Sunday, April 22, 2012
Creatin an Artistic "SELF"
Who am I? Who am I as an artist? I ask myself these questions a lot, A LOT! I don't remember much from my early childhood, but it seems that the things that are the most clear to me are the characters from Disney movies and other cartoons. I most distinctly remember The Little Mermaid! It was the greatest movie I had even seen, and though I was only 5 when it was released, I can still remember seeing it in theaters! It was the first movie mom and dad had ever taken me to theaters to watch and it changed my life. When it was finally released to VHS, I watched it every single day (sometimes even multiple times a day). I watched it so much that the tape became weak and some parts of the movie wouldn't play properly. I could quote the entire movie! But the most important thing was that I drew Ariel so much that I could even draw her with out even looking at a picture her. I identified myself with Ariel from that movie so much that at one point ( when I was 16 in fact) I even dyed my hair red to look like her. It seems strange now to recall that story but it is true. I feel that that movie defined me in some way that I can never fully put into words. Even to this day I still long to work for Disney. In fact Disney movies where what made me realize I could draw, and liked to draw, in the first place. They were how I marked my talent as an artist; how accurately I could render their likeness became a test to me. I believe that is why I love the human form so much. I never wanted to draw anything else and still don't find anything can hold my interest as well as a live model and dramatic lighting. I know that this strays from the original topic of ones artistic "self" a bit but with out that one experience I don't think I would even be an artist today. I know that now I am drawn to emotion and more importantly my own, I know that I have certain media that I really love; but I still think of that one movie every time I doubt myself as an artist. I feel that one experience shaped me so much that it would be impossible to have ever become anything else. I still am dealing with the personal and internal question of self and until I find that answer I may never make single piece of work I really like; but I know that I identify myself as an artist. I know that I do so largely in part due to that one event in my life. Yes, there have been others that have reaffirmed this pull to be an artist and communicate visually; but that is the one that seems the most self defining.
Expressing an Artistic Attitude
I guess as for me and my artistic attitude, I really haven't thought about it. I would say that I am very much about the emotional aspect of art. It is what I look to experience from art. It is the experience I want to get from a work of art I view and what I long to create for a viewer viewing my own work. I mark a good work of art (in my own opinion) by the emotional response it creates with in me. If it moves me to tears (good or bad) or makes me feel fuzzy headed then, to me at least, it is a great piece of art. I want that same response to my artwork from viewer. I suppose then that my artistic attitude would then be an intense one, that can be dramatic and personal. In fact my work is very personal. You could say that I use myself as my subject matter. I feel that I know the most about myself and there for can make the best art about what I feel. It is personal because it is my own response to something, anything. I have a very shy attitude about my art though, I hate showing it to others because I fear they won't understand it. I worry that because it is so personal and internal that anyone else may not have a clue what I'm really trying to express.
Exercise I
1. what work have you made that seems most yours and why?
-I guess it would be my most recent work. I really haven't had much time to find myself, I've been so busy between work and just getting assingments done. I really feel like Im trying to discover myself as an artist in these works.
2. Who are artists that are making work that relates to you? Are ther other influences connected to your work?
- I would say that I really don't know of anyone making work like mine, I really just stumbled upon the way I'm working now. If I were to choose an artist that I find inspiring, I would have to say right now it would be Kiki Smith. Her work is so emotional and amazing. Looking at her work makes me want to draw.
3. I belive that civilizations can not servive with out art because it is a way of communication, before technology or even writen language it was important for people to communicate ideas and information. It is how people understod religious ideals and how people passed on vital information to each other. I also believe that it is a basic human need we all feel. We must express our internal thoughts and feelings in order to make sense of them and the world around us. Art is another way of doing this as is music.
4. Which of these ideas resonates most with you and why?
-I guess for me it would have to be the first choice. Art is something I do out in the world. I take what I feel and make it a visible and sometimes tangable thing. I love that idea of taking something internal untouchable and making it a object that can be seen and understud. Kiki Smith said in an interview with PBS back in 2008 that art is about taking what is inside and making it visible to the world, it is a part of your insides outside for all to see.
5. What do you notice about yourself? what are your methods? subject matter?
-I have noticed that is much easier for me to draw when I am mad or upset as opposed to being happy. I often make work about my own feelings. I don't know why this is but is what I've been drawn to lately. It is almost as though I've become obsessed with the idea of makeing my emotions a visible, tangable thing for others to experiance.
