Space

Artist Statement:

For my pieces, I made a leaf composition, a painting of an underwater scene with leaves as negative space, and a drawing of my hand as negative space. In my works, I wanted the negative space in the drawings to be highlighted. I wanted to make sure that I manipulated the space of the drawings to how I wanted it it, and make space a focus. For my individual pieces, I was inspired to create a leaf composition that would make the best use of space, and used the composition to create my negative space leaves piece. For my zentangle value strip, I wanted to make sure that I used different values and showed a good range of light to dark. For my negative space hand, I wanted to make sure that I showed a good understanding of how negative space works by making the hand the negative space. 

For my zentangle value strip, I used Sharpie gel pen on photocopy paper. I chose to use a gel pen because it makes dark lines, and I wanted my lines to be dark and clear. For my negative space hand, I used graphite pencil on drawing paper. I chose to use a graphite pencil because I made the drawing to practice negative space, and didn't want the lines to be too defined. I wanted the drawing to have a sketch feeling so that I can tell what I need to fix and check my understanding of negative space. For my leaf composition, I used leaves and packing tape on photocopy paper. I used these materials because I could place the leaves where I want them to be in my final negative space drawing, and I could then tape them so they keep their place. For my negative space leaves drawing, I used graphite pencil, Sharpie gel pen watercolor, Sharpie, acrylic paint, and watercolor pencil on Bristol board. I used graphite pencil to sketch and make sure that I had everything where I wanted it to be. I used Sharpie gel pen on the border and the leaves so that I could make sure that they are defined. I used watercolor for the background, as I felt that it was the best material to use to create the ocean. Watercolor looks flowy, which matches how the ocean is and feels. I used Sharpie to outline the different creatures in the piece. I used it because it highlights them and makes them more prominent. I used acrylic paint for the turtle and the fish because it made them brighter and more eye catching. It also added to a more cartoony feel. Finally, I used watercolor pencils on the jellyfish and the turtle shell because I felt that it gave them a more natural color that made the most sense. 

For my zentangle value strip, I first sketched out ideas on a seperate piece of paper. I then created the borders for in between the zentangles. I then went in with Sharpie gel pen and created the zentangles. I did this so I could make sure the zentangle was how I wanted it to look. For my negative space hand, I drew it by looking at my hand and creating the drawing through that, not from a photograph. I did this so I could practice how I view negative space, as well as practice drawing from life. For my leaf composition, I first rearranged the leaves how I wanted them to be and then taped them on. I did this so that I could have a good reference to work off of when I started my negative space leaves piece. For my negative space leaves piece, I first started by drawing my border. This was an important first step so that I could make sure to keep a clean edge. I then sketched all the leaves and went over the sketch with Sharpie gel pen. I did this so that I can make sure the leaves are where they should be and that they are defined. After this, I sketched the animals in my drawing, using different photos as reference. I did this so that I could make sure that everything was ready for me to start finalizing the piece. I then went in with watercolor to provide a base for the background. After this, I started to finalize the animals by going in with acrylic paint and water color pencils to create the base of the animals. Finally, I added the final details to the animals by outlining them with Sharpie, as well as adding other details with Sharpie. I also used acrylic paint on the turtle's shell. I did this so that the animals can look finished, and also to make them look cartoony. Overall, for this piece I wanted to make something that makes you feel good. I made an ocean with cartoony creatures because I love the ocean, and wanted to make something that represents how happy and cool the ocean is. A lot of my reasoning behind choices I made in the piece were so that it fit this criteria. I wanted it to be something that a little kid would like, something that feels like childhood. This is why I made the piece how I did.