Alethea Gan

My name is Alethea Gan and I've been an AQ student for four years. I began as a VFA student in freshman year, and this year I'm submitting a drawing portfolio for AP Studio Art. I mainly specialize in inked illustrations and digital paintings.

My SI is centered around the "bright young things," or the partying upper class of the 1920s, and what exactly made them so fascinating. I also took this opportunity to lean into the classical inspirations that influence my art and that of the 20s. As the year progressed, my SI work branched out into aesthetics other than the formal, traditional one it had at the beginning.

The Orange Grove

This series follows a temple throughout millennia, from being newly built in the first piece to crumbling in the last. These pieces contain the most recognizable motifs in my SI and in my overall work.

I. charcoal, graphite, chalk pastel

II. ink

III. digital painting

Word & Image

I dedicated my winter break to taking care of my skin, which had taken a turn for the worse while we were stuck inside. This piece depicts two of the products I used and their purposes.

Graphite drawing, summer 2020

Digitally colored drawing, winter 2020

Revisions

Many of my pieces were made early in the year, then reworked with more experience. This really helped me refine my technique and learn from what I'd previously done.