- My original expectations for my artwork were not that far off from what I had originally set out to do, but my experiences during the semester, such as the trips we took and the people we met, inspired me to do more and work harder, and thus create more pieces than I had originally planned.
- My original proposal stated that I wanted to do something that involved personal and inner struggles, and some of my work entails that but mostly it embodies the things i enjoy, like zombies and Charlie Chaplin.
- I feel good about the work I have created this semester. In the beginning I followed through with my idea of inner struddle, especially with my first piece and my personal ideals piece. The main ideas after that changed in that I just wanted to create-and thats what I did by experimenting with new materials I was able to make pieces that reveal a little bit about me as a person, but not too much.
- I mainly stuck with my favorite materials, such as acrylic paint and black and white photographs, but I also had fun experimenting with found objects which I think gave me more ideas for my pieces and helped them develop as I went along.
- Many commented that while my work was colorful and vibrant, it was also very dark. This didn't really change the direction of my work but made me realize more who I am as an artist so I stuck with that.
- In my visual culture paper I talked about the art scene in New York in the 1980's, and specifically the work of David Wojnarowicz, and while that is a time period I find fascinating and I really enjoy his work, I found that it didn't really influence the direction of my pieces too much, just influenced me to take a look at other time periods to gather inspiration.
- It was really cool to be able to go to New York, check out galleries, and meet with artists who have experience in the art world. Paul Laster and Renee Ricardo made a big impression on me because they started at the bottom and worked their way to the top, and I admire them for that. They probably have the greatest jobs in the world.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Michele's Thesis
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Lindsey's Thesis
1. What were some of your original expectations for your artwork within this course and how does this compare to your actual experience this semester?
When I registered for this class I was kind of nervous about it at first because I didn’t know who I was, as an artist. I wasn’t sure what my favorite media was yet, so when we were assigned the first project I was really stumped. Then I discovered cardboard. I love the 3-d effect that it creates and I had so much fun experimenting with cardboard and manipulating it. I used some found images in a few of the projects and a variety of mixed media.
2. Summarize the proposal for your intended body of work, and explain how this has been realized or perhaps altered during the course of working.
I wanted to create a body of work the represents my life in dreams. But I ended up using that idea, and adding in personal experiences. I was flooded with inspiration because my life has taken a lot of twists and turns over that last year. Making my art was kind of a release for me, and showing it to my family and friends was a coming out.
3. Describe the pieces you have completed this semester and how you feel about the state of the work at this point. What are the main ideas behind the work and how have you tried to communicate those ideas through each piece?
My inspiration for my projects came from life experiences and things that interest me. The projects represent dreams, a car accident, and my personal beliefs and values. Also some of the drawing represented current struggles I was going through or issues I feel strongly about. I feel like my work is definitely going somewhere great. I am excited to continue experimentation with several different mediums, especially hot glue.
4. Describe the materials you have worked with and any techniques that you have developed or expanded upon. How have techniques and materials played a role in your ideas and feelings about the work?
I have developed several techniques while working with cardboard and hot glue.
I really enjoy using the hot glue to make all kinds of textures. Also when painting acrylic over the hot glue it causes a glossy finish, which is very neat. I also spent a lot of time tearing cardboard, and carefully extracting the corrugated interior. I would use metal scissors to work off the top layer and peel it away. I also used cardboard pieces when needing to make something 3-d, I also used this technique to make hangers for all of the projects. I’m sure there is still much to discover with cardboard and hot glue.
5. Have any comments about your work or thoughts expressed during critiques stood out in your thinking and helped to change or alter the direction of the work for the better?
I have always received positive feedback from everyone, which was kind of annoying, because I wanted to know what I could do to better my work. Often times I would ask others for their opinion. For example, the inside of the door on “something deeper” needed something more, and someone suggested feathers. I really like this idea because I have had a recent interest in birds, so I did it.
6. What artists, art movements, art historical time periods or visual culture issues have you researched? (Visual Culture Paper, etc.) What specifically has influenced you from looking at these artists?
Mostly I tried to look up artists who use cardboard as principle material but it was difficult. I couldn’t find any artist who were using it like I was. But I did find one man named Chris Gilmore, and I found his work to be truly amazing. He makes life-size realistic representations of everyday objects such as, ta typewriter, a bicycle, and a wheelchair. My other favorite artist I found is Hannah Hoch, who is a German abstract artist. I was particularly interested in the bright colors she uses, and the messages of feminism that are conveyed in her work. I have always been interest in the work that Jenny Holzer does as well. I researched the Dada movement because I was interested in the collage work that was done in that time period. I became really interested Matisse and his work as well as the stories behind it.
7. From meeting and speaking with art professionals this semester, what insights did you gain about he art world and what it means to be a professional artist? Who made the biggest impression on you and why?
One insight that I learned is that being an artist is a lifestyle, rather than a career. We always think like artist, and our minds are always filled with creative ideas, which is portrayed in everyday life. I think I realized this one our first stop in NYC, John Mcdevitt King’s apartment/studio. I thought how neat it would be to be able to live by money made by selling art. But I also know that you need to stand out among the rest to be a successful artists. I honestly felt like our class was filled with amazing minds. I am so proud of the art that we have all made this semester and I love the variety of our show.
8. Artist Statement: What is the essence of your artwork put into words? This can take the form of a description, a philosophical position, a poem, quote from a favorite artist, or any combination of these. A good artist statement tells us something about the mind set of the artist and compels us to look further into their world.
Thesis Statement
4.28.2009
When this semester first began I wasn’t sure where my artwork was going. I knew that I wanted to make work that means something to myself as well as the viewer. When I was getting ready to begin my first project I realized that I have had a box of cardboard sitting around for a couple years, and I wanted to be able to use it. I started by tearing it apart which revealed the amazing, multipurpose corrugated interior. After this I continued to manipulate the cardboard into whatever I wanted. Not only was I discovering the best material I‘ve ever worked with, but I was helping the environment by recycling and it was free! Then I began researching artists who use cardboard as a staple material and I found that people are doing pretty amazing things with this versatile medium. Another quality that I find interesting is the 3-D nature of the cardboard. The possibilities are endless.
I enjoy looking at artwork that gives the viewer something to think about. My goal as an artist would be for the viewer to come to their own conclusion about the meaning. I think that observing art should be compared to reading a poem or a book in that it expands our imaginations.
Entertainment in it’s rarest form.
