Over the past year in Art 4, I've had to adjust to having the freedom to make whatever art I wanted without a specific assignment. I will admit that it's been hard at times figuring out where my style lies and what exactly I enjoy doing. Though I still haven't quite found my unique style, I have learned that I am able to create art with a myriad of mediums. This year, I've worked with plastic bags, straws, pencils, and paper clips, and I have learned something new from each piece. I developed unique methods for each material that I can modify and translate into new mediums. Throughout my process, I have had to invest time and money to seek out the specific materials I need. On numerous occasions I have had to drag my sister to A.C. Moore or Staples with me to get supplies, or have had my dad help me cutting wood for my projects.
If I had the chance to relive this year as an art student, I would focus more on the quantity of work I make. Over the year I have not produced a large amount of work that I would potentially like to display in my show next year. I wish that I had aimed to make more pieces, because that way at least I would have a large body of work from which I could select pieces for a show. However, these past few years have still yielded accomplishments of which I am proud. One such example is my self portrait from Art III. I usually do not draw or paint myself, and the fact that I was able to produce a self portrait in charcoal and pencil of which I was proud was a big moment for me. I also really like my Old Masters drawing. It was a good exercise for me involving lines, and it turned out well enough that currently my mom is planning on hanging it in our living room. In terms of experiences in DRHSART, my most memorable was being able to do small group critiques outside towards the end of the year. Being in a small group with nice weather and being able to talk about art was a pleasant experience, and I really liked the close setting and environment that it exposed me to.
In terms of advice for upcoming Art 4 and 5 students, I would recommend that they don't waste time fretting about whether or not they're doing the right thing, or if their work "measures up" to their fellow classmates. The best way to figure out what you're good at and what you enjoy is through experimentation, so don't worry about what other people in your class are doing, and instead explore different mediums to find out what type of art that you feel a passion for.
If I had the chance to relive this year as an art student, I would focus more on the quantity of work I make. Over the year I have not produced a large amount of work that I would potentially like to display in my show next year. I wish that I had aimed to make more pieces, because that way at least I would have a large body of work from which I could select pieces for a show. However, these past few years have still yielded accomplishments of which I am proud. One such example is my self portrait from Art III. I usually do not draw or paint myself, and the fact that I was able to produce a self portrait in charcoal and pencil of which I was proud was a big moment for me. I also really like my Old Masters drawing. It was a good exercise for me involving lines, and it turned out well enough that currently my mom is planning on hanging it in our living room. In terms of experiences in DRHSART, my most memorable was being able to do small group critiques outside towards the end of the year. Being in a small group with nice weather and being able to talk about art was a pleasant experience, and I really liked the close setting and environment that it exposed me to.
In terms of advice for upcoming Art 4 and 5 students, I would recommend that they don't waste time fretting about whether or not they're doing the right thing, or if their work "measures up" to their fellow classmates. The best way to figure out what you're good at and what you enjoy is through experimentation, so don't worry about what other people in your class are doing, and instead explore different mediums to find out what type of art that you feel a passion for.