Leo

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=In-Class Work= = =

If I was to compare my work on the final still-life to the artists listed above, I would say that my work most resembles the work of Vincent Van Gogh with overtones of Henry Moore. Using a lot of line to make my colors solid, I left very little of my shapes uncolored. Like Gogh, I filled in the picture and portrait with an array of varying thicknesses in line and value. Like in Gohg’s portrait The Hague, you can see a pretty definite correlation between her lap and the metal water jug in the left of my picture. The lines used in both are thick and definite, while the shading is light and uses many small lines. In regards to Moore, who uses a lot of line, I think my work shows some of his characteristics in the bars of the rocking chair.
 * 1) **Look at the famous artist’s work that we discussed in class (the laminated sheets). Compare your marks to the marks created by Henry Moore, Vincent van Gogh and Giorgio Morandi. Which of the three artists’ marks, are the most similar to yours? Explain why and exactly where you used these marks:**

Definitely this final still-life is my greatest achievement that I have made in this class. I feel like the more I put into a drawing, the more I learn about what I’m drawing, and therefore I can draw it better. With the other pieces in my portfolio, I didn’t feel like I had enough time to communicate what I was drawing. I believe that my final still-life is my best work because it shows the most about how I draw.
 * 1) **Look at your work (all in the portfolio) and progress over time. What drawing(s) make you the most proud? Please explain:**

The first and foremost thing I learned while drawing this final still-life was the relationship between light and dark value, and how to communicate it with black and white charcoal. Spending a lot of time with this same medium helped me better understand how to show shade and bright light upon different surfaces. Another thing I learned that was valuable was how to communicate a curved surface by shaping my lines all in the same direction (bars on the rocking chair). One other thing of value I learned was the importance of line sensitivity. By spending a lot of time on this piece I began to understand how to communicate different surfaces by how hard I pressed down on my line.
 * 1) **What are three important things you have learned? Please explain why they are important.**



1. Technical Skills Justification: I think it is fair, technically, to give myself an “Exceeds the standards” grade on the piece I painted. Exploring many colors used in Paul Signac’s “The Red Buoy”, I believe I accurately conveyed the emotions and colors in my own painting. Adapting the Ansel Adam’s landscape to a vibrant, colorful landscape was a difficult task, especially using the colors I used. My care and control with the paint are evident throughout the entire painting, especially throughout the mountain range and the sky. I believe that my work, both resembles the style of Signac, and uses his range of colors effectively; therefore I believe I deserve the best grade possible. 2. Creative Skills Justification: Demonstrating a clear translation of Ansel Adams’ work, while using a broad color spectrum and a vibrant color scheme, I believe my work deserves an “Exceeds the standards” grade. The careful attention to the layering of my work is clear throughout the entire painting. Although, I used many vibrant primary colors, I also mixed a good amount of secondary colors in the trees in the middle and foreground. My color scheme not only match Paul Signac’s painting, but I also delved deeper into his colors choices pulling out a variety of blues and oranges. Exceeding the amount of colors required, I do believe that my painting exceeds the standards in every category.

Negative Space With Reflection:


1. Technical Skills Justification:

This particular project was a good test of my technical skills. It required that I be precise with my lines and my penmanship to communicate the same line over and over again. Had the technical element of this project been below par, or even off a little, the same effect of depth wouldn’t have been perceived once the final piece was done. This was very challenging because each line needed to be precisely drawn 1/8th inch apart from one another. Because I executed this project with very good craftsmanship, I believe it deserves a 4.

2. Creative Problem-Solving Skills Justification:

I made a unique piece of art, differing from the rest of the designs seen in the class and other pieces. I spent a lot of time developing unique negative space sketches and even made 2 final drafts (one that I messed up on). Because I spent so much time developing unique designs and backgrounds, including my final work, I think I deserve another 4. Using both depth and perspective to make my piece more intriguing, I think I definitely tried my hardest to make this piece as interesting to look at as possible.

3. Why do artists make thumbnail sketches before starting a formal drawing? In what ways did it affect your work?

It really refined my work more than anything. I found that after my first few sketches, my work started to improve creatively and technically. I created more interesting compositions and I took into account the shapes together in one shape, rather than a bunch of different ones. My work improved in all areas, the more sketches that I did, regardless of the plant I was drawing. Artists sketch as much as possible because every time you make a new sketch you discover something different about what you are drawing.

4. Why does it matter what pattern you choose for your background? How do different patterns affect the “look” of this project?

The pattern can completely make or break your drawing. By selecting a two-dimensional pattern, you completely take away the factor of depth in your design. Instead of drawing “x’s” or simple squiggles, I took the incentive of making my design bring another feature to the art. Designs that do not address depth can take away from the affect or strength of the plant. Although I did add depth with the lines, it took away the element of intricate design. One can make up for the lack of depth in two-dimensional designs by producing a pattern that is unique and intricate, something that my design missed.

Leaf Designs and Reflection:
Tension

Symmetry

Free Choice

Rhythm

1. Technical Skills Justification: I believe my designs were high quality, but lacked the professional touch. All the shapes were well cut and carefully glued. However, I failed to keep some of the black designs from smudging on to the white paper. There are also a few pencil marks that appear on my cut black shapes that take away from some of the designs. Overall, I believe that my designs deserve a 3.5 in this area, because of small blemishes in the craftsmanship.

2. Creative Problem-Solving Skills Justification: I think that although I took a different approach to this assignment, that I executed it well. All four of my designs are interesting to look at and have something unique about them. I also though that my use of negative and positive space was shown in a “dynamic” way. My designs in this area deserve a 3.5.

3. Which of the four designs do you feel is the most successful in terms of using positive and negative space well? Please explain. I thought my final, Free Choice design, was my best exemplar of the project. I tried to cut interesting shapes that were a good mix of positive and negative space, that were all different and unrecognizable. They also were composed very well on the white square.

4. Which one of the four designs do you feel best communicates the assigned Principle of Art? Please explain. I think that my “Rhythm” design best described the Principle of Art. Using the shapes to create symmetry and tension at the same time, and putting the inverse shape in the center, best demonstrates all of the required designs.

Value Portrait Collage and Reflection:


1. Technical Skills: Overall, technically, I believe my work deserves a 3.5. This project was difficult for me because this style of art work is completely new to me. Usually, in my art, I can make precise cuts or shapes that I know are definite lines. In this project, when ripping pieces of valued paper, it was difficult to keep the same precise edge to my work that has always been there as a spine for my work. Because of this new, different technique, some of my shapes had gaps in between them and didn’t form perfectly. Overall, I was challenged at an appropriate level, and I feel that I rose to the occasion.

2. Creative Problem-solving Skills: From a creative angle, I think my work was better than it was technically. I tried very hard to use a variety of different tones and values to communicate different areas of my face. Also, I used different techniques when ripping and gluing the paper. The background and my shirt had different textures than my face because I paid attention to the sizes of my shapes well. Because I tried, and succeeded in making a creatively advanced design, I believe I deserve a 4.

3. Why might the exercise of breaking down a photograph into value shapes help when you are drawing? This exercise is perfect to help your skills in drawing because it helps the artist determine the strength of values in a picture. Each stroke with a pencil communicates a different expression or tone. It is important to be able to communicate a variety of values with a line because it can help define or detail your work more easily. As an artist, this activity is imperative to learning because it helps you realize the value of value in your work, for lack of a better word.

=Sketchbook Assignments=

Falling/Exploding:
Falling Exploding