Color Project Reflection

1. By using my camera, I was able to capture the objects at different angles which helped to have the camera focus on a specific part of the picture. I also was able to play around with the aperture so that I can enhance the colors in my composition. In photoshop, I mostly used the magnetic lasso tool so that I could use the exact shapes that my picture consisted of. I also used the smudge tool and different stamps to represent a texture.

2. a. Overall, my diptychs did not influence my future painting choices. I used completely different colors in my four paintings that were not the main focus of my diptychs. In my diptychs, my analogous composition had blue and green, my triad had red, blue, and yellow, my complementary had red and green, and my monochromatic one had different shades of green. On the other hand, my analogous painting had oranges and reds, my triad had red violet, yellow orange, and blue green, my complementary had blue and orange, and my monochromatic had shades of blue. In both of my triad compositions, I used variations of red, blue, and yellow, since I wanted to use a mixture of warm and cool colors.
b. In my paintings and diptychs, I wanted to use a variety of colors. My monochromatic has cooler tones, since I used blue. However, my analogous painting had warmer colors such as yellow and red. In my triad and complementary, I used a mixture of warmer and cooler colors. I think the monochromatic painting has a calmer feeling, but on the other hand, the analogous one has a more energetic feeling. My other paintings have a mixture of both, since the combination of warmer and cooler colors cause your eyes to move to different parts of the painting. My monochromatic and analogous diptychs both used cooler shades such as blue and green, but my triad and complementary ones used a mixture of cool and warm colors. In this case, my monochromatic and analogous had a calmer feeling because of the colder colors, but my other ones had a mixture of emotions.

3. I was able to develop my styles of painting by learning how to add different textures in my compositions. In my first one, I didn't really have an idea of how to add a texture, but by experimenting with my brushstrokes I was able to try out different texture in the rest of my paintings. This helped me become more abstract in my paintings and avoid being exact with the colors. Another way I became more confident was through creating different color combinations. I think using the color wheel enabled me to expand my knowledge of the different categories, as I started experimenting with colors different from the ones I was comfortable with. By combining the textures and color choices, I was able to create  unique compositions and expand my knowledge of the numerous color combinations.

4. I have been able to observe color differently, since I now pay attention to the tone of the colors and where they are on the color wheel. Instead of just using blues and greens, I started experimenting with oranges as well. I'm also able to create different color combinations, now that I know about other combinations on the wheel.

Diptichs

For my first dip tic, I wanted to make an analogous composition using shapes similar to those in the photo that I took. I used blues and greens that were close to each other in the color wheel.

My second dip tic has a triad color scheme. I used the red, yellow, and blue paint bottles for my primary colors.

My fern dip tic is a monotone composition. For this composition, I used the same shade of green for a majority of the Photoshop part, but in my photo, I wanted to capture the different shades of green inside and surrounding the fern. 

For my last dip tic, I took a picture of the curb next to the grass. This was a complement color scheme

Charcoal reflection

1. Representing form- I think that the styles of shading allowed me to make my compositions have a 3D form. This helped me make them look more spherical, which was important in making them look more artistic and interesting. For my lamp drawing, one thing that I had to keep in mind was drawing the shapes inside each light in a way that makes it look more curved. I also had to look at those objects carefully to really make sure that I have all of the right angles and lightings correctly represented. I think these were the main two things that gave my drawing the right dimension and details. For my telescope drawing, I had to focus on the object itself, but also the background. I really wanted to make sure that I had the right shades for the outlines, which all depended on the lighting. Most importantly, shading the telescope with contrasting light and dark shades was essential to giving it form, since it created rounder shapes with dimension. This helped to give it form because it made certain areas pop out, and the shadows also defined the spherical shape very well. Both of these compositions required a certain amount of control for an eraser or charcoal to get the right shades and to make the colors blend in properly. 

2. Evoke emotion- Emotion in art mainly depends on the colors and composition of the piece. In my drawings, the different shading techniques definitely give them different tones. I feel that my lamp drawing looks old fashioned, which makes me feel calmer, but also has a darker tone to it because of the colors, but the shades and compostition combined don't give it a sad or dark emotion, but instead they make me feel content. I think that my telescope drawing has a dramatic or mysterious feeling because of the dark shades contrasting with the white shades. It definitely has a heavier feel to it because of the base, and I think its more powerful because there's only one object to focus on.

3. Define composition- I think that the different styles of shading allowed me to experiment with the different compositions. My lamp drawing represents movement because of the different lights and rhythm from the different patterns on the lights. I also feel that it has a sense of balance because of the placements of the lights. My telescope drawing also has balance because of the base that it's sitting on and movement from the different lines defining the object. The contrast stands out more in this one because the black tones really stand out against the white.

I think that the drawings resonated with me aesthetically, and I really like both of them, even though I would have changed some minor details, now that I'm looking back at it. I really liked the idea of erasing to get the different shades, even though it was a little frustrating at times. I had more control of the shading, since I could control how much I erased. Erasing also allowed me to make the shading look more blended, which I think added to the success of it. I also like how I drew the designs without ruining the composition. I wasn't expecting this one to turn out good, so I overall pretty happy with it. However, looking back at it, I feel that I could have changed some of the shapes and made them look more defined. I also really like my telescope drawing. I am really happy with the way I was able to encorparate the darker shades into the drawing, but I'm also hesitant about it being blended properly. I think I having the table and the grey background helped to make the telescope pop, since it brought out the light and dark shades. I enjoyed creating the different shades with charcoal, especially on the main part of the telescope. At first, I was hesitant about making it too dark, since I felt that I didn't have as much control with the charcoal as I did with the eraser, but now I really like how it makes the telescope stand out. I also feel that this one looks more 3D comparing to the lamp one because of the intense shading.

