free choice!

As I started brainstorming for my free choice project, I knew immediately that I wanted to do my favorite type of drawing- a portrait. I haven't completed a fully rendered portrait since last year in Drawing I, so it was unfamiliar territory but on familiar grounds. I was browsing on Tumblr when I saw a photograph of a girl's face next to a cat's face, emphasizing the resemblances. Thus the seed of my concept was planted; I wanted my portrait to show the similarities and correlation of humans and animals. My friend Nicolette Bemann was the perfect model, and my cat Tuffy cooperated as well.

My actual composition was in black and white, because this promotes the emphasize of the similarities of the two subjects. (The colors wouldn't correlate.) The symmetry and center balance also help with the emphasis of the duality of man vs. beast (woman vs. cat!). Since the piece is split vertically down the center, I incorporated unity through the shape of the faces, eyes, noses, and the textures of the hair and fur. Rhythm also comes into play with the hair and fur-- both extend outwards, almost infinitely. This brings the eyes from focusing on the center of the portrait, where the emphasis lies, towards the outside of the page, where blankness persists. Conceptually, this suggests that there are many further similarities between humans and animals.

Packer Fever Project

Since I'm not an avid football fan, the constant presence of green and yellow reminds me of spring. So my project took form as a "Packer" tree, with dark green and golden yellow branches. The tree is supposed to symbolize the renewal of spring time, and the common spring fever that so many people catch. I liked drawing the tree, but my concept was lacking because I couldn't figure out how to effectively incorporate the Packer fever theme into the spring fever. The composition was awkward since I lacked a background, so I cut out the silhouette of the shape, which sort of accentuated the positive and negative space. But I'm still not satisfied with the project because I don't really know what else to do with it.

from Navy Pier

I was here with National Student Leadership Conference on the fourth of July.

also, the principles of design were everywhere.

I've worked with glass once before in an art class, and it was so difficult to control. It raises my admiration immensely for this detailed rendering.

patience much?

these two were my favorite. my friends and i studied them for the longest time, because the skies were only one piece of glass. i don't know how they were made, but they were absolutely breathtaking.

of swim season

after practice, i like to browse through art in hopes of inspiration, and in hopes of resting my aching arm muscles :|
i've found some interesting sites!

http://eatsleepdraw.com/

also, this is a very cool idea:
http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject/rules

from Pewaukee :)

i'm finally home, and i've been drawing in between swim practices. i needed inspiration, so i found some cool sites. this one is my favorite:

http://turinetran.com/

and i think i'm going to experiment with pen more, since i'm most comfortable with pencils.

from evanston, illinois.

i'm currently in a summer program at Northwestern University, taking a three week AP Chemistry course. it's super challenging because of the accelerated pace, and i've been so stressed that i've almost depleted a whole drawer of chocolate. however, the chemical reactions and molecular structures have actually got me thinking in new perspectives artistically. atoms and compounds can make for some very cool drawings!

updates

arrrgh, sorry for the lack of posts. i currently have no computer access, so i will upload pictures later.

after north carolina, i went to visit my friends in charleston, sc. that place is beautiful, and we spent the majority of the time in the pool or on the beach after dark. i want do to a drawing involving water and light, but i want it to be a spinoff- so that is still a work in progress.

i've also spent a week at uChicago. the architecture is granndd, but i didn't get much time to draw. i did take pictures, however, and i'm planning on sketching the strange gargoyles.

there were a few small art galleries / shows that i've visited. there was a dismal one in the holocaust museum, and there was one of stained glass, and one of silk art. they're all really fascinating.

i hope to have more artwork accomplished by the end of this week, before i leave again.