1. Define which techniques you tried and mastered? Struggled? 2. How did you draw inspiration from other artists techniques or aesthetics in your work? In what ways did you derive meaning or gain historical perspectives from their work? Why these artists? 3. Describe the evolution of your piece. Decisions made. Compositional elements. 4. If you could consider doing something over, explain why you would do this and what you would do next time? 5. Elaborate on how this piece links with your other pieces? What is the common thread?
1. Techniques that had been used was the blending of value and use of text in order to convey meaning. What I had struggled with most was the transition between across the value spectrum. This was because it was difficult to know and understand the different lighting transitions and how to make the transition smooth. However, I was able to master this as I began to work on my piece more and more. I realized when I had made something too bright or too dark and when to blend. In addition the reference picture was what helped me most with deciding the different transitional lighting. With text I struggled most with how to place it. However, the blackout poetry had aided in this most.
2. I drew inspiration from the blackout poetry exercise that Ms. O'Ryan had introduced to the class; in which the use of words could convey different meanings, depending on placement and words that had been blackouted. I was able to derive meaning from their work through the words that they had tried to emphasize. From many of my peer's works I found different ways in which I could convey meaning through my artwork. In my own work I had unimportant words cut off from the sheet and important words completely written out. 3. With my piece I had started by creating different connections within my face. For example, my eyes had a distance of another eye between them or that my pupils sideways was the same length as my lips. All of these aspects helped me in having a general placement for my place. After identifying the different connections I translated this onto a a grid on the paper for my final piece with willow charcoal. After the willow charcoal had been set down on my paper I began placing it permanently onto my paper with charcoal. In addition to charcoal I had also begun using white charcoal. And for my hair I had also used my eraser inorder to add medium colored streaks. Finally I began placing words. I started with a word that I've never heard before ( I thought it would be interesting for people to search up the word when they saw this). I began placing my words based on the rule of thirds. In which the main word was the top third, its definition the second third, and other words, descriptions, examples in the bottom third. I did this so that the attention would first be brought to the top of my face (which has more negative space surrounding it) then I began changing the text size to draw a stronger emphasis on "unbroken".
4. If I were to do this piece again I would space my words in a more exact way in addition to reflecting on the font that I had used. As the words got smaller my use of font also changed with it. Furthermore I could have made sure that I had cleanly erased specific areas on my paper.
5. This piece links to my other pieces because it captures a snapshot of who I am in the moment. Thus it explores identity of a person and the different considerations within their life. Furthermore it had caused me to consider a more specific theme such as creating pieces that make statements about issues I have in my own life.