"Margarita Cansino"
September 2014
Digital Manipulation
September 2014
Digital Manipulation
"Girl Breaking"
October 2014
Ink on Paper
October 2014
Ink on Paper
Exhibition Text
I was inspired by the works of Pablo Picasso during his cubist movement. I wanted to create a piece that showed standards and expectations that have been placed on women. I liked this piece when I created it. I like the visuality of the print. The concept to me is very boring and typical. It's something that is emphasized a lot. I think that I could have gone about conveying the theme differently because it was just played out. I like cubism and I like how the cubist elements have (obviously) appeared in this piece. I didn't use any of my own material in creating this piece. I was unfamiliar with the materials and the process, which was a struggle. My strength was the visuality of this piece. My weaknesses were the quality of the piece, understanding the piece, and conveying the theme originally. If I could do this piece over again i would incorporate perspective on the theme because I think that, that would make it more interesting and less stereotypical. I would also make more prints because I don't feel that I ever had the perfect print.
I was inspired by the works of Pablo Picasso during his cubist movement. I wanted to create a piece that showed standards and expectations that have been placed on women. I liked this piece when I created it. I like the visuality of the print. The concept to me is very boring and typical. It's something that is emphasized a lot. I think that I could have gone about conveying the theme differently because it was just played out. I like cubism and I like how the cubist elements have (obviously) appeared in this piece. I didn't use any of my own material in creating this piece. I was unfamiliar with the materials and the process, which was a struggle. My strength was the visuality of this piece. My weaknesses were the quality of the piece, understanding the piece, and conveying the theme originally. If I could do this piece over again i would incorporate perspective on the theme because I think that, that would make it more interesting and less stereotypical. I would also make more prints because I don't feel that I ever had the perfect print.
"Mermaid"
November 2014 Ink on Paper Exhibition Text
This piece was inspired by the Little Mermaid. It was also inspired by Art Nouveau. I wanted to create something just visually appealing. The tale of the little mermaid focuses on the curiosity of a mermaid that has lived her life under the rules of her strict father. I wanted to further convey this in my piece by obviously emulating the mermaid, Ariel, but also incorporating art nouveau elements like line and texture. I used my own water color paints, but all of the other supplies used for the printing process was provided by the school. I hadn't done any prints before this year. I had to learn the dry point printing process. The process was difficult for me. I had more weaknesses than strengths for this piece. I think that I was successful in creating a piece that also pertained to art nouveau. However conveying a theme of a popular fairy tale to me is very unoriginal. It was like the whole concept was laid out for me after choosing me theme. Next time, I would try to convey the same theme but without being so explicit because it's limiting to the viewers. |
"Detached"
November 2014 Mixed Media Exhibition Text
This was my first mixed media found object sculpture. I had a lot of difficulties with this piece. I could not narrow down an artist or theme. Finally, I decided on creating a piece inspired by Pre-Columbian art and illustrate a theme of vanity. I owned the mirror already. I bought the mannequin head and got the foam core from the art room. I owned the green acrylic paint used on the face of the mannequin. I struggled a lot with my craftsmanship for this piece because I hadn't worked with the foam core until this assignment. I used hot glue because the t- pins did not help the boards stick together. The strings of hot glue were visible. I liked the simplicity because I conveyed my theme without creating something that was over the top. I didn't want to create a piece that was distracting. I wanted a focal point for my sculpture because it's easy to create something over the top with sculpture. If I could do this sculpture again, I would want to incorporate more of what drive vanity and different perspectives on vanity. The critique was very beneficial to me because I learned what to work on visually and how to make this piece more interactive with viewers. |
"Jungle Girl"
December 2014
Acrylic on Canvas
December 2014
Acrylic on Canvas
Exhibition Text
"Jungle Girl," to me is my strongest piece. I went into this assignment and had everything all figured out. I had literally been waiting to emulate Frida Kahlo. I used and mixed my own paint for this process. The painting process was very easy for me. I was already very familiar with both acrylic painting and the works of Frida Kahlo. I tried to emulate her elements that she incorporated in her pieces like her culture and religion. I wanted to show different aspects of my life and how the sacrifices that I have had to make now, will lead me to tranquility. I didn't want to create something sad or dramatic. I wanted to create something that illustrated my life. Kahlo seemed like the most appropriate artist to emulate because she created pieces that incorporated elements from her life and somehow created a piece that was open for interpretation. That was another goal of mine. I want a viewer to see this and have their own idea. I didn't want to convey an obvious message. This is my most successful piece because I didn't have many struggles, aside from running out of paint. The process was very quick. If I could do this piece again, I would just emulate her in a different way, rather than (visually) just the setting and elements.
"Jungle Girl," to me is my strongest piece. I went into this assignment and had everything all figured out. I had literally been waiting to emulate Frida Kahlo. I used and mixed my own paint for this process. The painting process was very easy for me. I was already very familiar with both acrylic painting and the works of Frida Kahlo. I tried to emulate her elements that she incorporated in her pieces like her culture and religion. I wanted to show different aspects of my life and how the sacrifices that I have had to make now, will lead me to tranquility. I didn't want to create something sad or dramatic. I wanted to create something that illustrated my life. Kahlo seemed like the most appropriate artist to emulate because she created pieces that incorporated elements from her life and somehow created a piece that was open for interpretation. That was another goal of mine. I want a viewer to see this and have their own idea. I didn't want to convey an obvious message. This is my most successful piece because I didn't have many struggles, aside from running out of paint. The process was very quick. If I could do this piece again, I would just emulate her in a different way, rather than (visually) just the setting and elements.