6. What do you care about?
- I care about humanity. I care about life, love, hate, fear, sadness, anger. I care about how we feel inside. when look at people I wonder what they are feeling internally. I care about the people around me. I care how they feel, how the think and how I can help. People, and more importantly loved ones are my concern.
-I guess it would be my most recent work. I really haven't had much time to find myself, I've been so busy between work and just getting assingments done. I really feel like Im trying to discover myself as an artist in these works.
2. Who are artists that are making work that relates to you? Are ther other influences connected to your work?
- I would say that I really don't know of anyone making work like mine, I really just stumbled upon the way I'm working now. If I were to choose an artist that I find inspiring, I would have to say right now it would be Kiki Smith. Her work is so emotional and amazing. Looking at her work makes me want to draw.
3. I belive that civilizations can not servive with out art because it is a way of communication, before technology or even writen language it was important for people to communicate ideas and information. It is how people understod religious ideals and how people passed on vital information to each other. I also believe that it is a basic human need we all feel. We must express our internal thoughts and feelings in order to make sense of them and the world around us. Art is another way of doing this as is music.
4. Which of these ideas resonates most with you and why?
-I guess for me it would have to be the first choice. Art is something I do out in the world. I take what I feel and make it a visible and sometimes tangable thing. I love that idea of taking something internal untouchable and making it a object that can be seen and understud. Kiki Smith said in an interview with PBS back in 2008 that art is about taking what is inside and making it visible to the world, it is a part of your insides outside for all to see.
5. What do you notice about yourself? what are your methods? subject matter?
-I have noticed that is much easier for me to draw when I am mad or upset as opposed to being happy. I often make work about my own feelings. I don't know why this is but is what I've been drawn to lately. It is almost as though I've become obsessed with the idea of makeing my emotions a visible, tangable thing for others to experiance.
6. What do you care about?
- I care about humanity. I care about life, love, hate, fear, sadness, anger. I care about how we feel inside. when look at people I wonder what they are feeling internally. I care about the people around me. I care how they feel, how the think and how I can help. People, and more importantly loved ones are my concern.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursdays Guest Crit. March 8th
Todays Critique was a guest Critique, It was alittle nerve racking for me because I really didn't know how others would react to my work. Especially people who don't know me as a friend or student. It turned out to be rather helpful and encouraging. . .
The first person to critique my work was Denise, a student at Flagler. She told me that the best thing to do is just keep making lots and lots of work. She said "when in doubt, pump it out". She also told me she has the same stuggles of over thinking about the content of the work and that sometimes hinders her form moving forward, she said the best thing to do is just not think about it.
The next Crit came from teach Angela Verga. She suggested that the colors in my work might be distracting and taking away form the quality of the work. She said the color seemed distracting to her and suggested that I try to make prints of these Images, and perhaps add limited colors. This might help the impact of the subject matter.
My Third Critique came from Russel, a teach at Flagler also. He told me to just keep making more and more of these. Make lots and lots.
Lastly Student Leah suggested that perhaps I should limit my color pallete.
All in all I really enjoyed the guest critique and found the suggestions very helpful. Thanks everyone for your imput.
Thursday March 1st Q & A
Is the image inspired by someone you know?
-No, it was something I sort of made up.
Is it only watercolor?
-No, there is also Gouache used especially on the roses.
Is there a segnificance linked between the figure and the roses?
-No, I really hadn't thought of it. I just wanted to decorate the area around the face.
Are the Roses Symbolic?
-No, not really.
Did this drawing provide you with any other ideas?
-Yes and no. I really haven't chosen exactly what I want my subject matter to commicate to the viewer yet. Right now I'm just drawing things I think are pretty, I guess.
Is the material guoache inspiring?
-Sure, it is exciting to my because the saturation of color avialble is greater the watercolor.
Why is ther a lack of boarder or frame on the paper?
-I don't know, I really hadn't though about any need for a boarder.
Do Comic books influence you?
-Not really, I honestly don't think I've ever really looked at one.
What about Coloring books?
-Yeah, I guess so. As a child I loved coloring books. I was very protective about them and wouldn't let any one else color in mine. My sister used to get really upset. I also used to try to copy the images out of them so I could recolor them.
Why did you chose this particular pose?
- I really don't know. I saw an image of a girl holding a basket of fruite in an art nouvue book and decided I liked the image of her looking over her shoulder, so I just drew thet part.
-No, it was something I sort of made up.
Is it only watercolor?
-No, there is also Gouache used especially on the roses.
