Project
For this project, the assignment was to create 2 separate pieces of artwork a day for a week, each one following a certain rule, in order to create 2 series of seven artworks. The goal was to see what we could create with consistency, and to experiment and take risks with our work but also enjoy what the process.
My first rule was to create small, square architectural drawings using pen, and focusing on relaying detail, and texture through the medium. I also focused on composition of the architectural detail within the square. My second series’ rule was to create a painting of an object in my dorm, using a themed color palette that fit well into my style and utilized colors I really like. It was fun to see that lots of meaningful or fun objects I have had these colors.
Photos
Reflection
This project was really fun and interesting to me, and I believe it really pushed me past a point I was comfortable with. The initial painting I started was a still life where I simplified and manipulated the colors and shapes I saw, which I didn’t like. After changing my idea slightly and working from an actual object and trying to create realism through use of flat shape and color, I found something that worked much better and created more interest. It was quite surprising to keep going with the paintings and see how they progressed from the very start. I also noticed that the two objects that really mean the most to me and have to most sentimental value turned out to be my favorites, the banana jewelry tray and the stuffed animal duck. For the drawings, I started with a really good photo I have of a detail on the Washington Square Arch, and I used a really nice micron pen to sketch this out. I tend to get frustrated by architectural drawings because there’s a lot that has to line up, so I challenged myself to create these with a bit more freedom and work more quickly, building up detail through pen marks and bringing out the imperfect textures. However, as I went on, I switched to a cheaper pen so I didn’t destroy my favorite Micron pen, and I think I got more caught up in the details of perfectly placed windows, and I started to feel less excited about this series. I think it got very monotonous as well, because I was having trouble finding really good building details that compared to the first image.
Overall, I think working in a series like this takes more care and effort to progress, otherwise you will just be repeating, or creating something worse than the initial idea. I struggle a lot with trying to progress, but I think I’m onto something with the paintings. I want to explore the painting of objects as well as the use of flat color to represent objects, and learn more about the visual language of painting. I actually personally prefer pen/pencil drawing or digital media to other physical media, but theres something about the texture and tangible essence of paint that digital media can’t replicate.
