This week, I learned a lot about both fish and the process of creating more developed art pieces. At the beginning of the week, I traveled to Boston and visited the New England Aquarium to observe and sketch fish in person. I focused on bright colors, textures, and movement while creating watercolor studies. I also researched both the Royal Gramma and the Asian Arowana, learning about their habitats, diets, and behaviors. As the week continued, I experimented with different materials such as gouache, watercolor, markers, and oil paints. I also learned more about underpainting and how different base colors can affect the final painting.
Overall, I really enjoyed what I was doing this week because I liked combining research with art. Visiting the aquarium was especially interesting because observing the fish in person helped me notice details that are difficult to see in photos, like the iridescent colors and reflections on the scales. I also enjoyed seeing my paintings slowly develop over multiple days. My favourite part was working on the Asian Arowana because I liked experimenting with the vibrant oranges, blues, and reds.
Not everything happened exactly as I expected, and there were definitely some surprises throughout the week. One thing that surprised me was how much planning goes into larger paintings. I also realized how slow oil painting can be because layers need time to dry before continuing. Another surprise was that I ended up liking the Asian Arowana painting more than I originally expected because of how vibrant the colors became once I started layering the scales.
I will benefit from this week’s activities because they helped me improve both my artistic and research skills. I practiced observation, sketching, painting, layering, and color blending while also becoming more confident in experimenting with unfamiliar materials. What I do each week helps me achieve my goals because it allows me to continue developing my creativity and artistic techniques while learning how to create more thoughtful and detailed artwork.
This week, I learned a lot more about multimedia art and the amount of time and planning that goes into creating finished pieces. At the beginning of the week, I visited galleries in Portsmouth, including N. W. Barrett Gallery, to research local multimedia artists and their processes. I was especially interested in the work of Jodi Harvey and Carey Jane because of their use of color and mixed materials. I also continued working on both my Royal Gramma and Asian Arowana paintings throughout the week. I learned more about glazing from Corby, layering transparent colors, and adding depth to backgrounds and fins. I also researched how to sew beads onto canvas and realized how difficult it is to get the correct tension so the beads stay in place.
Overall, I enjoyed what I was doing this week because I liked seeing the paintings become more finished and detailed. I especially enjoyed working on the Asian Arowana because I liked experimenting with the bright oranges, pinks, and blues in the scales and fins. I also enjoyed visiting Odiorne Point State Park to sketch the coastline and explore tide pools. Even though I didn’t see much marine life because of the low tide, I still enjoyed sketching outside and experimenting with bright colors in my drawings.
Not everything happened exactly as I expected this week. One frustrating moment was discovering that my Royal Gramma painting had been knocked over, which left gravel stuck in the paint. I also underestimated how time-consuming beading on canvas would be. I originally thought sewing beads onto the paintings would be fairly simple, but it takes much more patience and precision than I expected.
I will benefit from this week’s activities because they helped me improve both my technical art skills and my understanding of multimedia processes. I practiced painting details, layering color, composition, and sketching from observation. What I do each week helps me achieve my goals because it allows me to continue developing my artistic skills while experimenting with new materials and techniques.