Night Poem
There is nothing to be afraid of,
it is only the wind
changing to the east, it is only
your father the thunder
your mother the rain
In this country of water
with its beige moon damp as a mushroom,
its drowned stumps and long birds
that swim, where the moss grows
on all sides of the trees
and your shadow is not your shadow
but your reflection,
your true parents disappear
when the curtain covers your door.
We are the others,
the ones from under the lake
who stand silently beside your bed
with our heads of darkness.
We have come to cover you
with red wool,
with our tears and distant whispers.
You rock in the rain's arms,
the chilly ark of your sleep,
while we wait, your night
father and mother,
with our cold hands and dead flashlight,
knowing we are only
the wavering shadows thrown
by one candle, in this echo
you will hear twenty years later.
-- Margaret Atwood
When I registered for this class I was kind of nervous about it at first because I didn’t know who I was, as an artist. I wasn’t sure what my favorite media was yet, so when we were assigned the first project I was really stumped. Then I discovered cardboard. I love the 3-d effect that it creates and I had so much fun experimenting with cardboard and manipulating it. I used some found images in a few of the projects and a variety of mixed media.
2. Summarize the proposal for your intended body of work, and explain how this has been realized or perhaps altered during the course of working.
I wanted to create a body of work the represents my life in dreams. But I ended up using that idea, and adding in personal experiences. I was flooded with inspiration because my life has taken a lot of twists and turns over that last year. Making my art was kind of a release for me, and showing it to my family and friends was a coming out.
3. Describe the pieces you have completed this semester and how you feel about the state of the work at this point. What are the main ideas behind the work and how have you tried to communicate those ideas through each piece?
My inspiration for my projects came from life experiences and things that interest me. The projects represent dreams, a car accident, and my personal beliefs and values. Also some of the drawing represented current struggles I was going through or issues I feel strongly about. I feel like my work is definitely going somewhere great. I am excited to continue experimentation with several different mediums, especially hot glue.
4. Describe the materials you have worked with and any techniques that you have developed or expanded upon. How have techniques and materials played a role in your ideas and feelings about the work?
I have developed several techniques while working with cardboard and hot glue.
I really enjoy using the hot glue to make all kinds of textures. Also when painting acrylic over the hot glue it causes a glossy finish, which is very neat. I also spent a lot of time tearing cardboard, and carefully extracting the corrugated interior. I would use metal scissors to work off the top layer and peel it away. I also used cardboard pieces when needing to make something 3-d, I also used this technique to make hangers for all of the projects. I’m sure there is still much to discover with cardboard and hot glue.
5. Have any comments about your work or thoughts expressed during critiques stood out in your thinking and helped to change or alter the direction of the work for the better?
I have always received positive feedback from everyone, which was kind of annoying, because I wanted to know what I could do to better my work. Often times I would ask others for their opinion. For example, the inside of the door on “something deeper” needed something more, and someone suggested feathers. I really like this idea because I have had a recent interest in birds, so I did it.
6. What artists, art movements, art historical time periods or visual culture issues have you researched? (Visual Culture Paper, etc.) What specifically has influenced you from looking at these artists?
Mostly I tried to look up artists who use cardboard as principle material but it was difficult. I couldn’t find any artist who were using it like I was. But I did find one man named Chris Gilmore, and I found his work to be truly amazing. He makes life-size realistic representations of everyday objects such as, ta typewriter, a bicycle, and a wheelchair. My other favorite artist I found is Hannah Hoch, who is a German abstract artist. I was particularly interested in the bright colors she uses, and the messages of feminism that are conveyed in her work. I have always been interest in the work that Jenny Holzer does as well. I researched the Dada movement because I was interested in the collage work that was done in that time period. I became really interested Matisse and his work as well as the stories behind it.
7. From meeting and speaking with art professionals this semester, what insights did you gain about he art world and what it means to be a professional artist? Who made the biggest impression on you and why?
One insight that I learned is that being an artist is a lifestyle, rather than a career. We always think like artist, and our minds are always filled with creative ideas, which is portrayed in everyday life. I think I realized this one our first stop in NYC, John Mcdevitt King’s apartment/studio. I thought how neat it would be to be able to live by money made by selling art. But I also know that you need to stand out among the rest to be a successful artists. I honestly felt like our class was filled with amazing minds. I am so proud of the art that we have all made this semester and I love the variety of our show.
8. Artist Statement: What is the essence of your artwork put into words? This can take the form of a description, a philosophical position, a poem, quote from a favorite artist, or any combination of these. A good artist statement tells us something about the mind set of the artist and compels us to look further into their world.
Thesis Statement
4.28.2009
When this semester first began I wasn’t sure where my artwork was going. I knew that I wanted to make work that means something to myself as well as the viewer. When I was getting ready to begin my first project I realized that I have had a box of cardboard sitting around for a couple years, and I wanted to be able to use it. I started by tearing it apart which revealed the amazing, multipurpose corrugated interior. After this I continued to manipulate the cardboard into whatever I wanted. Not only was I discovering the best material I‘ve ever worked with, but I was helping the environment by recycling and it was free! Then I began researching artists who use cardboard as a staple material and I found that people are doing pretty amazing things with this versatile medium. Another quality that I find interesting is the 3-D nature of the cardboard. The possibilities are endless.
I enjoy looking at artwork that gives the viewer something to think about. My goal as an artist would be for the viewer to come to their own conclusion about the meaning. I think that observing art should be compared to reading a poem or a book in that it expands our imaginations.
Entertainment in it’s rarest form.
Night Poem
There is nothing to be afraid of,
it is only the wind
changing to the east, it is only
your father the thunder
your mother the rain
In this country of water
with its beige moon damp as a mushroom,
its drowned stumps and long birds
that swim, where the moss grows
on all sides of the trees
and your shadow is not your shadow
but your reflection,
your true parents disappear
when the curtain covers your door.
We are the others,
the ones from under the lake
who stand silently beside your bed
with our heads of darkness.
We have come to cover you
with red wool,
with our tears and distant whispers.
You rock in the rain's arms,
the chilly ark of your sleep,
while we wait, your night
father and mother,
with our cold hands and dead flashlight,
knowing we are only
the wavering shadows thrown
by one candle, in this echo
you will hear twenty years later.
-- Margaret Atwood
Monday, May 11, 2009
Michelle Andreano, Thesis
To see the paintings I am referring to, please go to Michelle Andreano's Blogspot...
At the end of the last semester, during which I was working on paintings, I created my Luggage Series, a group of 4 finished canvases and one unfinished one, as well as several found objects. The piece was based on family secrets and warped relationships and all the emotions related to them. Working on that piece was so personal and upsetting that I found that after working on it for two class periods that I couldn't do it in a class setting anymore, and I only brought it into the last class when it was due because I knew I could not present it twice.
