Seahorse Print

          The print project was probably the most interesting and most involved project we did. To make them, we started by drawing the design and cutting it out in a small rectangle. Then we transferred the design onto blocks. We had to use tools to cut out the design into the block. We used wider blades to make wider marks, and narrower ones for smaller lines. After the design was cut into the block, we rolled ink onto the block using a brayer. Then, we pressed them onto paper to make the print. We did a few practices, then perfected the lines that did not show up. We had to make sure the textures were visible. I had to go over the lines for the seaweed so they would show up more. Next, we made a series of prints with different colors of ink and different colors of paper. We learned how to label the prints and how to order them. We experimented with multiple colors of ink in one print, and printing on different types of paper. This print was my favorite. 

Pastel Apple Project

          One project that I really enjoyed was drawing an apple with pastels. This was one of the first times I'd ever used pastels, so it was difficult at first. I started by using a light color to sketch out the shape of the apple. Then I carefully added reds and other colors by looking at the colors in the apple. The light source is very important in this project, because it shows up a lot on the apple. You have to make the shadow behind the apple on the other side of where the light is shining. You do this by coloring in the shape of the shadow with a darker color. Then, you add white on the light side and blend it in. You do the same thing in the background. This helps show depth and value. It also makes the picture look more realistic. Finally, at the end, I added a little bit of white on the light side of the apple to accent the shiniest places. Overall, I was very happy with how my apple turned out. 

Acrylic Landscape Painting

          The acrylic painting was definitely my favorite project from the class. There was a lot of preparation involved. First, we had to decide what we were going to paint. I got my inspiration from this picture I took during a vacation in South Africa:

          Once we had our picture, we had to draw a sketch of it with sharpie, experimenting with different textures found in nature. We also created a color scheme by picking the colors we were going to use, and practicing mixing colors to create tints, shades, and different intensities of the colors. I really liked mixing the colors and learning which colors needed to be added for a specific effect. In my painting, I used the analogous color scheme. In our paintings, we had to show atmospheric perspective. Atmospheric perspective means there are four levels - the sky, the background, the middle ground, and the fore ground. I included all of those in my painting. I tried to use light and value in my painting on the areas of the picture where the sun was shining. I used a lighter shade of paint in those areas to show that. I mostly used smooth brush strokes, but I dabbed the brush a lot to create the texture for the grass.

Ceramics Project

          With our ceramics project, we designed and created a plate or bowl out of clay. I decided to make a small plate with very little depth. Designing the plate was fun. The plate had to use a radial design, meaning it had radial symmetry all the way around. We practiced making up a few radial designs, and then we made a final template by folding a piece of paper and cutting the design. That way, the design would be perfectly symmetrical.

          After we cut out the template, we had to prepare the clay. We used a machine to flatten out the amount we needed. Then, we had to wedge the slab of clay by hitting it against a surface several times. Next, we lay our template on the clay and cut out the design. I chose to have small diamonds in my design which were very difficult to cut out. Early in the process, we picked an object that we would either put our clay inside or around the outside in order to create the shape. For my plate, I chose to lay a pie plate upside down and put my clay on top of it to create a subtle slope around the edges. I used a slightly wet sponge to smooth all the edges of my plate. After the plate was fired in the kiln, I painted a glaze on it and it was fired again.

          I learned a lot about how to work with clay and the tools involved. I learned about radial designs and techniques about how to accurately and efficiently turn your design into a real form of art. If I were to redo this project, I would probably use a much simpler design. Overall, I really enjoyed this project.

Pastel Still Life Project

          I planned this composition by selecting three related items I wanted to create in a still life. I picked a large yellow bucket, an orange shovel, and a gray and brown shell. I chose these objects because they all represent the beach. I arranged them several different ways before I began the project. A thumbnail sketch is a technique in which you cut out a small rectangular window in a piece of paper and sketch your drawing looking through the window. The thumbnail sketch helps you plan where you want your objects in the final drawing. Some items may be cut off on the edges, which is sometimes ideal.

          Creating value in the project using light and shadows was difficult. However, it was very rewarding and taught me a lot about how to add dimension to a pastel drawing. When the spotlights in the classroom were on, it was easy to see where the shadows of the objects fell and draw the outline of them. I had to use different colors like black and white to show the darkness or lightness on the objects. The shovel was especially hard to create value on because of its shape. I created a light source by adding lighter areas wherever the light hit the objects. I added a lot of white on the side of the bucket and blended it in because that part was very shiny. I learned that the color of the shadows had to match the color of the background. As my first real pastel composition, I am happy with the final result.