Reincarnate
January 2015 Acrylic on Canvas Exhibition Text
I wanted to emulate surrealist concepts for this series. My goal was to really focus on my mind as an artist, and what comes to my mind when I think of my impact on the city. This was very difficult for me, as I feel that I don't have any impact on the city. So i chose to focus on what I think my impact is going to be on the city. I wanted my first painting to show how I want my knowledge to influence the city. The second painting has to with parts of my life that control or impact who I am. I also wanted to show perspective. My last painting is to show the impact that the city has on me. It's supposed to show that the city has opened many doors for me and I'm going to go better places with what the city has already given me. I like the concept of my paintings because it was and still is very personal to me. I struggled a lot however, with creating an overall piece that would show my influence of surrealism. The techniques that I used were not true to the movement that I wanted to emulate. |
"Evolution"
February 2015
Mixed Media
February 2015
Mixed Media
Exhibition Text
This piece, conceptually was very difficult for me. However, I knew that I wanted to emulate Impressionism and focus on line and texture. Throughout the process my ideas and concepts for the piece changed. I wanted to create something that showed how nature is no longer natural, and the environment is affected by the advancements in technology. In the end I think that I created that, but my perspective on my concept changed. I ended up wanting to create something that showed how many people judge younger generations and their reliance on technology. My concept was kind of satirical in a way. I titled it "Evolution," because I wanted to make a connection to religion. The topic of evolution vs. creationism is ongoing and many people view the idea of creationism as unrealistic but I wanted this piece to do the opposite. I feel that I was successful in creating a piece that satisfied my concept, but the piece could have been cleaner. I could have incorporated more movement and impressionistic elements in it. I also think that I could have created something more unpredictable. Next time I would avoid creating a piece that was centered around plants.
This piece, conceptually was very difficult for me. However, I knew that I wanted to emulate Impressionism and focus on line and texture. Throughout the process my ideas and concepts for the piece changed. I wanted to create something that showed how nature is no longer natural, and the environment is affected by the advancements in technology. In the end I think that I created that, but my perspective on my concept changed. I ended up wanting to create something that showed how many people judge younger generations and their reliance on technology. My concept was kind of satirical in a way. I titled it "Evolution," because I wanted to make a connection to religion. The topic of evolution vs. creationism is ongoing and many people view the idea of creationism as unrealistic but I wanted this piece to do the opposite. I feel that I was successful in creating a piece that satisfied my concept, but the piece could have been cleaner. I could have incorporated more movement and impressionistic elements in it. I also think that I could have created something more unpredictable. Next time I would avoid creating a piece that was centered around plants.
"Pledge of Appropriation"
April 2015
Clay Sculpture
April 2015
Clay Sculpture
Exhibition Text
This was my first cultural piece. A big concern of mine with this piece, was not unknowingly mocking the cultural or appropriating it. I did a lot of studying on Hinduism to understand the different aspects of the religion and what is sacred. I was vaguely familiar with the Hindu deity, Ganesha. This deity is unsurprisingly something that I've seen common in American culture. That connects to the theme because my theme was cultural appropriation. I wanted to create the Ganesha, because it represents peace, tranquility, and protection. I wanted to represent how the Ganesha is something that is an aspect of Hinduism and is often appropriated for aesthetics by American people. I wanted to create the Ganesha because it is sacred and is a deity of protection. I wanted it to seem as if the deity was protecting the culture from being appropriated, because culture is sacred. I titled it "Pledge of Appropriation" because I wanted the piece to show how cultural appropriation is something that is so common, that it has become something that we are almost instilled with, in American culture. I really love my concept because it is something that I feel very strongly about. The quality of my piece was not the best. I struggled a lot with the clay, after having to hollow the sculpture out in the midst of the process. I made my own clay, which was a new process for me. Next time I would spend more time on the quality of the sculpture.
This was my first cultural piece. A big concern of mine with this piece, was not unknowingly mocking the cultural or appropriating it. I did a lot of studying on Hinduism to understand the different aspects of the religion and what is sacred. I was vaguely familiar with the Hindu deity, Ganesha. This deity is unsurprisingly something that I've seen common in American culture. That connects to the theme because my theme was cultural appropriation. I wanted to create the Ganesha, because it represents peace, tranquility, and protection. I wanted to represent how the Ganesha is something that is an aspect of Hinduism and is often appropriated for aesthetics by American people. I wanted to create the Ganesha because it is sacred and is a deity of protection. I wanted it to seem as if the deity was protecting the culture from being appropriated, because culture is sacred. I titled it "Pledge of Appropriation" because I wanted the piece to show how cultural appropriation is something that is so common, that it has become something that we are almost instilled with, in American culture. I really love my concept because it is something that I feel very strongly about. The quality of my piece was not the best. I struggled a lot with the clay, after having to hollow the sculpture out in the midst of the process. I made my own clay, which was a new process for me. Next time I would spend more time on the quality of the sculpture.
"Dichotomy"
May 2015
Acrylic on Canvas
May 2015
Acrylic on Canvas
For this piece in particular, I chose to emulate local artist, Judith Hooks. When I met her, she admitted to me that she was very interested in Abstract Expressionism. That was something that I had to take into consideration when creating this piece. I titled this piece, "Dichotomy" because that was the theme that I wanted to convey for this piece. I used and mixed my own paint, because I was very picky about the colors that I wanted to use. The process was very spontaneous because the piece itself is very free in form. I started with a dark brown base and white and light blue slashes of paint on the canvas. Afterwards, I just decided to paint over it in red and start over. I used brighter colors for certain shapes. Then with help, I added more lines and overlapping shapes to the piece. It was important to not just copy what Hooks did for most of her pieces. I'm very satisfied with this piece because I utilized elements of art and principles of design that I hadn't utilized yet and I created something personal, yet minimalistic which is what Hooks did. I was successful with the process because I was familiar with it already. I used that process and applied it to a more simplistic concept.