Over the break between sessions, I created another piece that was also very personal and emotional, the painting I decided to call Untitled 1, because I didn't want to define what it was a painting of and also because when I painted it, I started it very differently than I usually do. I just decided to take my frustration and anger, paint, and see what happened. So even though the piece took the form of very crude animalistic melting bones, with the splatters and drips of paint,
At the beginning of the semester, I started with the idea of doing a series of self-portraits. I did so in the two assignments we had in the class, but once we were free to do whatever we wanted, I created the Warped Self Portrait, which was based off a picture of myself which became a much older and different looking version of myself. I had thought of calling the piece Self Portrait from Another Life, but that title wasn't true, since it is me, perhaps as I feel inside sometimes.
Through out the class, we kept a sketchbook, and the next piece I created was based on a drawing from it. That piece, Running Blue Eyes, was unique in that sense, since it was the first time that one of my sketches became the basis for a painting. I also explored options for how to draw onto the canvas without creating a solid graphic line.
My goal for the Vanity piece was to create something like the Luggage Series, dealing with the same subject but in a less revealing way; I am not really satisfied with the piece because I want to do so much more with it, to embed it with 'secrets' and objects until the wood seems to dissappear. I expect to continue working on the piece bit by bit. Seeing Blue & Red, the two 24” by 48” canvases, I started by just creating a background for both and then doing the 'sketches' on the red one and leaving the blue one the way it was.
Though I thought I had deviated away from the self portraits by jumping to examining emotions in my paintings and trying to let what was inside me determine the direction my work took, it only made the pieces into more accurate representations of myself at different points in time. So the idea that everything you make as an artist is a self-portrait in some way really rang true in this past semester's work.
Since I started out with the idea of creating a series of self portraits, I looked at the work of Frida Kahlo as an inspiration, since I appreciate how she manages to show her inner self in the paintings she made. We also made several trips to New York and other places that were also very inspiring. A lot of my inspiration ending up coming from my sketchbooks from the past and present and some of the art books I've collected over the years. Looking back at what I've done in the past and seeing what I still think was good and worthwhile helped me see what direction I should take.
Coming into this semester was scary, because I knew we were going to have a lot of freedom. At the end of last semester I knew from what others said and what I thought that the Luggage series was one of the best and unique pieces I had done to date, but it felt like a very hard act to follow, even more so because of the highly personal nature of it. I started out trying to create something of that caliber without getting really submerged in the context, but when I did so all the stuff I made was horrible. That was why, for the self-portrait piece, I brought in three pieces, the simple painting, a ceramic face, and the Bone piece (Untitled 1). The bone piece was the only one I was satisfied with, and I created that over the break. I wasn't even going to bring that in except for my dissatisfaction with the others. That experience showed me that I couldn't get what I wanted without putting something of myself into it and risking it being upsetting to myself or others.
Trying to find a way to delve into the past without becoming caught up in it has been a challenge this semester, especially as more and more personal issues have come up this past semester. Working with less specific matter (emotions and relationship dynamics, rather than specific secrets and frustrations) has helped relieve some of the tension, maybe even helped me deal with it.
I worked with a number of different media (ceramics, acrylic paint on canvas or board, pen and ink, graphite, etc.), but throughout all of my pieces, I try to capture more than just a representation of the physical. I try to paint what is below the surface, the emotions, the secrets, the soul of the subject, and to use whatever is going on around or inside me to create something that is not just a pretty picture.
At the end of the last semester, during which I was working on paintings, I created my Luggage Series, a group of 4 finished canvases and one unfinished one, as well as several found objects. The piece was based on family secrets and warped relationships and all the emotions related to them. Working on that piece was so personal and upsetting that I found that after working on it for two class periods that I couldn't do it in a class setting anymore, and I only brought it into the last class when it was due because I knew I could not present it twice.
Over the break between sessions, I created another piece that was also very personal and emotional, the painting I decided to call Untitled 1, because I didn't want to define what it was a painting of and also because when I painted it, I started it very differently than I usually do. I just decided to take my frustration and anger, paint, and see what happened. So even though the piece took the form of very crude animalistic melting bones, with the splatters and drips of paint,
At the beginning of the semester, I started with the idea of doing a series of self-portraits. I did so in the two assignments we had in the class, but once we were free to do whatever we wanted, I created the Warped Self Portrait, which was based off a picture of myself which became a much older and different looking version of myself. I had thought of calling the piece Self Portrait from Another Life, but that title wasn't true, since it is me, perhaps as I feel inside sometimes.
Through out the class, we kept a sketchbook, and the next piece I created was based on a drawing from it. That piece, Running Blue Eyes, was unique in that sense, since it was the first time that one of my sketches became the basis for a painting. I also explored options for how to draw onto the canvas without creating a solid graphic line.
My goal for the Vanity piece was to create something like the Luggage Series, dealing with the same subject but in a less revealing way; I am not really satisfied with the piece because I want to do so much more with it, to embed it with 'secrets' and objects until the wood seems to dissappear. I expect to continue working on the piece bit by bit. Seeing Blue & Red, the two 24” by 48” canvases, I started by just creating a background for both and then doing the 'sketches' on the red one and leaving the blue one the way it was.
Though I thought I had deviated away from the self portraits by jumping to examining emotions in my paintings and trying to let what was inside me determine the direction my work took, it only made the pieces into more accurate representations of myself at different points in time. So the idea that everything you make as an artist is a self-portrait in some way really rang true in this past semester's work.
Since I started out with the idea of creating a series of self portraits, I looked at the work of Frida Kahlo as an inspiration, since I appreciate how she manages to show her inner self in the paintings she made. We also made several trips to New York and other places that were also very inspiring. A lot of my inspiration ending up coming from my sketchbooks from the past and present and some of the art books I've collected over the years. Looking back at what I've done in the past and seeing what I still think was good and worthwhile helped me see what direction I should take.
Coming into this semester was scary, because I knew we were going to have a lot of freedom. At the end of last semester I knew from what others said and what I thought that the Luggage series was one of the best and unique pieces I had done to date, but it felt like a very hard act to follow, even more so because of the highly personal nature of it. I started out trying to create something of that caliber without getting really submerged in the context, but when I did so all the stuff I made was horrible. That was why, for the self-portrait piece, I brought in three pieces, the simple painting, a ceramic face, and the Bone piece (Untitled 1). The bone piece was the only one I was satisfied with, and I created that over the break. I wasn't even going to bring that in except for my dissatisfaction with the others. That experience showed me that I couldn't get what I wanted without putting something of myself into it and risking it being upsetting to myself or others.
