final post

Cue nostalgia. I just love blog posting so much. But really, I'll miss Senior Studio. So so so much. I really hope I enjoy the art classes I take in college and I hope they're similar to this. Second trimester was rough because without a set aside time to make art in my schedule I tend to not make it and I tend to unnecessarily stressed and crabby. Note to self: Either have an art class both semesters next year or join some sort of art club. There is an open art policy at Pitzer. Which means I can add to some murals whenever, hopefully I'll do this when I need my art fix. I loved walking in to my messy table and turning on that same awesome cd with friends always there to give suggestions through out the class. I've been working for the majority of the trimester on those four wooden boards. As of now (and they'll probably stay like this) it is (in order) one with about 10 made cloth flowers, one with gold glitter, one with sprinkles, and one with blueish silver melted crayon. Still thinking about how I'll tie them together whether it be the metal at the bottom, chains, nothing, etc. Going to miss Senior Studio a lot a lot and really think I learned how to work independently and more like an artist. I wish all Senior Studio classes were double blocks.

alternative exhibit

I loooove this. Miss Roberts always tells me to "build up", "add more", and "layer it". Which has really resonated with me and when I apply it and it gives my art so much more depth and interest. However Sarah Sze does not need to be told that. Her "building up" is amazing. This interests me so much more than a flat painting on a canvas. I really like varying heights and shapes in art. Sze does that here. I built up in my flower board, but not in the others. I'll think about how I can do that in these last few weeks before the show.

second critterique

haley, paula, leah, and joanna really got me to think about:

-arrangement
-alternative presentation (flower one further away)
-possibility of it hanging with chains
-adding silver in crayon melt, especially to top right corner
-changing drips
-no images, too much

surviving the critique

In your opinion, what do you think the role of the critique, as it's described in this chapter, could be in a class like ours?
Evaluating art in a group is scary for the person's whose art it is and the person who is critiquing. Feelings can get hurt when you are so emotionally attached to a piece you have devoted weeks to. I think doing smaller critiques weekly and big ones with the entire class could work biweekly. I feel as though people in our class are already really good at critiques. We generally are comfortable enough with each other that we can say what we feel about others' work in a respectful yet helpful way. I'm glad that we have this. I think it has progressed my work.

According to this chapter and your past experiences, how can you get the most out of a critique of your own work?
Ask follow up questions. Listen to everything, even if you don't like or agree with it. Ask for the favorite thing and thing that needs to most work. People will say more and be more critical if you ask more and show them their opinion is wanted and will be put to use. 

How can you be a helpful participant in your classmates' critiques?
Talk about things they have done well and things they can add to. Be cognizant of their feelings during and post critique. Know that you can still give and get comments after the actual scheduled critique. Be respectful and don't attack.

art and fear

"Hovering out there somewhere between cause and effect, between fears about self and fear about others, lie expectations." It's taken a lot of work for me to be okay with the idea of my final project not being the exact same as I had set out envisioning it. I fear that by not sticking to my old expectations I somehow sold myself short or didn't work as hard as I should have.

"The fear that you are not a real artist causes you to undervalue your work." I often don't feel confident in my drawing and painting skills and therefore feel as though I am not an artist since I don't know how to paint or draw well. Coming to terms with the fact that I don't really like painting or drawing and that's okay, because there are other areas of art that I excel in and love more was crucial. Finding "my" art wasn't hard, but accepting it and accepting the part that I am still an artist was hard.

"Art is human; error is human; ergo, art is error." I love this. This year and a bit of last year I have come to love my art mistakes. Making mistakes and no longer following my intense sketchbook plan has been good for me. Making art like this has allowed me to let loose and me less critical and more comfortable with well, everything. I've realized that the mistakes in my art that always get me pissed off and upset at first, often are for the better. Last year when making my "self portrait" on glass, the fire from the blow torch shattered the crayon melt I had spent two weeks on. I later glued the pieces apart from each other on another piece of overlapping glass and the work in the end had more depth and build to it. About a week ago when doing another crayon melt by accident some silver got into it. I mad at first since I had spent about 3.5 hours cutting up the crayons. Then I added more silver and realized that it helped bring out the gold in two other pieces. The mistake turned into a small break through. Maybe art mistakes are signs? Or at least when torching crayola crayons.

seven days in the art world

I'm not sure I could leave a critique like that feeling great about myself and my artwork. I always ask my classmates to tell the truth and give all criticisms for me to think while working. Especially, during Senior Studio. I think I've asked just about everyone about either the arrangement, drips, colors, or subject matter having to do with my project. In the first official crit I was really glad Paula brought up really thinking into the images, if any, and Carrie brought up having the colors match through out. Both of which comments changed the plan for my project. I really like that other artists don't give feedback until the artist whose work it is talks. Being in that kind of critique would definitely be super beneficial yet anxiety filled.