simonepcpsarts-blog

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Final Reflection

CPSA 250:      Individual Capstone                       

1) Staying consistent and scheduling were the most difficult aspects of my capstone. I struggled to meet the dates I set for my self to paint, because of other engagements (e.g. major courses, assignments, etc). I also found that I needed to change the composition of my pieces (three times total for each). For one of the pieces, Living Room, I completely removed a central figure in favor of a shoulder-up self-portrait, which altered the meaning of the painting and required more time to complete it. While these changes were stressful, they also allowed the paintings to evolve in tandem with my own personal growth and interests.

 2) In retrospect, I did not focus nearly as much on my childhood visual influences as I had hoped to initially. I think that I naturally gravitated to new sources of artistic materials, because these paintings required new technical perspectives. My childhood became one of the central focuses, as opposed to technique, which was originally what I had planned to be the main focus. I also did not update my process binder/tumblr as frequently as I had initially described in my learning objectives. The objectives I did fulfill are as follows: two 2ftx3ft paintings completed, background research completed, growth and healing, and the collection of various materials/artistic works.

 3) The weekly class meetings were helpful in that they provided more in depth information on the requirements for each assignment/capstone. I also appreciated hearing feed back on my capstone progress, as well as seeing the progress and process of my peers. Classes served as a reminder for assignments that were coming up (which is good for forgetful and scattered people like myself). For next year, it might be more helpful if Art Scholars reduced the use of tumblr. Its interface is confusing and not very efficient.

 4) My project is proof that I am capable of taking on long-term challenges, which was something I doubted about myself in the past. It required that I put in hours that I usually try to avoid. I am also satisfied with how I reacted to overcoming this particular obstacle. Instead of dismissing it, because it does not hold up against other projects or whatever other reason, I did not forgot the amount of effort I put into my project.

 5) They say hindsight is 50/50, and that is certainly true. If I had the opportunity to do something similar to this project, I would spend more time in the planning stage and take time to reflect on and document the project more closely. I feel that reflecting on and documenting my progress would have eliminated many of the problems that I came across. For example, perhaps I would not have had to change my composition so many times, or I might have been able to narrow my focus earlier in the process.

 6) My advice to upcoming students is the same as the students’ advice that came before me: start early and follow through on specific goals you set for yourself. By starting earlier, you have more time to fix problems and change the course of what your project is, if you feel that is necessary. Specific goals are essential because they hold you accountable for the progress of your project. It is easy to say you will have a certain part done by ‘around April-ish,’ but that is hardly helpful when April 30th rolls around, and you have not finished what you needed to get done.  

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STRUCTURED :  WEBDITORIAL for chasseurmagazine, Lagos 2017

 http://chasseurmagazine.com/chasseur-webditorial-structured-by-thompson-ekong/

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Tuesday, April 25th, 2017.

EXO’rdium in Newark, NJ.

EXO’s concert was a spectacle of song, lights, narrative, and dance. This is the second time I have seen EXO live, and they do not disappoint. In true boyband form, they make sure to interact with the fans and try to reach out to everyone. Their sound is mainly electronic/pop, but they had an acoustic section that added a new dimension to their performance. I also appreciate that they incorporate a story element in their concert set, shown on jumbotrons, and of course, their choreography.  

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Nearly Done.

I’ve finally finished the center self portrait, and will move on to the last stages of defining edges and clarifying shapes. I plan to: a) darken the grid pattern in the right bottom corner, b) locate places where the paint is thin and fill it in with some cadmium red hue, c) add a few lines to the piano, d) define the chair with similar lines to the piano, and e) give the frame for the painting with the light blue figure a heavier outline.

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Nearly Done.

After some compostitional corrections, this piece has moved on to the clarification stage, where i will fill in details (and tackle painting the face of my younger self-yikes). I will a) give the buildings windows and clarify their edges, b) clarify the edges of the leaves on the right side, c) add some flower to the trees on the right side, d) add some simple and colorful vegetation to the bottom (for balance and interest), and e) work some more contrast into the mountain.

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The Phillips Collection - April 7th, 2017

This past Friday, I had the privilege of visiting The Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. (courtesy of my friend who works at a Smithsonian museum-employees can bring one guest to any museum for free). Initially, I was mainly interested in going to see their Rothko Room (see Green and Tangerine on Red and Orange on Red on Red above), but I soon found out that the Phillips Collection had so much more to offer. American artist Jacob Lawrence’s (1917–2001) series of silk screen prints called “The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture,” which told the story of L’Overture, a leader in the movement to liberate Haiti from colonial rule and the emancipation of slaves in the 1791 Haitian Revolution. It made me reflect on the power imbalances and struggles that colonized countries faced historically which still impact their society today, and also draw connections from my own heritage as a Latina whose family was displaced due to political and economic instability caused in large part by the U.S., a colonial power. 

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Self Portrait Practice. 

I do have some experience with self portraiture, but none with oil paint specifically. On gessoed paper, I used titanium white, tube black, quinacridone red and terra green to flesh out a facial structure, and experimented with loose blending (visible brush marks) to add depth. I’m satisfied with how it turned out, although it is not entirely true to my face. I also appreciate out “juicy” it looks (despite minimal paint being used), which I often struggle to achieve in my paintings.

