2D Design

Semester One Reflection

2D Design was a very different class than the one I took last year, and while I think it pushed me to create work in a shorter time frame, that shorter time frame made it much more difficult to create the incredibly detailed pieces that I wanted to make. As a result, I haven't made a piece of art this semester that I have been really happy with, my perfectionism often getting in the way of finishing pieces because I want to start over. I think the tight restraints of the projects lead me to be really frustrated with the results. One of my goals going forward is to take the time to make art, rather than have to scramble as a deadline approaches. For me, a week wasn't enough to plan out my pieces and then create them, because it often took me two to three tries to get the piece 'right.'

This isn't to say that there weren't good things in this class. I think I progressed in my ability to render landscapes and continued my investigation of deserts. I also think I went outside the box, in more design-oriented projects like "Designing Abstraction" and I was able to create a product I was pleased with. This project was one that I was able to spend a lot of time on, as revision is a natural process in my art, and for me. I might start a project, get half-way through, and become frustrated with the results, and taking a break, only returning when I have figured out what I want to do with the rest of the piece or even starting again. This semester got me in the habit of making very rough idea sketches, so I could do the major planning in my sketchbook rather than on the surface my final product would be on, which lead to cleaner looking pieces. Outside of class, I also experimented with ink wash, although the assignment I ended up using it on turned out awful and earned me a rather bad grade.

I have several goals going forward. The first is to continue learning and exploring with ink wash and watercolor, two mediums that the artist really only has partial control of, as water is unpredictable. These two mediums have helped me to accept mistakes when I make, and that those mistakes can be incorporated into the piece. Another goal is to challenge myself to depict humans, something I extremely bad at, so it will be a slow process. I struggle with perfectionism in my art, so much that so that I have a hard time motivating myself to make a piece that I know will not turn out the way I want because I lack the technical skill. My last goal is to try to be more accepting of the art I create and learn to be more patient and careful as I work. I think that taking this class has helped me to create a routine where I am making about a piece a week, and practicing my skills for this class has helped me to become a better artist.