Watercolour: Goldfish

Watercolour: Goldfish
Although this goldfish has made peace with his new surroundings.... four walls of glass, it cannot stop from dancing around and flailing his fins, while he twirlers down to inspect his green, blue and purple jewels at the bottom of his tank.

I enjoyed watching the goldfish swimming around; and a lot of time past by doing just that.  But I needed to begin capturing his free spirit in paint.  Watercolour paint that is. First I focussed on the surrounding where the goldfish spend most of his time.  Facing just above the coloured stoned.  Every once in a while, I could quickly capture an outine of his face, his underbelly and shorter fins in the front.  Then I was able to focus on this long delicate tail which kept swishing from side to side.  Once this was done.... I was able to focus on his colours.  Deep yellows, oranges and reds with freckles of brown.  Every so often, the colourful from stones reflected underneath his belly... almost making him look royal.

Acrylic Painting: Monochromatic

Acrylic Painting: Monochromatic
I have always enjoyed learning about the colour wheel & terminology since I helped my aunt organize a presentation on PREZI.  The most difficult part of this painting was to create the 3D effect of her face, staying true to the proprotions of a face and being limited to the colours green with tints and shades.

Sketchbook: Vanishing Points

Collage: Complaisant and Adaptable

Collage: Complaisant and Adaptable
How willing are we to please ourselves into thinking that the world is doing well?  How quickly will we be able to adapt when the climates blend and there are no long 4 distinct seasons in their traditional contexts.  What types of treks would I have to make to go grocery shopping or what new pets would we have?  I fear that we are in limbo and that the future as we know it is leaving.

I believe that I am doing my part; I reduce, reuse and recycle.   I even go so far as to purchase items with minimal packaging.  One of me in a disposable world against 7 billion people.  Uhh...Now there's a lot to think about.  Who conducts this research and analysis this data and for what purpose.  Because I can't help but wonder that we are not getting the whole story.

Sketchbook: Proportions of a Face

Sketchbook: Proportions of a Face
I am trying to get over a fear or phobia of drawing faces.  I know that they are not all symmetrical but there is a formula and balance needed to capture the human face.  I will continue to break-it down to smaller parts to build not only an understanding of the line but a comfort level to bring it all together one day.

Oil Painting: Landscape Reproduction

Oil Painting: Landscape Reproduction
In class, we were ask to create a reproduction of a Group of Seven oil painting. Lawren Harris is a member of the group of seven. He took changes with the bold colours and shapes in his paintings.  I enjoy seeing how Lawren Harris looked with simple eyes at the landscape. A place of peace and quite.

I learned that I wasn't afraid to overlap colours that were or were not complementary. I focussed on applying one stroke of paint onto another colour and let go; this is how the texture came upon me.  I didn't need to over blend everything.

Photography: Orange

 

Photography: Orange
I used a standard hand-held digital camera to capture the opened orange. To create this flower effect I peeled each part one by one. Placing the orange on a white surface enhanced the orange to being the centre of attention. I didn't do much with the lighting or the colour. I simply just chose the right angle to find the illusion I wanted and took a regular picture. Now I have a great picture and a snack.

Photography: Washed Apple

Photography: Washed Apple
I used a standard hand-held digital camera to capture an apple that had been recently washed.  I considered various forms of lights but most washed out the apple surface.  I decided to use a small desk lamp to create just enough light and shade to enhance the apple while the drops of water slowly slide down its skin.

I tried to spend most of my focus on the stem of the apple which gave an outstanding appearance. It is with this little stem that holds the weight of the apple until it is ready to be plucked... how we quickly discard the stem and never pay mind to the strength of it.

Photography: Ring

Photography: Ring
I used a standard hand-held digital camera and placed a ring on a bed.
By zooming in and focussing on the furtherest distance of the ring, it establishes the illusion I was looking for; a change in the depth of field.
"Depth of field refers to the range of distance that appears acceptably sharp. It varies depending on camera type, aperture and focusing distance, although print size and viewing distance can also influence our perception of depth of field." by http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/depth-of-field.htm  

I choose to digitally alter the colour of the ring and use a soft grayscale which creates a calming look a ring that is linked tightly in chain.  Therefore, fading the chain on top pushes your eyes to the concentrated area of the ring.

Photography: Ice Storm & Crab Apples

Photography: Ice Storm & Crab Apples
I used a standard hand-held digital camera and walked up to the crab apple tree.  I decided to not use the zoom because I wanted to see up close the uniqueness of the crab apples being sealed by ice.  Even the branches seemed to be encased by ice. The day was dark and overcast.  I took several pictures but I was unhappy with them. I decided about using the flash on an overcast / cloudy day.  Suprisingly, it worked.  The crispy red in the crab apples popped out beautifully.  I have never considered using flash outdoors until now.  I hope to discover more on what a flash can do for photographs.

Polymer Clay Figure: Italian Chef

Polymer Clay Figure: Italian Chef
In class we were asked to create a restaurant play. The Italian chef was my group's logo. The purpose for this sculpture was to attract the eyes of the consumer. Some of the things I had to think about was the extra attention to the structure and support it needed. The details were mostly just made out of clay except for the tissue paper hat. Being that we were an Italian pizza parlor it was a cute element when I cut a piece of clay into the shape of Italy. Overall I learned how to sustain and shape structures. I hope I got a good mark, what do you think?