Trying to find a way to delve into the past without becoming caught up in it has been a challenge this semester, especially as more and more personal issues have come up this past semester. Working with less specific matter (emotions and relationship dynamics, rather than specific secrets and frustrations) has helped relieve some of the tension, maybe even helped me deal with it.
I worked with a number of different media (ceramics, acrylic paint on canvas or board, pen and ink, graphite, etc.), but throughout all of my pieces, I try to capture more than just a representation of the physical. I try to paint what is below the surface, the emotions, the secrets, the soul of the subject, and to use whatever is going on around or inside me to create something that is not just a pretty picture.
Stefany: Jennie Holzer Art Museum Allentown
A. In my opinion, when someone says there is art work at the courthouse that is worth seeing I really wonder what they are thinking. I thought that it was pretty ironic that her truisms were on the benches. The granite benches signified to me of the firm court system and her truisms we definitely true. How she says some of these and the wording she uses makes me laugh. Seeing these at the court house was def, worth it. It also makes me wonder if the people standing outside the courtroom read these and if it actually has an impact on them before court.
B. In my opinion, I would describe this art as eye catching and it makes you think. Jennie makes me think that; are these things she inscribes on the benches really from her personal experience or belief? I would like to know if she really wanted to put these truisms on the benches inside the courthouse for a reason or if she decided on a whim?
C. Anger or hate can be a useful motivating force
Children are the hope of the future
Drama often obscures the real issues
Elaboration is a form of pollution
Freedom is a luxury not a necessity
Humor is a release
D. We are have destructive forces from within
We are out to get each other
Take life for what it is
Driving is a privilege not a right
Comedy is a release for stress
Allentown Art Museum Trip
1. Jackie Atkins/Curator of Textiles
----interim Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
2. In my opinion, I was surprised by how much information Jackie knew about the textiles. She knows her stuff. The “Behind the Scenes” tour was also interesting and we got to see how textiles were repaired and cared for. She was very informative about everything and I could not believe what her job was. I do not think I could do her job. It entails a lot of social skills as well as specific knowledge. I thought it was great how Jackie can work like a tour guide. I was disappointed because time did not allow us to go through the gallery and see the different works. I would have liked to take the time for that.
I also was impressed when Steve said he was hired right from college. Not many people get that lucky and find their first job to be amazing. I felt very fortunate to see how Steve’s job is on a daily basis. We got to see what type of crates work best and learned what glue is not always the best. It was interesting to see the expression on his face when he was telling us about the wood choices some artists use to ship artwork. It was very amazing to see how much packaging artists need to use. I really never took into consideration the process artwork goes through to get to the museum or up on the walls. I also was pretty amazed by the simulation they did with the new arriving work on the computer. I am sure this is very beneficial and a great time saver. I also do not think I could do Steve’s job. It is very interesting to see the process but, I need more social interaction then that. I would also be worried about deadlines and having everything ready for installation. I would not know what to do with myself if I damaged a piece. I probably would be homeless then just to pay for it. What a nerve wracking job, I am sure it has it payoffs though. :)
B. In my opinion, I would describe this art as eye catching and it makes you think. Jennie makes me think that; are these things she inscribes on the benches really from her personal experience or belief? I would like to know if she really wanted to put these truisms on the benches inside the courthouse for a reason or if she decided on a whim?
C. Anger or hate can be a useful motivating force
Children are the hope of the future
Drama often obscures the real issues
Elaboration is a form of pollution
Freedom is a luxury not a necessity
Humor is a release
D. We are have destructive forces from within
We are out to get each other
Take life for what it is
Driving is a privilege not a right
Comedy is a release for stress
Allentown Art Museum Trip
1. Jackie Atkins/Curator of Textiles
----interim Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
2. In my opinion, I was surprised by how much information Jackie knew about the textiles. She knows her stuff. The “Behind the Scenes” tour was also interesting and we got to see how textiles were repaired and cared for. She was very informative about everything and I could not believe what her job was. I do not think I could do her job. It entails a lot of social skills as well as specific knowledge. I thought it was great how Jackie can work like a tour guide. I was disappointed because time did not allow us to go through the gallery and see the different works. I would have liked to take the time for that.
I also was impressed when Steve said he was hired right from college. Not many people get that lucky and find their first job to be amazing. I felt very fortunate to see how Steve’s job is on a daily basis. We got to see what type of crates work best and learned what glue is not always the best. It was interesting to see the expression on his face when he was telling us about the wood choices some artists use to ship artwork. It was very amazing to see how much packaging artists need to use. I really never took into consideration the process artwork goes through to get to the museum or up on the walls. I also was pretty amazed by the simulation they did with the new arriving work on the computer. I am sure this is very beneficial and a great time saver. I also do not think I could do Steve’s job. It is very interesting to see the process but, I need more social interaction then that. I would also be worried about deadlines and having everything ready for installation. I would not know what to do with myself if I damaged a piece. I probably would be homeless then just to pay for it. What a nerve wracking job, I am sure it has it payoffs though. :)
Stefany Thesis Paper
Stefany Schwartz
Individual Studio and Professional Practices
2009
Thesis Paper
When asked this semester, “What were some of your original expectations for your artwork within this course and how does this compare to your actual experience this semester”, my mind started racing. I learned a lot about myself through this semester. Some of my original expectations of this course were very different than I thought. I believed that in the beginning it wouldn’t be much fun but very stressful. I had a hard time being creative and this challenged my as an artist. I also had difficulty finding inspiration, but used my personal experiences to create art.
If I had to summarize the proposal for my intended body of work, and explain how this has been realized or perhaps altered during the course of working, I would say it was a hard work. I originally had different ideas for my proposals for the semester. I also had many paintings that I thought I had to do. I did not really understand that I was able to go freely and express my “own” art. I had so many ideas that I wanted to accomplish and in the end I had art that I created. Since this was my last class I took for art, I wanted to experiment with different types of materials and medias. I wanted to get away from working with the traditional paintings and use something along the lines of colored inks. Since I had all these ideas in my proposal for paintings, I realized that I needed to adjust my projects. After I did three paintings I started to experiment with the inks. I liked the inks because I could be free and express my feelings in art. This is where I altered my works. I am happy that I experimented with new media and materials.