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The Great Outdoors!

This past weekend I took advantage of the warm weather and painted in my backyard! I wanted to use the natural lighting for my self portrait, to enhance the colors in my face (diversify!). I did not get a chance to work on the other painting (the one with my younger self--I really need to name these paintings). 

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ADVISOR: Kenna

MEETING DATE & TIME: 4/4/17, 8:00pm

Kenna and I discussed the layout and content of my poster, and how to make sure there is no overlap between the text boxes and the paintings. By asking me to explain my thoughts more specifically behind each piece, Kenna also pushed me to think harder about how to concisely express the main ideas behind each painting. We also discussed how I might move forward, and when I should start writing my artist’s statement.

First, I will complete my paintings this weekend (except finishing touches/details). Then I will organize my process binder/blog, and the week after my paintings are complete (the week of 4/16), I will begin drafting my artist’s statement. I will also update my poster when the paintings are completed.

I have no further questions at this time.

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Reflection #1

I think I’ve finally caught my first case of artist’s block in this process. I haven’t looked at my paintings in a week, because I do not know how to move forward. Before, my ideas felt new and exciting, but now I am unenthusiastic about even the idea of picking up a brush. I am being dramatic, of course, but any artist knows that a creative and emotional roadblock can feel devastating, especially considering how invested I felt in the beginning. Fortunately, I am on break this week, so I will have a chance to collect my thoughts and come up with a new plan of action. I am going to take a closer look at Picabia’s abstract works (like La Source), because I believe my main obstacle right now is creating effective spatial relationships across the picture plane.

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March 4th, 2017 - I had the pleasure of seeing the Kenyon College Chamber Singers this past Saturday. Their set had a nice variety to it, and their talent and professionalism was clear. I admit that I am not one to seek out chamber choirs, so the atmosphere was a nice change of pace. This was their first event for their 2017 spring tour. 

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March 3rd, 2017 - To start my weekend off, I went with a friend to see Lion (dir. Garth Davis), a film nominated for several oscars this awards season. Lion is a biographical film based on Saroo Brierley’s life, from his childhood in Ganesh Talai, Khandwa, to his separation from his family as a child, to his adoption by an Australian couple and search to find his family in India as a young adult (this is a rather one dimensional summary for the sake of space). I was incredibly moved by the story, and by Sunny Pawar’s (young Saroo) performance. Lion was also shot beautifully, and though I do not know their team’s post and editing processes, I felt that the coloring of the shots added a great deal in terms of mood and setting.

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ADVISOR: Kenna

 MEETING DATE & TIME: 2:00PM, Feb. 6, 2017

In 3-4 sentences, please describe what was discussed during your meeting.

During our meeting, my advisor and I discussed the necessity for a timeline, possible sources of inspiration, and the process of painting itself in terms of looking at specific artists for technique in composition. Two of the artists we discussed specifically for composition were Picabia and Carrevagio. Picabia is an artist I am especially interested in, because of his early abstract work that broke apart form and translated it into movement. We also discussed the works of Candinski and de Chirico.

 In 3-4 sentences, please explain what the next steps you will take with your project will be.

This week, I will buy the last of my supplies, and begin my under painting. By the end of this month, I will have sat down for at least four sessions. At least once a week, I will upload inspiration, techniques, and progress photos.

Please use the space below to indicate any further questions, concerns, or confusions that were NOT addressed during the meeting.

I have no concerns, but I will reach out to Kenna if I have any questions

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I visited an in-house art exhibit for the first time, and the experience was immersive. The close quarters made it more personal, and the warmth and architecture of the house, with its dark woods and narrow hallways, added to that feeling. While I only knew one of the artists personally (Sheila Blake), I was happy to get to know the works of other local painters.

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The Herman Maril: The Strong Forms of Our Experience exhibit held at the Herman Maril gallery at the University of Maryland was compelling and enjoyable, with a wide range of media and pieces that kept your attention. The exhibit was a (mostly) chronological pathway through Herman Maril’s life using his works, marking his achievements and big events, and acknowledging his place as a great American artist.

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On May 6th, 2016, I had the incredible honor and privilege of meeting Laverne Cox and hearing her speak. Held at the Memorial Chapel by Voices of Social Change, Ms. Cox gave a moving speech on her experience as a trans woman, then answered questions from the audience and later held a smaller reception for further discussion (where this photo was taken of me, my mother, and Laverne Cox). A number of topics were touched on, from Ms. Cox's childhood to her time in New York City (all told in the most engaging way, for she is truly a fabulous story teller). One of the topics that resonated most with me is the intersection of identity that trans women of color are often forced to separate in the name of safety in each community. Coming away from this experience, I felt incredibly moved and was reminded that the best ways to stand in support with trans women is conversation, empathy, and education.

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Last Friday I went to see Captain America: Civil War, and as a fan of Marvel comics and action movies in general I can say I fully enjoyed my experience. With the one-liners so characteristic of super hero movies, and larger-than-life effects, Captain America: Civil War had it all. My only wish (which is consistent with all other Avengers related films) is that the writers would respectfully address Tony Stark's very apparent PTSD. They do not ignore it, and it is mentioned several times, but the other characters seem to think his condition is annoying and often get frustrated with him.