Charcoal progress

I think that I have done a good job on shading the objects. I really like the different values that I have included, especially on the main part of the telescope. I also like how there is a base that the telescope is sitting on, but like Isy said, there shouldn't be a huge difference in the color of the background and the table. She also said that she liked the defined lines because it makes the telescope pop. However i feel that I should add more defining lines on the parts that fade into the background.

Charcoal Drawings

Guiding Descisons: Making Statements

I tried to add the elaborate details in my sketch and value study, which definitely brought out the different textures in each part of the compositions. However, I would like to incorporate the same type of shading I did for my case study into my sketches to make it have the same powerful effect of the different values.

Final Blog Reflection- Texture

Degree of Exploration

I used a variety of textures in this project. I captured the texture of many organic and inorganic pictures through rubbings, photography, and sculpting. Some things that I used were cloth, paint, leaves, tiles, berries, bricks, and the list keeps on going. I really tried to use a variety of objects to make my compositions unique. I also kept the juxtaposing part of my compostions in mind. In my collage, I put two completely different textures next to each other in the background, and also layered different pictures to create many different textures. I thought it was pretty well organized since the compostition still represented a picture, even though I used different objects in what seemed like an abstract way.

Degree of Craftsmanship and attention to detail

All of my projects in this unit have a different, unique texture in at least one part of the composition. Each of my compositions have at least one clear and visable texture that stands out, which could have been rocks,  cloth, lace, or tiles. I definitely pushed myself in experimenting with different textures. I think I put the most work into my Photoshop collage, since I was really interested in using the pictures and rubbing to create an original compostition. I also had to pay attention to the smaller in my final block to make sure that each part of the compostion filled in he spaces properly, which took a lot of effort, especially with the lace that I used. My final block is well unified, since the lace represents the berries' leaves. It also looks as if it's a part of the composition, and not a separate piece, which is important in unity.

Level of techinical understanding and growth

I have improved in capturing textures in rubbings, digital photography, and sculpture, since I now know how to successfully capture different textures using the right materials. I also learned how to use Photoshop, and be creative when making the compositions. I also used many types of textures and objects, which helped me understand more about how to experiment with different objects. I realize that my project has a few imperfections, such as the hot glue strings comimg out of my texture. I think that if I had better control over where the hot glue was going, I wouldn't have had as many imperfections.

Final Reflection- Rayogram and Paper Cut-Outs

REFLECT

Look at your rayograms and paper cut-out creations.

What compositional styles where you drawn to? (pattern, rhythm, directional movement et cetera). How do the shapes of the objects relate to one another on the page? Choose one collage and one print as your most compelling work and explain why.

Rayograms- I tried to keep my rayogram simple by using a few unique objects. The objects that I included were lace, 3 glass tiles, and a glass object that didn't show up. I put the lace on the bottom left corner. Then, I  placed the tiles by tilting them differently so that it didn't look too uniformed. I also think that it's interesting how the glass object blurred a part of the lace, which was unintentional. I tried to show balance and a little bit of movement in this one. I also think that the lace represents unity because of the different patterns that come together. I liked how I was able to use a few objects to make a unique piece. I also was happy that there were different transparency levels in my composition, which created different shades and not just one shade of grays and whites.

Paper Cut Outs- For my second paper-cut out, I wanted to try using geometric shapes, since the one I did before was more abstract. I had three sections in my composition- zig zags, small shapes, and then rectangles and squares with small shapes cut out of them. In this composition, I wanted to show balance and rhythm, but it could also be movement. I liked this one because I thought that the geometric shapes stood out and looked more defined on the background.

DEVELOP CRAFT

Working in the darkroom can be challenging. There are a lot of technical and mechanical components to keep in mind. Make an outline of your process in the darkroom, go through the steps of making a print. (you do not need to write in complete sentences).

-arrange objects

-adjust the timing and aperture

-place the paper under the objects

-turn the timer on

-put the paper in the developer for 1-2 min

- move it to the stop bath for 30 secs

-then the fixer for 2 mins

-and finally the water wash for 4 mins

To what degree did you push yourself to rework and refine your work? How well unified are the compositions of you final collage and photogram prints?

I pushed myself pretty hard in trying to find the composition that I was fully satisfied with. I wanted to make compositions that were unique and original by using different object. Even though I spent more time on my first rayogram, I still liked how I was able to make another unique composition in a short period of time. I feel like I spent a lot of time during and outside of class for this project, which paid off because I'm happy with my compositions. The collages that made were similar in a way because they had similar compositional styles. I used a lot of balance and movement in my collages. Different aspects of the compositions were also abstract.

HABITS OF MIND

Look at the Artist Habits of Mind. Besides, Develop Craft & Reflect, which habit did you excel at with this “Shape and Composition” project (consider all facets of the project)? Which habit did you struggle with? Give a little explanation about why you chose each one. 

 

I think I excelled at Engage and Persist, Observe, and Stretch and Explore. I was really engaged in the project and was interested in the different composition styles. I also was persistent and didn't give up in trying to create a composition that I was happy with. I also observed what other people created and tried to see what styles they used. I liked seeing how people used different shapes in their compositions and how they placed the compositions in different parts of the paper to create a unique piece. This motivated me to be more original in my compositions. I also stretched and explored different ways of creating a design. One thing I struggled with is expression. Sometimes, it's a little harder for me to express myself through art, since I need to practice how to convey emotion in my compositions.