Animals - Sustained Investigation

Mid-Year Sustained Investigation Reflection:

1. Overarching Inquiry Question: So far, my inquiry question is "How can I show life and realism in animals and their subjects?" However, I may change it to something like "what is our relationship with animals like?'

2. Which SI project do you feel has been your most successful? Why?: I feel that sustained investigation #5, titled Circus Elephant, has been my most successful so far. Not only did I use a variety of materials, but I felt this one also had good use of color and contrast. Additionally, I had a developed background that connected to the theme of the piece. I feel like the elephant itself turned out well, and I was even able to convey the sorrow in its expression. Finally, I think that this piece most clearly connects to the beginnings of a developed inquiry. 

3. Which SI project do you feel has been your least successful? Why?: I feel that sustained investigation #2, titled All-consuming Thoughts was my least successful. Mostly this can be attributed to the large background and the lack of use of blank space. I had tried to do this intentionally, to leave the viewer questioning what the "thoughts" of the dog may have been, but I think this idea was very much lost to my audiences. Overall, it is very simple, uninteresting, and looks incomplete. On a positive note, however, I think I did well with the change in perspective. 

4. What have you struggled with the most so far with your SI?: On the one hand, I always tend to struggle with creating a background, or at least, one that is developed enough to exist but also not too busy. As can be seen above, I often like to leave my backgrounds blank or pretty simple. On the other hand, I have struggled to settle on a concrete inquiry that I can develop moving forward. I have an existing one, but it's a little off and doesn't make a ton of sense. I do like the idea, however, of shifting my focus to our (humans') relationship with animals.  

5. How can you problem-solve the issues you've faced?: As far as backgrounds go, I just need to practice working on them and experimenting until I find a conclusion that is fully developed, but also to my liking and that makes sense. It is kind of a matter of patience. And regarding my struggles with my inquiry, I need to ask myself why chose animals, why they interest me, and how I can develop that into a clear inquiry. 

6. What materials do you think you should still explore with your SI?: I have room for improvement when it comes to connecting my materials to my artwork. I think it would be helpful to explore materials in nature, as animals mostly exist in nature.  Most of all, after developing an idea for a piece of work, I need to think about what materials would make sense for that piece and connect to it. 

7. How is your work developing?: So far, I don't there has been much development overall. There are variations in my art, but with a shaky inquiry, I have struggled to develop my artwork. However, especially in sustained investigation #5, I do think there was some development with background and a connection to an inquiry.

8. After reading through the peer feedback, what are the major trends/takeaways?: I seemed to have done well with using different materials, as well as my use of color, clean images, and good attention to detail. I do need to work on incorporating more background, and using more empty space. I thought it was also interesting to show animals doing anything, or multiple animals, rather than singular, stationary ones. Finally, and most importantly, I need to work on developing a clear inquiry throughout my work, rather than just focusing on animals.