Foundations of Art
2018-2019
Art Reflection - Foundations
My experience in this class was not what I expected. I think I would have felt more content and comfortable if I got to do the kind of art I wanted to do, and not what we were assigned. However, I wouldn’t have grown as an artist. So, I guess I’m thankful that I learned all of the things I did, and was able to widen my knowledge of what other art styles I might like. My overall experience was, at times, unenjoyable, but beneficial to my long-term goal of being a fairly good artist, as a hobby.
My work shows that I have improved because, compared to my three time capsule drawings, the rest of my art is more advanced and looks more aesthetically pleasing. It is more advanced because, instead of just using pencil like my time capsules, I used a variety of other art materials, and used them fairly well. The other pieces are more aesthetically pleasing because, for the most part, they actually have a lot more detail and look very similar to the subject of what I was creating. So, my art has improved in multiple ways.
The most challenging parts of this class for me was working in an area with other people, getting art done on time, and doing artist statements. Working in an area with other people was hard because it stressed me out and made me uncomfortable to actually do my artwork there. To be creative and to be myself, I need to be alone and with few distractions and stress. That was the opposite in class. I felt like I was in the way of others, and that others were in my way of getting what I needed to get to. To add to that, I had a deadline for the art. It takes me time to do things, and to put a time limit on it just added to the stress. Lastly, the artist statements were hard because I could never find any motivation to do them. They were tedious and I felt like I shouldn’t need to explain my art for it to be understood. It’s just art. Shouldn’t it be left to the imagination?
I am most proud of surviving this class/school year, but if the question means which art project I am most proud of, then it would have to be my charcoal project. Out of all my art projects, that one took me the longest to complete, and it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. I am proud of it because, with all that time and effort, I love the result. It started out with something I knew nothing about using: charcoal. Even after test shading, it was still a whole different ball-game. I was basically practicing while doing the project, erasing mistakes, and redoing it again. I didn’t even know I was capable of the result, but I guess we learn something new all the time, even about ourselves.
Lastly, my work illustrates my strengths and weaknesses as a learner because it showcases—by the quality of the work—how I can handle certain projects. For example, if a project is a little messy, I was rushing and didn’t have ample time that I needed. Or, if it is not as detailed or thoughtful, then I was having a bit of artist-block and/or doubting my capabilities. I feel that I can never go the extra mile with my art because I am not fully confident with the new things I have barely learned. My work also shows how well I can use a certain material, and what sorts of subjects I am better at drawing. For instance, I may be good at shading, as shown in, again, my charcoal project. However I still seem to not be as good with getting my eyes right, or human facial features in general, as shown in my charcoal self portrait. This shows that I have some weaknesses in my work, but also strengths that I have gained more of with this course.
All in all, I think I have learned a lot this year, and, though it was tough at times, I pulled through and came out learning more about art, as well as myself. I learned about materials and art subjects I am good with, and my tendency to not want to be rushed with it. This class was a good learning experience, and I am thankful that I took it. I hope to continue to take art classes throughout my high school career, to learn so much more, and to improve as an artist.
Jacie Lavers