During the semester I created many pieces. I also have strong feelings about these pieces because they are from personal experiences in life. In addition, each piece has a main idea and I try to communicate it through these feelings. My first piece of art I created was the personal belief system road piece. I would have liked to been able to continue working on this but there was a deadline and specific requirements. I do not think this piece turned out as well as I had hoped or envisioned. I used paper towel, acrylic paint, and artist tape. One of the requirements for this project was using found objects. The paper towel served as my found objects. At first I was hesitant to use this but it turned out well, I normally find expensive objects and have to buy more of but paper towels was a good found objects. Looking at this piece after I finished it I noticed that I had my perspective off. The center yellow boundary lines are supposed to be split farther apart at the bottom of the canvas, and become thicker as the lines travel down. I also look back now at the piece and do not like it as much. The reason for this is because I have grown so much as an artist I can see what things should be different and how I should have added “this or taken out that”.
The second piece I did was the personal belief system piece with impressionistic qualities. At this point in my artwork I was trying to find my niche. I was attempting to experiment to find what I as comfortable with and looking back I do not think that impressionistic painting is my “thing.” I also was experimenting under different influences like Monet, Renoir, Manet, etc. I had fun creating this piece though, because it had personal meaning. I had a very bumpy road this semester with my health and family. Creating art was fun this semester because it was an outlet I could express my thoughts. The main idea was that it symbolized the end of the road and it always leads to better things. I was not sure if it would but in the end I need to focus on myself, my health, and my school work. My third and last personal belief system was the best. I had a lot of fun creating this piece and inspiration was very easy. At this point in time I realized that doing abstract pieces was my “thing.” I enjoyed throwing paint “here and there”, and placing white and yellow stripes “over there”. The hardest part of this piece was to decide where to put the paper towel on the canvas. I really enjoyed this piece, and it inspired me for other pieces to create after this.
My first works after the personal belief system pieces were also abstract. I turned over a new leaf and started working with flowers. Their organic shapes that I see attract me to create art. It was instant inspiration. Since I enjoy organic shapes I am a magnet towards organic flowers. Orchids, in my opinion, are as organic as they get. I spent a lot of time taking apart an Orchid and examining every detail and every aspect. My first piece with this was two abstract Orchid seedlings hanging off a branch. I wanted to use color and express freely these images. I had so much fun creating these pieces of art. I used lighter ink colors where the light would hit on the top of the branch and illuminate it. I used darker ink for shadows and dark spots. I also used a calligraphy pen with different tips to create thick and thin lines. I had never used ink before this series of projects but am very glad I tried something new. I also never used a calligraphy pen before. It was a lot of fun to see the different lines I could create using different tips, “blobs” and whimsical lines. It gave me a sense of positive and negative space and that was what I was going for.
The second piece after I created the seedlings was an open bloom Orchid; I zoomed in to the center to get as abstract as I could. I filled an entire 18 x 24 page with color. Looking back at this piece I think I went a little crazy with the colors and the inks. This piece was also a little hard for me to create, I got stuck half way because I could not make the Orchid look dimensional. After taking another try, I realized that I liked the way it turned out; I liked the water stained inks spots, and the very abstract feel.
The piece after the Orchid bloom I took another look at the inside of a flower. I examined the shapes, colors, and how they both blended together. I knew right then and there that I wanted to create a piece. Looking back, this piece was much easier to create then the last, I liked how you could tell it still was an open flower but yet the sense of abstractness it created itself. I used a lot of yellow, purple, magenta, red, brown, and green inks. For this piece, I also used the calligraphy pen to shade. At this point in the semester I was dealing with a lot of health and family issues again. This piece was done in a fair amount of time. It holds a significant amount of personal meaning and I spent a great amount of time on this.
My last piece for this series was the Dead Orchid. I wanted to “sum up” what I had worked on this semester, tying the road pieces in with the flower works. I was going for the dead flower look when I realized I wanted to crumble a paper towel. I took a paper towel, put it in a pitcher of water and let it soak in. I then took my brown and red inks and dropped them into the water. I set the dyed paper towel outside in the sun to dry. The sun also bleached a few areas which gave it the tie-dyed affect too. I was happy the way the paper towel turned out. For the piece I wanted to dead flower to be the center of attention, but I still wanted it to look abstract. I hot glued the paper towel flower to the paper canvas and drew with the calligraphy pen under the flower to give it some dimension. I also used more red and magenta inks for the center and let them bleed together. I used these colors because the inside of the orchid flower was magenta and red spotted. I also took black and brown inks to make lines on the flower to make it look dead and dry crumbled up. I noticed after I glued the flower to the page it was very bland. I added the bottom two border images to give it a sense of groundedness. I did not want to make it look like it was floating so I also added the line above it. Looking through previous semester works I wanted to add the “mother nature” aspect. I dropped black ink blobs on the top in an abstract whimsical manner to show that even though the flower is dead mother nature’s spirit still is there using it to create new life. I really enjoyed working on this piece.
The last two pieces I did this semester were paintings of lilies. I wanted to get away from the Orchid aspect but still work with flowers. I used lilies because they give me a sense of purity and calmness. I wanted to experiment with different sized canvases and thought this would be a great opportunity. I used two 12 x 24 sizes and painted two lilies on them. The first was the side view of a white lily. I examined the shadows and the colors very closely. I realized that even though it may look white, there actually are other colors that make it up. I saw this for the first time; I saw yellows, greens and even a little pink. I worked hard to put these colors in the painting. The hardest part of the painting was the blending. I normally can get the general shape of the object or image but never the exact shadows or right colors. For this piece I did and I am very satisfied with it.
The second of the two pieces was another lily. This was the front open view of a pink Calla lily. I also took time to examine this flower as well. I once again noticed all the colors that made up this flower. I was amazed how the deep magentas and reds made the flower look so innocent and fragile. Before this semester I never really took the time out of my day to look at a flower so closely. It taught me to slow down and see what nature has to offer. The pink lily piece was much harder to create because I could not get every detail with paint that I saw inside the flower. I saw how the different shades of green all blended together but yet was still visible individually. I saw these green shades blend into the base of the flower but the pinks and magentas were so over powering that they disappeared. I would like to take more time out and continue working on this piece and even the white lily. Even though I am satisfied again with these pieces it took a long time to create and get to that point.
I really enjoyed working with paper towels and inks this semester. I am glad I experimented with different medias and materials. I am also fortunate to use different sized canvases and experiment with flowers creating art through personal experiences.
