of color and tone creates a certain mood and atmosphere that improves the storytelling experience. These aesthetic decisions come together to produce compelling narratives that invite viewers to participate in, understand, and experience stories that go beyond conventional storytelling formats.