Foundations of Art

My artwork is a great way to explore my strengths and weaknesses. For example, as a more skilled artist, my artwork reflects my strength with creativity, attention to detail, and overall technical abilities. On the other hand, in some places I struggle, my strengths don’t shine as brightly as they do in areas I am more comfortable with. Regardless of skill level, my artwork provides insight into my personality, interests, and worldview. The tool of art serves as an outlet for self-expression and reflection on myself. Foundations of Art has helped me realize that. While creating art with different mediums, I was always learning new technical skills and refining my old ones. My work has naturally evolved and shows how much experience I have gained. Looking at earlier pieces, I can see how far I have come in specific areas such as delicacy with my hands, patience, attention to detail, and so much more. This process has been incredibly rewarding and motivating, as it highlights my progress and encourages me to continue developing my skills. Reflecting on my past work has made me realize how much I can improve. It helps me identify patterns and themes in my art, giving me a better understanding of my creative process. This experience has induced much growth, in my mind and my hands.

My most challenging projects were the scratchboard and charcoal drawing of my cat, as it took so long with many small details. As someone who has a million thoughts but can’t always get them all down on paper, new ideas would come to me for the rest of the drawing but I wouldn’t be able to get them down. They both took so long, as they were so large. Taking on big projects can be exciting, but don’t stay that way throughout the process. One of the biggest challenges was staying motivated throughout the entire time. Large projects can take days, weeks, and even months, but I didn’t have that time, so I would stay up for hours working on the same thing continuously. It was very difficult to maintain enthusiasm over such a long period. Managing time effectively and efficiently was also a challenge. With other school work to do, I needed to set realistic goals and deadlines to be disciplined about sticking to them. These projects were also emotionally draining, as I invested a lot of time, effort, and creative energy into them. This was especially challenging because I encountered many setbacks and obstacles. From staying home sick to not having any motivation, they messed up my timeline and I had to constantly revise. Despite these complications, it was a very rewarding feeling once they were finished. This provided a sense of accomplishment and pride as I got to see my vision come to life. 

These two projects were easily the pieces I am most proud of. For goals over not just the summer but the future as well, I want to somehow turn this into a career even if it’s just a side business. I want to be able to share my creativity and insight into my thought and beliefs with others. When I see other people’s artwork I am never able to describe the feeling I get from it, one of these paintings being The Birth of Venus. I want people to get that indescribable feeling when they look at my work. Creativity is only shrouded by our ability.