For this semesters works I used a lot of different techniques. I used water colored inks, drawings, paintings, and even used different types of media. I enjoyed working with paper towel, the different colors of ink, the different sizes of canvases and drawing paper. These materials played a role with my feelings because they were very flexible and I could mold them to how I wanted. I used the paper towels in the road pieces as bumps and pot holes. I also manipulated the paper towel to mean a softer side using it as a dead flower. I covered it before with thick paint and hot glue but this time I let the texture show through and be freely hanging.
As far as our critiques are concerned, to be honest, I do not enjoy them very much. I understand the process and the significant point of doing a critique but it does not have to be drawn out and a long process. In my opinion, the critiques helped a little bit. I did not get much information from the others in my class on how to improve anything or make it better. I did get more valuable information talking one –on –one with you about the direction my work should go. I do not know if this is just from personal experience but that is how I feel.
There were some artists who inspired me this semester. At first I was inspired by Claude Monet. I also wrote my Visual Culture Paper on him as an artist and enjoyed that opportunity to explore him more. I was later inspired my Georgia O’ Keefe and her abstract flower designs paintings. I also started looking at Diane Elgin’s flowers and more abstract flowers shapes. I searched online and found it very useful. I have several images in my sketchbook of ideas for future paintings and drawings.
During the semester I had a great opportunity to meet several artists. I enjoyed seeing John Kings works in person. I think the atmosphere, his works, and his talk was very impactful. I learned a lot by his demonstration with the wax. I was mesmerized by all of his works he had and he book he took part in. I also liked when Frank Mann came to the college. I enjoyed talking with him. I noticed he really took pleasure in my lily pieces. I wish he could have come to the opening to see what we accomplished after his talk with us. I learned a great deal of information from him and his works. I liked them because they were abstract, and thoughtful. I looked up to him because his works have been shown in the Museum of Modern Art, Buenos Aires, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Nice, France, the Guggenheim Museum, New York, Nationalgallerie, Berlin, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. That is something to be said about Frank Mann. He is an inspirational artist. Overall, both artists made a big impression on me. I loved seeing John King’s studio and how he works. I also benefited from Frank Mann because he told us what the real world is like and the route he thinks we should take.
My artists statement tells the audience about my work and the mind set I had while completing and creating new pieces. It is to the point and describes me as an artist.
Artist Statement: The changing of the events in my life dictates who I am as an artist. My art is from my personal feelings, and the colors show my true soul. My primary focus is on being free and experimenting with color, not held back by challenges that lie ahead or the ones that affected prior to this. As a student of Northampton Community College I have learned that there is no such thing as “bad art.” Everyone has an opinion, and they should be willing to accept these feelings.
My artwork is from creativity and inspirations that surround me. I selected these materials because they serve as found objects and add a sculpture feel towards the works. The texture and shapes they portray are very organic. In several works I used colored ink, acrylic paint, and paper towels. Working with these gave me a sense of being free and inspired. I am attracted to the abstract look I can create with these materials.
My current art is a work in progress. I began my work with the journey that has lead me to this class. I experimented with paper towels, the abstract shapes and free flowing paints. In addition, the rough road that I have overcome taught me to see things in a different light. I have a positive outlook on things and the abstract flower pieces dictate the point I am at currently. I am challenging myself by soul searching and expressing my true feelings from within to create art. I enjoy expressing myself using abstract shapes and colors.
Individual Studio and Professional Practices
2009
Thesis Paper
When asked this semester, “What were some of your original expectations for your artwork within this course and how does this compare to your actual experience this semester”, my mind started racing. I learned a lot about myself through this semester. Some of my original expectations of this course were very different than I thought. I believed that in the beginning it wouldn’t be much fun but very stressful. I had a hard time being creative and this challenged my as an artist. I also had difficulty finding inspiration, but used my personal experiences to create art.
If I had to summarize the proposal for my intended body of work, and explain how this has been realized or perhaps altered during the course of working, I would say it was a hard work. I originally had different ideas for my proposals for the semester. I also had many paintings that I thought I had to do. I did not really understand that I was able to go freely and express my “own” art. I had so many ideas that I wanted to accomplish and in the end I had art that I created. Since this was my last class I took for art, I wanted to experiment with different types of materials and medias. I wanted to get away from working with the traditional paintings and use something along the lines of colored inks. Since I had all these ideas in my proposal for paintings, I realized that I needed to adjust my projects. After I did three paintings I started to experiment with the inks. I liked the inks because I could be free and express my feelings in art. This is where I altered my works. I am happy that I experimented with new media and materials.
During the semester I created many pieces. I also have strong feelings about these pieces because they are from personal experiences in life. In addition, each piece has a main idea and I try to communicate it through these feelings. My first piece of art I created was the personal belief system road piece. I would have liked to been able to continue working on this but there was a deadline and specific requirements. I do not think this piece turned out as well as I had hoped or envisioned. I used paper towel, acrylic paint, and artist tape. One of the requirements for this project was using found objects. The paper towel served as my found objects. At first I was hesitant to use this but it turned out well, I normally find expensive objects and have to buy more of but paper towels was a good found objects. Looking at this piece after I finished it I noticed that I had my perspective off. The center yellow boundary lines are supposed to be split farther apart at the bottom of the canvas, and become thicker as the lines travel down. I also look back now at the piece and do not like it as much. The reason for this is because I have grown so much as an artist I can see what things should be different and how I should have added “this or taken out that”.
The second piece I did was the personal belief system piece with impressionistic qualities. At this point in my artwork I was trying to find my niche. I was attempting to experiment to find what I as comfortable with and looking back I do not think that impressionistic painting is my “thing.” I also was experimenting under different influences like Monet, Renoir, Manet, etc. I had fun creating this piece though, because it had personal meaning. I had a very bumpy road this semester with my health and family. Creating art was fun this semester because it was an outlet I could express my thoughts. The main idea was that it symbolized the end of the road and it always leads to better things. I was not sure if it would but in the end I need to focus on myself, my health, and my school work. My third and last personal belief system was the best. I had a lot of fun creating this piece and inspiration was very easy. At this point in time I realized that doing abstract pieces was my “thing.” I enjoyed throwing paint “here and there”, and placing white and yellow stripes “over there”. The hardest part of this piece was to decide where to put the paper towel on the canvas. I really enjoyed this piece, and it inspired me for other pieces to create after this.
