Semester Reflection

I would bet every one of us could say they gained something from this class. Whether that be developing your drawing technique, practicing making organic forms, or just getting in the habit of translating what you see on to paper, etc, this class helps us as artists tremendously.

In looking at the objectives on the syllabus, I believe that if you came to class at least most of the time you had to achieve objective 3 (improving line quality) because we practiced it so damn much. After going back and forth repeatedly doing contours and gestures, I can really tell the difference in my line quality now. I also believe that I'm well versed in objective 2 (understanding, addressing and using human anatomy). I struggled with my Manekin, but I think I got at least a good representation of the important muscles. Taking Phys and Anat, and Human Biology within the last three year really helped my understanding of this objective. Objective 4 (communicate effectively) I am not as confident about simply because I am timid in class discussions, however I enjoy updating my blog and hope I convey and share my thoughts effectively enough through the interwebs. I think the most difficult challenge for me this semester was Objective 1 because of the sketchy, 'painterly' style that I have. Also, 3D not being my favorite dimension, I struggle trying to translate it. I know I've learned much, and know what I need to work on to develop my drawing skills further.

This class is extremely beneficial to my goal of becoming an art instructor by any means necessary. I have a very open mind about the particulars of the career, but I know that having developed skills will help me achieve a position anywhere. Drawing is such a foundation skill in the arts, and I will be teaching a lot of it.

There are some obvious improvements since this first half of the semester. I think my shell drawings show the most evidence. Most of my improvements are described above in achieving the objectives. I tried to take some advice from the midterm grades. I stay updated on my blog and post every week this half. I made improvements to my Manekin by fixing the mentioned muscles.

Here are some of my drawings!:
My Final Portfolio

It's all in the details

I'm really enjoying the lessons in class where we get a chance to learn and practice specific parts of the body that are known to be difficult to draw. The hands, feet, skull, and facial features are some examples of these tricky things that we've been working on lately. I think nailing these specific details is what can push your drawings to be portfolio-quality. Some examples of these are shown above.

(I'm having some difficulties uploading pics, and should have them up soon!)

Shells Shells Shells

Today, our last shell drawing was due. I would say that drawing these was one of my favorite parts about the class. Concentrating on something to get the exact gesture of the contour down is a definite challenge. Drawing it over and over, each time adding an element, is the only way to overcome it and learn. Based on comparing my first one (bottom) and last one (top) it is obvious this worked for me. I loved the inability to control the ink wash in the latter two drawings. I feel it accentuated the organic feel of the form perfectly. I am so happy to have this piece to add to my professional portfolio.

Laurie Lipton

I was lucky enough to stumble upon Laurie Lipton 's site a year back when looking for inspiration for a self-portrait. She is phenomenally talented in simple media like charcoal and pen. Her subject matter is humorous, melancholy, creepy, or any combination of these things. She also usually incorporates blatant sexuality, or at least undertones of it in all her work. Definitely worth checking out. She continues to be an influence in my work.

Trials and Tribulations

I'm so excited by the improvements in my drawing. My gain in knowledge and skill is evident in my gesture drawings, long-term poses, and especially in comparing my third shell drawing to my first two. However, not everything we're learning in this class is coming easily or with improvement. I tend to struggle so much with the manekin muscle building. I'm not a talented 3D artist, but if I were, my forte would be clay. I love working with the palpable and earthy medium, but can't seem to do well with the small detail of the muscle building. This is why the manekin is so dissapointing to me. I know I can do better so I try too hard, then get frustrated with the way the thing looks, and end up giving up.

Spring Remedies

The warm weather is a perfect remedy. Early spring effecting many things in positive ways. I feel like I'm breaking out of a winter depression and coming out of hibernation. The fresh smell of rain is enough to elate my spirits for a whole day. With a better mood my artwork is changing, too. I feel that the new life emerging outside is in turn adding more life to my paintings and drawings somehow. A perfect remedy.

Official Mid-term Post

Life drawing has been an interesting class so far. I've learned a lot both in technique and in observational skills. I think the quality of my line has improved the most, and might be the most important thing we've learned thus far. I believe line is the most essential elements of design for charcoal drawing artists.

