Sustained Investigation #6

How do animals anthropomorphize human traits and behaviors?

New Caledonian crows use complex tools to solve problems. 

MATERIALS: Acrylic paint on canvas

PROCESS: Brainstorming, researching, sketching, painting

SIZE: 16"x14"

Reflection on Work:

I chose the materials that I did for this project because of the freedom it gave me and my ability to work at a fast pace. My previous project was a great experience, but like I said in my last assessment, it was pretty slow and meticulous. I enjoyed the comfort that I had working with acrylics and the way that I was able to relax a little bit more and change things that I didn’t like. Acrylics also gave me the ability to create the crows in the style that I wanted to, and make them colorful. I had to work a little harder on the processes for this one than usual. I like to work fast and get to the art piece, but making sure to draw more compositions and do some more research (and not just looking things up, actually writing them down) was really helpful in this case. It took a little bit of encouragement, but I really liked my new composition better than any of my other ideas, and the extra research helped me to realize what was true and what isn’t confirmed yet. It fits in with my idea because doing this work before helped me to create a piece that really resembles my focus. 

My piece shows evidence of practice through composition changes and sketching. I have to admit this piece kind of flowed a little more naturally in the beginning than others have, so I didn’t do too much practice when it came to actually painting unfortunately. I experimented with colors and colored papers compared to the values I had on my piece, and I still intend to do a little more work with that. I have done lots of value and detail revisions regarding the background, and also intend to do some more of those in order to brighten up the painting. EXTRA: (I did use a colored sheet as a reference for the background to brighten it up at home, but I don't think it was as bright as it needed to be considering I left some of the darker areas visible, and I think they kind of blended together instead of standing right out because I was scared of what the brightness would look like- I will do some more experimentation.)

My next piece I think will involve beavers. They create structures to change their environment around them to make it suitable for them, which is similar to what humans do. In some cases, they even harm the environment, creating flooding. The dams also clean the water and have good effects. They live in families as well and play with each other, groom each other, etc. Because my last piece was in a natural habitat, I think that this one could be a little different. I kind of like the idea of a “nuclear family” of beavers. For example, they will be inside their dam, and maybe a mom, dad, and two kids posing to get their portrait done as a family. I haven’t thought about it too much, but definitely like this idea at the moment and beavers are native to Massachusetts/Boston so I could maybe tie that into it somehow.