My first works after the personal belief system pieces were also abstract. I turned over a new leaf and started working with flowers. Their organic shapes that I see attract me to create art. It was instant inspiration. Since I enjoy organic shapes I am a magnet towards organic flowers. Orchids, in my opinion, are as organic as they get. I spent a lot of time taking apart an Orchid and examining every detail and every aspect. My first piece with this was two abstract Orchid seedlings hanging off a branch. I wanted to use color and express freely these images. I had so much fun creating these pieces of art. I used lighter ink colors where the light would hit on the top of the branch and illuminate it. I used darker ink for shadows and dark spots. I also used a calligraphy pen with different tips to create thick and thin lines. I had never used ink before this series of projects but am very glad I tried something new. I also never used a calligraphy pen before. It was a lot of fun to see the different lines I could create using different tips, “blobs” and whimsical lines. It gave me a sense of positive and negative space and that was what I was going for.
The second piece after I created the seedlings was an open bloom Orchid; I zoomed in to the center to get as abstract as I could. I filled an entire 18 x 24 page with color. Looking back at this piece I think I went a little crazy with the colors and the inks. This piece was also a little hard for me to create, I got stuck half way because I could not make the Orchid look dimensional. After taking another try, I realized that I liked the way it turned out; I liked the water stained inks spots, and the very abstract feel.
The piece after the Orchid bloom I took another look at the inside of a flower. I examined the shapes, colors, and how they both blended together. I knew right then and there that I wanted to create a piece. Looking back, this piece was much easier to create then the last, I liked how you could tell it still was an open flower but yet the sense of abstractness it created itself. I used a lot of yellow, purple, magenta, red, brown, and green inks. For this piece, I also used the calligraphy pen to shade. At this point in the semester I was dealing with a lot of health and family issues again. This piece was done in a fair amount of time. It holds a significant amount of personal meaning and I spent a great amount of time on this.
My last piece for this series was the Dead Orchid. I wanted to “sum up” what I had worked on this semester, tying the road pieces in with the flower works. I was going for the dead flower look when I realized I wanted to crumble a paper towel. I took a paper towel, put it in a pitcher of water and let it soak in. I then took my brown and red inks and dropped them into the water. I set the dyed paper towel outside in the sun to dry. The sun also bleached a few areas which gave it the tie-dyed affect too. I was happy the way the paper towel turned out. For the piece I wanted to dead flower to be the center of attention, but I still wanted it to look abstract. I hot glued the paper towel flower to the paper canvas and drew with the calligraphy pen under the flower to give it some dimension. I also used more red and magenta inks for the center and let them bleed together. I used these colors because the inside of the orchid flower was magenta and red spotted. I also took black and brown inks to make lines on the flower to make it look dead and dry crumbled up. I noticed after I glued the flower to the page it was very bland. I added the bottom two border images to give it a sense of groundedness. I did not want to make it look like it was floating so I also added the line above it. Looking through previous semester works I wanted to add the “mother nature” aspect. I dropped black ink blobs on the top in an abstract whimsical manner to show that even though the flower is dead mother nature’s spirit still is there using it to create new life. I really enjoyed working on this piece.
The last two pieces I did this semester were paintings of lilies. I wanted to get away from the Orchid aspect but still work with flowers. I used lilies because they give me a sense of purity and calmness. I wanted to experiment with different sized canvases and thought this would be a great opportunity. I used two 12 x 24 sizes and painted two lilies on them. The first was the side view of a white lily. I examined the shadows and the colors very closely. I realized that even though it may look white, there actually are other colors that make it up. I saw this for the first time; I saw yellows, greens and even a little pink. I worked hard to put these colors in the painting. The hardest part of the painting was the blending. I normally can get the general shape of the object or image but never the exact shadows or right colors. For this piece I did and I am very satisfied with it.
The second of the two pieces was another lily. This was the front open view of a pink Calla lily. I also took time to examine this flower as well. I once again noticed all the colors that made up this flower. I was amazed how the deep magentas and reds made the flower look so innocent and fragile. Before this semester I never really took the time out of my day to look at a flower so closely. It taught me to slow down and see what nature has to offer. The pink lily piece was much harder to create because I could not get every detail with paint that I saw inside the flower. I saw how the different shades of green all blended together but yet was still visible individually. I saw these green shades blend into the base of the flower but the pinks and magentas were so over powering that they disappeared. I would like to take more time out and continue working on this piece and even the white lily. Even though I am satisfied again with these pieces it took a long time to create and get to that point.
I really enjoyed working with paper towels and inks this semester. I am glad I experimented with different medias and materials. I am also fortunate to use different sized canvases and experiment with flowers creating art through personal experiences.
For this semesters works I used a lot of different techniques. I used water colored inks, drawings, paintings, and even used different types of media. I enjoyed working with paper towel, the different colors of ink, the different sizes of canvases and drawing paper. These materials played a role with my feelings because they were very flexible and I could mold them to how I wanted. I used the paper towels in the road pieces as bumps and pot holes. I also manipulated the paper towel to mean a softer side using it as a dead flower. I covered it before with thick paint and hot glue but this time I let the texture show through and be freely hanging.
As far as our critiques are concerned, to be honest, I do not enjoy them very much. I understand the process and the significant point of doing a critique but it does not have to be drawn out and a long process. In my opinion, the critiques helped a little bit. I did not get much information from the others in my class on how to improve anything or make it better. I did get more valuable information talking one –on –one with you about the direction my work should go. I do not know if this is just from personal experience but that is how I feel.
There were some artists who inspired me this semester. At first I was inspired by Claude Monet. I also wrote my Visual Culture Paper on him as an artist and enjoyed that opportunity to explore him more. I was later inspired my Georgia O’ Keefe and her abstract flower designs paintings. I also started looking at Diane Elgin’s flowers and more abstract flowers shapes. I searched online and found it very useful. I have several images in my sketchbook of ideas for future paintings and drawings.
During the semester I had a great opportunity to meet several artists. I enjoyed seeing John Kings works in person. I think the atmosphere, his works, and his talk was very impactful. I learned a lot by his demonstration with the wax. I was mesmerized by all of his works he had and he book he took part in. I also liked when Frank Mann came to the college. I enjoyed talking with him. I noticed he really took pleasure in my lily pieces. I wish he could have come to the opening to see what we accomplished after his talk with us. I learned a great deal of information from him and his works. I liked them because they were abstract, and thoughtful. I looked up to him because his works have been shown in the Museum of Modern Art, Buenos Aires, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Nice, France, the Guggenheim Museum, New York, Nationalgallerie, Berlin, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. That is something to be said about Frank Mann. He is an inspirational artist. Overall, both artists made a big impression on me. I loved seeing John King’s studio and how he works. I also benefited from Frank Mann because he told us what the real world is like and the route he thinks we should take.