Is there a segnificance linked between the figure and the roses?
-No, I really hadn't thought of it. I just wanted to decorate the area around the face.
Are the Roses Symbolic?
-No, not really.
Did this drawing provide you with any other ideas?
-Yes and no. I really haven't chosen exactly what I want my subject matter to commicate to the viewer yet. Right now I'm just drawing things I think are pretty, I guess.
Is the material guoache inspiring?
-Sure, it is exciting to my because the saturation of color avialble is greater the watercolor.
Why is ther a lack of boarder or frame on the paper?
-I don't know, I really hadn't though about any need for a boarder.
Do Comic books influence you?
-Not really, I honestly don't think I've ever really looked at one.
What about Coloring books?
-Yeah, I guess so. As a child I loved coloring books. I was very protective about them and wouldn't let any one else color in mine. My sister used to get really upset. I also used to try to copy the images out of them so I could recolor them.
Why did you chose this particular pose?
- I really don't know. I saw an image of a girl holding a basket of fruite in an art nouvue book and decided I liked the image of her looking over her shoulder, so I just drew thet part.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Just some thoughts. . .
Our required text for this class is Called Art and Fear, Observations On The Perils (and Rewards) of Art making, written by David Bayles and Ted Orland
I just read the first two chapters and found myself unable to put the book down to write a response to those chapters. I spent my whole life telling myself that I'm not a good artist, but I knew I loved it to much to just walk away from it. I avoid showing my art because I feel so embarrassed by how bad I think it is. I've always kept my artwork reserved for only the closest of people. I trust them and know that they would be more likely to understand it and not think less of me. I've always had "big ideas" but avoided turning them into reality because I was afraid of what the reaction to it might be or that they might not turn out to be successful. In short I am crippled by my own fear of making art that might not be very good. What if I've wasted all these years and I really am a joke? What if I should be looking for another profession? What if I am ?
not any good?
The first and second chapters talk about difficulties artist face and the difference between those who continue to make art and those who quit. I've found so many things that get in the way of me making art these days. There seem to be so many obstacles anymore that sometimes the idea that I need to make art seems exhausting. The older I get the more I seem to have put onto my plate. Some days I feel that I might suffocate under all the things I'm juggling. Another issues is that I just don't know what kind of art I want to make anymore. I've spent so many years making art that I was told to make. I have no idea where to start with out that direction, and I don't even know what kind of art I would even like to make. I find the freedom almost limiting if that can make any sense. . .I know I have a need to make art, I feel the difference with in myself when I don't, but I don't even know where to start anymore. My ideas seem to be everywhere.
I just read the first two chapters and found myself unable to put the book down to write a response to those chapters. I spent my whole life telling myself that I'm not a good artist, but I knew I loved it to much to just walk away from it. I avoid showing my art because I feel so embarrassed by how bad I think it is. I've always kept my artwork reserved for only the closest of people. I trust them and know that they would be more likely to understand it and not think less of me. I've always had "big ideas" but avoided turning them into reality because I was afraid of what the reaction to it might be or that they might not turn out to be successful. In short I am crippled by my own fear of making art that might not be very good. What if I've wasted all these years and I really am a joke? What if I should be looking for another profession? What if I am ?
not any good?
The first and second chapters talk about difficulties artist face and the difference between those who continue to make art and those who quit. I've found so many things that get in the way of me making art these days. There seem to be so many obstacles anymore that sometimes the idea that I need to make art seems exhausting. The older I get the more I seem to have put onto my plate. Some days I feel that I might suffocate under all the things I'm juggling. Another issues is that I just don't know what kind of art I want to make anymore. I've spent so many years making art that I was told to make. I have no idea where to start with out that direction, and I don't even know what kind of art I would even like to make. I find the freedom almost limiting if that can make any sense. . .I know I have a need to make art, I feel the difference with in myself when I don't, but I don't even know where to start anymore. My ideas seem to be everywhere.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Getting started!
Assignment one: pick at least 5 works of my own that I like best. . .
Intaglio Print, Fall 2011
Intaglio Print, Fall 2011
"ImageOn" Print, Fall 2011
"ImageOn" Print, Fall 2011
Sculpture, Spring 2011
Painting, Summer 2011
Intaglio Print, Fall 2011
Intaglio Print, Fall 2011
"ImageOn" Print, Fall 2011
"ImageOn" Print, Fall 2011
Sculpture, Spring 2011
Painting, Summer 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)