Project #2 & 3 Proposal

This line drawing will be uploaded onto a computer and made into a comic/pop art image as above, using Adobe Illustrator. 

Finished Project- "Big Fish"

Julie Mehretu

Before Viewing

• The scale of an artwork can determine the perceived effect of the work on the viewer. If it is larger, it tends to have a greater impact as being more dramatic, significant, etc. 
• Artists can use strategies of erasure and concealment by literally erasing material, covering it with other medium, and making the object much smaller to where it is scarcely visible. This has the effect of conveying a hidden meaning, that the viewer can interpret or assume is in fact there in front of them. Doing so engages the viewer in analyzing and understanding the context of the piece, if there is meant to be one.
• Painting and drawing can be additive, since both require many overlays of color or lines, to completely make up the image over the process of its creation. Each mark is added to the visual  individually. Both can also be subtractive, when the artist does not include something, or if they cover it up; as they decide it is not necessary to be completely obvious, since visually they think the piece stands complete as is.

While Viewing

• Her assistants will actually trace projections of maps and they will capture various lines present in the image onto their usable surface. 
• Given how her works are traces of maps and images, the viewer may perceive maps as being a literal, still version of something. Mehretu's images are the same projections, but the lines continue almost infinitely, which gives the sense that things exist further from the extent of their exact placement. 

After Viewing

• Mehretu's works are somewhat like interior paintings on walls and ceilings, because she is presenting a larger image on a working surface. 
• Like architecture, she is presenting the subject matter of buildings, but in a more abstract way using basic lines, spacing, etc. Architectural design is far more exact, in precisely arranging and spacing objects to where they fit and function for a literal use. 
• Her one painting incorporates the ideas of capitalism and economic development in such an abstract image by the associated meaning being juxtaposed by its actual location of display. It is meant to suggest these concepts while being reinforced by its poorer surroundings. 

Fear Project Plans

Conceptual Artist Pages

Studio Work Critique

With this piece, I was having difficulty deciding on how to convey the "fear" for the image's subject material, since I did not want to use a cliched symbol. To get the message of the fear of getting older and not meeting the expectations of yourself and the outlook on the future, I used lyrics as the image, with a relevant context. If I was given more time or another chance at this project, I would probably digitally manipulate an image to appear more graphic, especially with the text. Here, I copied graffiti to create the text in a negative form.

Summer Inspirational Artist Pages

Summer Work- Photography

Over the summer I spent a few days in Charleston, South Carolina, which I have always loved the scenery. Though I do not have my own DSLR camera to use, I still wanted to capture some of the architecture on Rainbow Row. I used my point and shoot, and at home I played around with the images on Photoshop, manipulating the light and colors to emphasize the saturation of the building's colors. I really find that I do enjoy photography as a medium, and using Photoshop software to really create an eye-catching image. 

Artist Statement

Oftentimes many artists create pieces that serve as commentary on the world around them

and how people interact within it. Making use of the self directed freedom, I plan on using my

work as a way to explore this, though more as a way to question what is considered the extent

our world- the physical surroundings or the cultural bubble. I find myself drawn to the design

and purpose of works done by photographers such as Ansel Adams and Steve McCurry, who use

their images as a way to convey the beauty of the physical world and its inhabitants as they are,

while accentuating certain elements, such as light and color, to make the work visually

intriguing. As a way to execute these plans, I want to also juxtapose like images with elements of

pop art, which generally have a deeper contextual meaning. While this style of art is commentary

on popular culture, it concerns the aesthetics of its location. In this exploration I hope to combine

contrasting elements to find ways to convey what comprises the world around us.

Kinesthetic Figures Plan

The grumpy cat face was reference for my sculpture and ink drawing in previous projects, and I want to incorporate it onto the kinesthetic figure as well. I hope that the context of the cat's profile will juxtapose with the seriousness of the dancing form, making something interesting and a little more humorous.

Marking Period 3 Workbook Pages

Tometic Palimpsest

The process for this project began with us thinking about Art History and its implications socially and historically on society. This includes issues of gender typically, regarding which artists receive the most attention in the textbooks. Having been in AP Art History freshman year, I can recall most of the artists we studied were in fact male, until we were on units of more modern times and movements. The purpose in fulfilling the project requirements were to express issues related to art history, and I initially was reminded of human idealism, masculinity, and hierarchy/power as being three things conveyed commonly in art. This being when art was either concerning or even commissioned to express the power of a subject, or even perfection. Since we were supposed to incorporate text into the pieces, I first made a small figure fashioned after Michelangelo's David of wire and torn pages from art history textbooks. I cut out specific phrases regarding the concepts, and made them stand out from the rest of the materials. Then I made a charcoal drawing after the figurine, which I tried to make it look like a human figure made only out of words and phrases. My final painting was a more detailed version of the David, in which I tried to use common ways of portraying male power as it has been throughout history. I used red as the background, since it is a color signifying power and is also eye catching. I tried to make the point of view from below, but I had trouble shading it to give it a large hierarchy over the viewer. I decided to use Michelangelo's David as a reference because it is a piece that famously depicts a "perfect" male figure, and I wanted to see if I could incorporate other techniques in painting to bring the concepts of art history together in one image. 

Metropolis Gallery- Student Show Review

I missed the original night unfortunately, where the seniors were there with their work and live music. I visited the following weekend on Sunday with my mom when it was generally empty, so we got to see everything pretty quickly. We have always driven by Metropolis, and it never seemed to be open or had anything showing in the past. The interior was actually pretty cool, it had mid-century modern feeling to it, if I had to try to describe it. The seniors' work was in the back in a small room, and I was actually expecting more work to be shown, but it seems like they chose one of their favorites from their pieces. Though I've seen most of the same works in class, some looked more professional in a proper setting. I really liked Juliette Smith's Burlesque philosopher drawings and Shanna Harvey's photography especially in the gallery. I wanted to see a full series of something though, because having random pieces placed around the room was kind of broken up, since there was no continuity.

Marking Period 2 Artist Pages