My artists statement tells the audience about my work and the mind set I had while completing and creating new pieces. It is to the point and describes me as an artist.
Artist Statement: The changing of the events in my life dictates who I am as an artist. My art is from my personal feelings, and the colors show my true soul. My primary focus is on being free and experimenting with color, not held back by challenges that lie ahead or the ones that affected prior to this. As a student of Northampton Community College I have learned that there is no such thing as “bad art.” Everyone has an opinion, and they should be willing to accept these feelings.
My artwork is from creativity and inspirations that surround me. I selected these materials because they serve as found objects and add a sculpture feel towards the works. The texture and shapes they portray are very organic. In several works I used colored ink, acrylic paint, and paper towels. Working with these gave me a sense of being free and inspired. I am attracted to the abstract look I can create with these materials.
My current art is a work in progress. I began my work with the journey that has lead me to this class. I experimented with paper towels, the abstract shapes and free flowing paints. In addition, the rough road that I have overcome taught me to see things in a different light. I have a positive outlook on things and the abstract flower pieces dictate the point I am at currently. I am challenging myself by soul searching and expressing my true feelings from within to create art. I enjoy expressing myself using abstract shapes and colors.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Lauren D. Thesis Paper
Lauren Doyle
Independent Studio/ Professional Practices
Wall, Bruce
11 May, 2009
Reaction and Thoughts Toward Independent Studio Class
1. What were some of your original expectations for your artwork within this course and how does
this compare to your actual experience this semester?
For the Independent Studio / Professional Studies course, I expected a tough schedule. A personal (self created) schedule of goals and projects for the semester. I heard many concerns and comments from previous students of Independent Studio and hoped to not make to same mistakes. Mistakes such as, not following a personal schedule or procrastinating until a week before the exhibition. I already had a goals in mind and new had to execute results.
2. Summarize the proposal for your intended body of work, and explain how this has
been realized or perhaps altered during the course of working.
I intended on studying relationships between past and present; a man, a woman, two women, two men, couples. Displaying “artifacts” and or tools men or women used to signify what duty was done. Symbols will be painted, ripped, dipped, and experimented with to find a statement or feeling for each painting. The “American 1950’s housewife” peaked an interest within my brain. I feel a personal connection to women who lived during hard times. Thoughts compared to 2009 and 1953 strike a nerve. A peculiar nerve within my brain that wishes to be found. A location only to be named by a mental exploration through paintings and drawings.
3. Describe the pieces you have completed this semester and how you feel about the state of the work
at this point. What are the main ideas behind the work and how have you tried to communicate those ideas
through each piece?
I had an idea of a standard or “picturesque” image of a 1950’s kitchen. From there, I built a world around a women’s life and personally made fun of her suggested occupation; a life of preparing food, pleasing her mate, cleaning, while forgetting about herself. I began with direct images of women cleaning and women gossiping right in the center of the paintings. A direct emotion wanted to be heard. As I went along, subconsciously I abstracted and curved emotions; not only suggesting one feeling or thought. I placed my characters in different areas to make the viewer think about what I was trying to say. Again, all was subconscious and I only discovered the new thoughts recently. Currently, I am extremely pleased with the series and art I created. I have never could say I enjoyed every piece of art I created this semester. Yes, areas within some artworks I would tweak but overall I am very pleased with the body of work.
4. Describe the materials you have worked with and any techniques that you have developed or
expanded upon. How have techniques and materials played a role in your ideas and feelings about the
work?
The material list was consistently changing and evolving throughout the semester. Every week I could discover a new way to scrap or texture the surface. Discovering new ideas was continuously exciting! I tried to write down the discovered ideas and techniques as I went along. Materials such as paper, newspaper, received letters, stamped envelopes, photographs, laser prints, charcoal, graphite, chalk, conte, texture paints, and acrylic paints. All were pasted on a thick wood slab to increase stability.
,5. Have any comments about your work or thoughts expressed during critiques stood out in your
thinking and helped to change or alter the direction of the work for the better?
Yes, I was very impressed with the emotions or thoughts the audience or class received through my paintings. Many ideas were correct with my intended ideas. Therefore, I was excited to see my artwork was communicating effectively.
6. What artists, art movements, art historical time periods or visual culture issues have you
researched? (Visual Culture Paper, etc.) What specifically has influenced you from looking at these artists?
Artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers, Edgar Degas, Vincent Van Gogh, Henry Matise, and last but not least, Henri Toulouse Letrech, inspired my creating. Their choice of colors, line use, paint strokes, and instinct of free hand movements to evoke a gesture quality caught my eye. Specifically, the impressionist, post impressionist, abstract impressionist, and pop artist of the 1950s. Inspirations from paint use and technique but most importantly the artist’s messages or thoughts within the artwork inspired my artwork.
7. From meeting and speaking with art professionals this semester, what insights did you gain about
the art world and what it means to be a professional artist? Who made the biggest impression on you and
why?
By meeting and speaking with the art professionals, I gained an insight of survival. I myself, already was aware of hardships artists chose to endure. Hardships of consistently creating, for themselves, respect, and hopefully a career can be mentally exuasting and frustrating. By meeting artists who have become successful was surely inspiring to see first hand. The professional artists jumped through all the hoops of fire, made it to the finish line, and even had families!
8. Artist Statement: What is the essence of your artwork put into words? This can take the form of
a description, a philosophical position, a poem, quote from a favorite artist, or any combination of these. A
good artist statement tells us something about the mind set of the artist and compels us to look further into
their world.
A spontaneous connection, a rhythmic mark, and a conceptual relationship defines an artist's mind. I was taught to just paint and forget about the rules. Feel the paint and feel the rush of sudden thought. Pattern of repetitive line, gesture qualities, and implied value create a never ending thought process. Enjoying the process of your work enables you to consider the length and travel of your journey not the ending mark. Rauschenberg once said, "I wanted to use the surprise and the collectiveness and the generosity of finding surprises." Mistakes are born through surprises. I learn through the mistakes and create a new direction that I never knew existed. Capturing energy from a days worth of interaction with city-folk or aged grandfathers grasps my muse. Then there is medium; acrylic, chalk, pastel, charcoal, ink, and from these more formal mediums springs spontaneous ones; coffee filters, cardboard, insulation, old cans, and twigs. To me though, categorizing these is pointless, as the true joy springs from combining them with reckless yet calculated abandon.
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