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FINAL CURATE PORTFOLIO

Final progress photos

Recently added: Completed FInal

Final Artist Statment:

What preliminary work did you engage in?

I didn't really take inspiration from a specific artist or artstyle, but what I can say is that I intended for these paintings to be more focused on the message, then a hyper realistic artstyle.

What message did you intent to convey?

For my first painting, I wanted to show what freedom feels like. The kid running with his arms out is supposed to represent that feeling—like he's pretending to be a bird, flying through the sky, which to me is one of the most peaceful and carefree places out there. It’s about being totally free, without anything holding you back.

But then there's the person on the right, who represents the people who don’t really believe in that kind of freedom. Some people doubt it exists, or they try to take it away from others because they don’t understand it or are afraid of it. He’s there to show that not everyone sees the world the same way—and that sometimes, chasing your freedom means dealing with that too.

As for my second painting, I wanted to explore my past relationship with my parents. While I know they loved me deeply, their way of showing it often left me feeling overwhelmed. It wasn’t always about control—it was more about the pressure to meet expectations or be someone I wasn’t ready to be. This, at times, made me feel lonely. Because I had different views and ways of thinking, I felt like I couldn’t fully be myself around them. I was constantly torn between wanting their approval and needing space to grow into who I really am. This work became a way for me to express that emotional weight—the love that was always there, but sometimes felt too heavy—and to reflect on how even close relationships can leave us feeling unseen or misunderstood.

Did you achieve your goal and are happy with outcome?

It might not be perfect, but I believe I've chose the correct posing as well as correct colors for my final.

Could you have done something else?

Concept-wise I don't think I could've done something else, but there are still improvements that need to be made especially for the second one. I feel like I could've used a lighter color as the background to add more life to that painting.

What is your favorite part on doing this final?

My favorite part of the project was definitely brainstorming the painting itself as well as it's message. Alot of people don't know this but I enjoy writing my own, and analyzing some of my favorite stories. So for me, this project really helped me excercise my creative skills and allowed me to display those skills visually through art.

Midterm

Blind contour

5min pose

Skeleton studies

Museum inspired sketches

Gesture

Blind contour feet

Perspective Studies

Contour Pose

Posing practice(Spinal and shoulder correlation)

Self Portrait 3 views(Unfinished only drew 2)

Missing Assignments

#Drawing Eggs, #Blind Contour Hands, #Studies of Skulls, # Thoracic cavity chest view,

The reason I missed these assignment was because I was absent from the first week of class, I was waiting to be admitted. Due to my absence I was unfamiliar with our class blog and missed out some of the homework.

Curated Portfolio Artist statements

A. My favorite materials this semester were the graphite pencils and paintbrushes. I liked using the graphite pencils because they helped me take the ideas in my head and turn them into something real on paper. They were great for sketching and planning out my work. I also really enjoyed using paintbrushes because they added color and emotion to my art—something that pencil alone couldn’t do. Together, they worked really well to help bring my artwork to life.

B. My favorite assignment this semester is definitely the self portrait. It was the first time I got to combine my writing skills with painting, which made it feel really personal and creative. That project reminded me that art isn't always about making something super realistic, it's more about the message behind it. I liked how I was able to express something meaningful through my artwork, and it showed that art can be as powerful as words.

C. One of the biggest obstacles I faced this semester was a lack of self-confidence. At the beginning, I saw how advanced some of the other students were, and I felt like I couldn’t measure up to their level. I even worried that the difference in skill would affect my grade. But as the semester went on, I realized that my work was still being accepted and appreciated. That helped me understand that everyone has their own style and pace, and I didn’t need to compare myself to others. Since then, I’ve felt like I belong in the class just as much as anyone else.

D. I especially felt that lack of self-confidence when working on the self-portrait assignment. It was a very personal piece, and I was nervous about how it would turn out compared to everyone else’s. Since we were only using graphite, I worried that my drawing wouldn’t be strong enough to stand out or show the meaning I wanted it to. But as I kept working on it, I focused more on the message I was trying to express rather than trying to make it look “perfect.” In the end, I was proud of what I created. That assignment helped me believe in my abilities more and showed me that even with simple materials like graphite, I could still create something powerful.

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MOCA VISIT and painting concept

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Midterm Portrait finished version

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The message behind my work is self acceptance and how I accept both sides of my character that being the good and the bad.

I chose the mask because as of lately I’ve shown a particular interest in theatre arts so I thought using the masks was a clever way to not only express my interests, but also represent the different sides of my personality. The masks sort of act like the metaphorical devil and angel on my shoulders.

As you can tell from my drawing, I chose a pose that includes both arms crossing each other to cover my chest. I like to see that pose as me being protected from outside influences, doing so allows me to stay who I am. As each hand is put on each shoulder it’s protecting a different side of myself. My right hand is protecting the angel, my inner child or innocence; the left hand is protecting the devil, the general or the part of me that’s hard on myself. By keeping both hands on my shoulders it brings balance and prevents one side from being more dominant than the other. Secondly,said pose is often used to convey shyness, but in this case I’m using at to convey reassurance. The pose is a statement that being “This is who I am and no matter how embarrassing of a situation I’m in, or how uncomfortable I feel, I will continue being Felix the next day”. Which is part of why I decided to draw myself shirtless.

Honestly, I’m actually quite proud of what I was able to accomplish. I had high doubts that I wasn’t gonna be able to finish, or even worse the level of skill that I’m at in drawing wouldn’t be good enough to get good grade on the assignment. Also, I was originally planning to go even more deeper with theme and narrative behind my painting. I then realized that what I had originally planned would be to difficult for viewers to understand so I changed it. Either way I think I succeeded in using simplicity to convey a clear and coherent message.

Art is more than just about detail it’s also about how well you can convey a message.

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Progression #2

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Self portrait progression

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The theme of my self portrait will communicate the dangers of trying to appease others and the lost feeling of purpose and identity once you have no one to appease.

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(FD2) Figure Drawing Skeletal feet assignment.

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(FD2) Figure Drawing: Three Great Artists

What have you learned about all three artists?

Lucian Freud focused on painting the human body in a very raw, honest way. He was known for his detailed, realistic paintings that showed not just how people looked, but also their inner struggles. His work often felt intense and personal, making the viewer see people in a way that was almost uncomfortable because of how real it was.

Alice Neel saw herself as someone who "collected souls" by painting people’s true emotions and stories. She painted people and communities that were often ignored, especially during hard times like the Great Depression. Neel refused to follow popular art trends like abstract expressionism, choosing instead to paint real people and their lives. Her paintings were full of empathy and helped her understand others deeply.

Willem de Kooning started as a draftsman and developed a style that mixed drawing and painting. He painted in quick, bold strokes, and his work was a blend of abstract and figurative art. His early work focused on figures, but over time he began exploring more abstract themes, especially focusing on women and landscapes. His paintings were lively and often had a satirical, humorous side, avoiding sadness.

What impressed you the most about the way they work?

I was really impressed by how each artist was so committed to showing truth in their own way. Freud’s dedication to painting the body in such a raw, real way, Neel’s focus on the emotions and stories of people who were often overlooked, and de Kooning’s ability to blend abstract and figurative art all stood out to me.

Which is your favorite and why?

Out of all the artists that I got the chance to look at, my favorite has to be Alice Neel because she painted people’s emotions and lives in a way that felt very real and caring. I love how she focused on the stories of people who didn’t usually get attention, and how she stayed true to her style, even when other artists were doing something completely different. Her work feels both personal and relatable.

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FD Skeletal sketch

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FD Skeletal Sketch