Reflecting at the end of the course.

Back in September, when we first met, we discussed what it meant to be an artist and what an artist needs to be creative. We played around with materials and explored a variety of ways to make art. Halfway through the course we paused to consider why people make art in the first place and you thought deeply about what makes you unique and what you have to say through art.

Now, as we say goodbye at the end of the course, what is the story of your year as an artist? If you were to imagine your experience in this class as a story, a comic strip, a reality tv show, the highlight reel...how did it start? What were the ups and downs along the way? What images, stories, or moments come to mind?

And, most importantly, how does it end? How will art play a role in your life going forward, if at all? How can you envision what you learned in Art Principles this year showing up again in school and in life?

I See The Light drawing.

Insert picture here.
Write title of the drawing here.

This project was about exploring the potential for light and dark to take on some symbolism or to have story-telling potential.
What was your goal in using light and dark in your drawing?
How did you arrive at this idea?
How did you use the pencils and erasers to achieve your goal?
Describe any discoveries you made about working with pencil and eraser, light and dark, while working on this project.

Self Portrait as a _______________.

This project was both conceptual and technical.
In a post on your blog describe your intentions in both areas.
You were asked to create a sculpture that represented you in the form of an animal out of its environment. Explain why you chose the animal you did and why you placed it in the setting (or with the props) you did.
Think about your experience working with clay in the past. How did you use different textures and what you discovered about the structure of clay to support your concept?

Me-scape: A Reductive Block Print

This project was mostly about process.
Many people struggled with the process.
How did it go for you and how do you feel about the resulting print or prints you made? What was challenging about the process for you, if anything? What would you do differently if you were to do it again?

Thinking about the use of light in art.

from L to R: Charles White, Jan Vermeer, and Frederick Edwin Church

On your blog, write about the potential symbolism of light.

Think about in what places and/or situations light plays a big role. Think of movies you've seen, song lyrics, works of art you've seen in museums. Think of places you've been where light has been dramatic. Think of things that have happened to you in which lighting has played a role.

Be sure to write about at least 2 situations like the ones just described that come to mind when you think of light and answer these questions:
What is the potential for light to be symbolic in a work of art?
What could it symbolize and why?

I am ______, _______, and __________.

1.
Create a title for your self-portrait. It must start with I am and be followed by one, two, or three words. This is also the title of the blog post you're about to write.
2.
Look back at the original goals for the project (on the class site).
3.
Spend a moment looking at your finished work of art objectively. Try to see it the way other people (who don't know you) will see it. This may be the first time you've done this since you finished.
4.
What do you think are the strengths of your work of art?
What parts of your story come through the most AND what artistic choices did you make that allowed this to happen?

Artist-in-Residence: Alexander DeMaria

This week artist Alexander DeMaria will be visiting Beaver for the week. He'll be making work in the studio, installing an exhibit of his work in the Nancy Lincoln Gallery.

On Wednesday during X-block he will be giving a slide talk about his work in Bradley Hall and I expect you to be there.

On Thursday there will be an opening for his exhibit in the gallery and I expect to see you there for a few minutes between 12:15 and 1:15.

NOW...
Click HERE to see Alex's website.
Spend a few minutes looking at his work and reading his statement and resume.
On your blog please post your favorite piece of Alex's. Then describe why you like it and how it fits into the rest of his work.
ALSO, develop a question you'd like to ask Alex (you'll have several chances to do so). Write that on your blog too. Extra points when you get your question and post the answer on your blog!

Reflecting on self-portrait progress.

You have been working for several weeks on a non-traditional self-portrait. Today you got the chance to share what you've been doing with some of your classmates. Hopefully, you got some good feedback from your group.

On your blog, please describe what happened while discussing your work.
What did you share with your group members?
How did they react to your story and your work of art?
What feedback did they give you about your work up to this point?
What do you still need to do to finish your work and how many more classes do you anticipate needing to finish?