Chalk Pastel: Still Life of Fruit

Chalk Pastel: Still Life of Fruit
Before I began this drawing, I placed a an apple, a banana, some grapes, and a peach in front of me, so I could create this art piece correctly. As I analyzed the colours of each individual fruit I noticed a trace of yellow somewhere hidden in all the hues. For that reason, I carefully drew my fruits in yellow and started to blend.

Firstly I coloured each one in their obvious colour,like an apple is red and a banana is yellow. then I brought in the tints and shades, with white for the bright parts and purple, brown, a dark yellow, and a dark green for the dark detail. When I agreed with what I had other colours had to come into play. some objects could other have noticeable blend of colours, for example the banana has a green outline and the peach was filled with many different colours. Although the apple and grapes had no distinct indication of any additional hues. Therefore I blended the colours beside each obvious one, on the colour wheel. I kept a note in my mind about blending too much and blend too little. Also, to blend each item separately, for instance every grape should be coloured properly one by one.

Mixed Media: Self-Portrait

 

Mixed Media: Self-Portrait
I Dream in White by Dharma


I fall asleep to the stars and moon beam
glistening in the dark, 
I know I will dream
only in white.

Flowers in a meadow
so peaceful and calm,
creating a shadow
only in white.

Seashells in the sea,
with the sun on top,
relaxing like me
only in white.

Animals high and low,
loving life
everywhere they go
only in white.

Bikes for summer
and boards for winter,
loving the weather
only in white.

Dice not screens
be able to learn,
books not machines
only in white.

The way to dance
the way to feel
are in the many ways to take a chance
only in white.

Clefs and notes,
tempo and pitch,
in the music sheets they float
only in white.

The brush of an artist
so creative and brave,
shaping a forest
only in white.

I wake to the bloom
of the sun,
lighting up my room
only in white.

Sketchbook: Watercolour as a Medium

Sketchbook: Watercolour as a Medium
Watercolour Pencils vs Watercolour Palettes
I am learning that there can be many choices on which mediums to use to capture a similar effect.  In my journey to deciding on when to use watercolour pencils or palettes continues.  Sometimes, I find myself using both and hoping that I am not disrespecting any artist out there.  I hope my final piece looks like it's having movement and that the watercolour compliments the image.

Charcoal: Vase

Charcoal: Vase
There are many ways to draw with charcoal, like actually drawing the picture and working from there. Although, the way I'm comfortable with is to colour a whole area in charcoal then literally drawing with the eraser. First off I shaped a vase, as the one in front of me, then started to smudge and erase the charcoal to create it opaque. However the real vase is transparent, in order to accomplish this task I drew what I saw through it. Such as the bottom circle and refletion of the light on the inside. Then I lightly went over with the technique I used for the opaque part. The main detail to be looking for is where it's bright and where it's dark, plus how it transfers between each.

Line & Space: Shading vs Solid

Line & Space: Shading vs Solid
Both of them are the same, but are very different as well. One has more abstract curves while the other is simple. One uses shading to its strongest ability while the other uses straight forward painting. One has bumps and waves while the other uses thick and thin. One is easy to do while the other is very delicate. Can you tell which is which?

Wire Sculpture: Figure with Cane

Wire Sculpture: Figure with Cane
My lovely, full of class, wire man looks incredible but it took a lot to get it this way. Wire sculptures are based on four things.

• Number 1, the frame of the shape. To create a person I first made a frame which looked like a stick person.
• Number 2, the wrapping. All humans have flesh on their bones well my wire man needed something that looked like flesh to construct the illusion of him being 3D. Wrapping the wire around the frame formulated the correct image.
• Number 3, support. In this picture I used magnets to hold him down on to the tin can. Later on I realized, it wasn't stable enough so I came up with the idea of nails through the can and hooking on to him.
• Number 4, decoration. We have clothing, accessories, and many more, it's only fair we give him a few elements of  class to look a little bit more appealing. Not all wire figures use these steps to be honest they always look good, it's just presentation most people lack.

Two-Point Perspective: City Block

 

 

 

Two-Point Perspective: City Block

I needed to learn about vanishing points and how they were connected to each other.  Once I understood the horizon line and only parallel lines were the vertical ones; things started to make sense to me. Perseverance and consistency was the most challenging part of this drawing

Working within the restrictions of the vanishing points, I was still able to find some creative freedom in providing accents on the buildings. Once I completed the pencil version of my city block design, I have it photocopied.

With the photocopy, I was able to have a little...little creative freedom in how I chose to apply and layer colours to give each building it's own space.  It was challenging not to overwork one building more than another, so I focussed on the grassy area.  This took the longest to complete but give a calming area to a very structured illustration.

Linoblock and Block Print Ink

Printmaking: Linoblock
The only thing that most humans could agree on is peace. I carved a symbol of peace a linoblock to represent that we all strive for peace, and believing that we can will help. Placing paint on it and then pressing it down on paper acts like your very own big stamp. To emphasis the true meaning of the picture, I carved out the section I wanted stand out and stamped it on a different colour. Now that I've done that I can no longer create any more. I hope this will consider you to belive more often in what can be possible.

Welcome to My Art Journal

As a Grade 8 student I am creating art work from different points of view and using a variety of media.  Most of my experience comes from what I am learning to do through school instruction and self-motivation to create on my own time.

I will be using this blog to share and journal some of more recent art pieces that I have been planning in my sketchbook to create a final art piece.  In my journey to create, play and experiment with individual medium and styles; it will encourage me to use mixed media to create art pieces that I enjoy and that I am connected too.