The day that had the most effect on me would have to be our museum trip experience. Yes, I've been to numerous museums in my life, but the Walker had a lasting effect on me this time. I think it's partly due to the concepts I'm learning in my studios this semester, including life drawing. This class obviously makes one appreciate the human form, but it also helps you appreciate all that that may entail, namely; the curvature of living, changing, non-geometric forms, and the understanding of what lies beneath and how that effects what appears above.

I look forward to the second half of life drawing. Here are my images so far on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48545219@N08/

Almost Halfway Point

As we near the middle point in our life drawing class, I realize not only developments in my drawing technique, but also my newfound view of the human figure. I have applied my perception of the human body in other classes. I recently did a presentation on Jenny Saville's artwork. Studying her unromantic portrayal of the figure, you are forced to adjust any previous prejudices. It's equally shocking as it is refreshing. I've included a couple painting of hers.

Walker Trip!

Our venture to Minneapolis last week was equally enjoyable and informative. I was impressed with the works displayed at the Walker this month. Modern art is being pushed as far as possible, in so many intriguing directions now, it seems. Of course the main goal remains, and that is to generate a particular feeling within the viewer. For example, Haegue Yang's "Yearning Melancholy Red" was captivating and overwhelming. This is achieved by combining all sorts of stimuli and interaction for the viewer to meander through and form their own conclusions. I was impressed on many levels by this installation.

However, I choose to speak about another piece that created a stronger reaction of a different sort for me. I discovered "Empty Room" while looking at a piece close to it, and noticing a faint light underneath the second set of stairs in the first two galleries. Getting down on hand and knee to peer underneath, I thought at first I was looking at a mess left about by museum workers, or left over artist supplies. This ordinary curiosity that I felt right away turned into a humorous realization that it was all fabricated specifically to generate that 'ordinary' feeling. It was incredibly intriguing that I felt a feeling that the artists completely intended me to feel!

Peter Fischli and David Weiss are the two collaborative installation artists that created "Empty Room". They had a production at the Walker in 1996 that created this particular mess in the basement. It was this random assortment of supplies scattered about that gave them the idea for this piece. They intended to celebrate the ordinary, overlooked, or undervalued in our lives by using the concept of trompe l'oeil to create the illusion that the viewer is simply seeing a scattered, left over mess. In fact, each of these objects is fabricated from polyurethane, every box, book, board, bucket, paintbrush, hammer, nail, lighter, cup, q-tip, and piece of garbage! They have fabricated a perfect mess.

A Bit of Shell Facts

My shell was difficult to find. I've narrowed it down to be most similar to a busicon whelk. The family classification is Melongenidae. Found all over the east coast and the UK, they are generally a solid cream color, but the busicon whelk in particular has tan and white stripes. The structure is long and spiral, with a rounded spiraling head, and a long siphonal canal (the name of the opening along the side). They also have tubercles that develop larger and larger as they grow, and they have radula along the straighter sides. Radula are the file-like ridges that the animal used to move. The animal that used to inhabit this shell was a carnivorous sea snail that scavenged for dead marine animals. The only discrepancy I have is that this shell is known to be the largest species of whelks, ranging from 8-40 cm. Mine is, unfortunately for me, smaller that a quarter. In fact, this is not a picture of my shell, but one found that looks the most similar. After trying and failing, I could not focus in on my shell. I suppose I need micro-focus. :)

First Week

I have really enjoyed the first couple weeks of this class. I feel like I'm learning to draw all over again, in a different way. Different because we're drawing in a completely free and organic matter. Even while looking closely in longer contour sessions, you are looking for, and trying to emulate free and organic lines. It's not only a great way to be able to capture life in your drawing, but its a great way to observe. I'm posting my shell drawings, where I'm beginning to explore this.

Blind Attempts

Scattered, Distant, Unsure

Life Drawing I

Hello to anyone interested enough to view my page. I've never blogged before, so I am sort of glad to get this chance to learn how. I think it's important for any artist to share there work and ideas as publicly as possible, and this seems like a great place to start. I am an art education major with a concentration in ceramics. I also love drawing, and I am therefore very excited to expand my talents in this class!