#@theartassignment

[immortallaughter]

Become Someone Else 

I don't think I've ever really introduced myself, I'm Nat! I'm a strangely outgoing introvert (I thank my extroverts who always seem to find me and bring me out of my shell) who isn't afraid to try new things. I love all things creative: I am an artist, writer, teacher (elementary literacy tutor atm but in college again to become a high school art teacher), anime/manga lover, avid reader and book collector, lover of all music genres (shuffle on my playlists is a trip), theater kid, cosplayer, makeup artist, special effects artist, hobby photographer, custom D&D dice maker, 3d printing enthusiast, singer, licensed master aesthetician, weight lifter, very novice at crochet and sewing, and so much more since my ADHD never seems to let me pick one thing for too long. A jack of all trades if you will! 

As part of an assignment from The Art Assignment, I figured I'd take a moment to find two photos that show different sides of me.  

In the first photo, I was modeling for a roommate from my freshman year of college. I felt confident, beautiful, and playful as I posed, but I haven't always been that way. I was a quiet kid growing up, standoffish, uncomfortable sharing my interests in fear that I would come off as a nerd or unpopular, especially compared to my twin brother who was a lot more popular, athletic, and outgoing than I ever hoped to be. I didn't know if I had what it took to be noticed by anyone in any way that mattered, or if I would ever fit in with anything other than my art.  

It took years of going into the world away from my small town to realize being myself was so freeing. In a sense I became someone completely different than the reserved individual I once was. I don't need just cosplay to help me become someone new. Now I'm weird, happy, and unafraid of enjoying things from all spectrums of hobbies even if it isn't everyone else's cup of tea; I learned if I like it, not everyone's opinion on the matter meant a single thing to my happiness unless I allowed it to. It started with practicing special effects makeup like I'd always wanted to, to dipping a toe into cosplaying, to focusing on my art after a four-year hiatus away from drawing a single thing, to enjoying all the creative options that had always been of interest. 

That leads to my second photo over half a decade later.  

My insomniac brain decided at 2 am I had inspiration to try doing a technique for fake freckles. They turned out well enough it inspired an entire original elf character to pop into my head! I got out my cosplay gear for an outfit and special effects makeup, then did an impromptu photoshoot. I loved it so much it has become my go to look for going to Renaissance Faires! I have the absolute confidence to feel comfortable cosplaying on a public train, going to the store, and meeting new people in or out of character. I wish the younger me could see the amount of growth we have so she could have an ounce of the peace of mind I do now.  

Life is worth having fun and not being afraid to step away from the normal. If you always must be mindful of the judgement of others, you're too preoccupied to truly live in the moment and enjoy what really makes you happy. Go, be weird and thrive, my friends. 

[nytirri]

@globalvoices

@intersectional-feminism

@humansofnewyork

@politicalcartoon

@socialjusticekittens

@queerarty

@revolutionary-arachnids-blog

@visualizingpalestine1-blog

@artistsontumbllr

@artistroombox

@worldart

@dailydotcat

@art-and-fun-by-me

@moma

@juxtapozmag

@hyperallergic

@political-art

@theartassignment

Help and support falastin!

URGENT: Stand with Us and Don’t Forget Us-Every Donation Brings Hope

To those who still hold onto a shred of morality and humanity

Over 40,000 lives have been lost, with 70% of them being children and women. Among these numbers are my own family members—many of whom I’ve already lost. My family, my cousin, aunt, their children, and grandchildren were all directly targeted by Israeli airstrikes. I’m sharing a video of my aunt and cousin to reveal the harsh reality we are facing in Gaza.

In this video, my aunt bravely shares her story about how the f##cking Israeli army airstruck them along with their children and grandchildren. Even if you don’t understand Arabic, just watching her speak will help you grasp the immense suffering we are enduring in Gaza. You can see the vedeo in this post.

The few family members who remain are in grave danger, and I’m terrified of losing them too. We have a chance to make a real difference and give my 24 surviving family members a chance to live.

In Gaza, jobs are non-existent, and nonprofit organizations like the UN have drastically reduced their work on the ground. Basic necessities such as milk, food, and medicine are almost as expensive as gold. My family is struggling to afford even the essentials, and my mother urgently needs medication that we simply cannot afford.

I’m also sharing another video that shows the daily struggle people face just to get clean water. The suffering here extends far beyond my family; it’s a genocide affecting every aspect of life in Gaza.

Thanks to the generosity of those who have already donated, we’ve raised $535 toward our goal of $190,363- august 17th. I’m deeply grateful to each of you, but we still have a long way to go, and I need your help more than ever. Imagine if it were your family—how would you feel if they were in this situation?

For those who have created special posts or reblogged to amplify my voice, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support means everything to me and to my family. If you haven’t yet shared our story, please take just one minute to do so. Your voice could be the lifeline my family desperately needs.

You cannot continue to treat human lives as mere numbers. This is a genocide that demands immediate action. How many more should be killed before you all wake up? Will 40,000 lives be enough to stir us to action? 50,000? 100,000? 150,000?

Asking for donations and charity is something we never imagined having to do in Gaza before the war, and it’s heartbreaking that it has come to this. But if everyone who saw my last post donated just $10 or $20, we could reach our goal in no time. If you’re looking for a way to contribute, consider giving up your coffee, tea, or other “cup” for one day, one week, one month, or anything in between. Then, donate what you would have spent to help me. Please help us and donate now!

This is about more than just donations—it’s about preserving human lives and upholding our shared moral values. Your contribution can make a world of difference in our survival and ensure I don’t lose more of the people I love.

Demanding an end to this suffering is a matter of basic humanity. You cannot remain neutral in the face of such genocide. Please, let’s stand together. Enough is enough.

Every donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to hope and healing. Thank you again for your kindness and support. I will never forget it.

Important note: Donation value:

** 1$ = 10.5 Swedish kr

** 10$ = 105 Swedish kr

** 100$ = 1050 Swedish kr

** 1000$ = 10500 Swedish kr

VETTED and shared by 90-ghost, also as no. 282 in The Vetted Gaza Evacuation Fundraiser Spreadsheet compiled by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi and shared in the masterpost. My family's case has even been documented by Al Jazeera News.

Please share !

@timogsilangan@90-ghost @el-shab-hussein @appsa @buttercuparry @apollos-olives @sayruq @baby-girl-aaron-dessner @malcriada @nabulsi @riding-with-the-wild-hunt@queerstudiesnatural @palestinegenocide @orbleglorb @sar-soor @appsa @akajustmerry @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @feluka @marnotrawstw-o @tortiefrancis @flower-tea-fairies @tsaricides @vivisectedgirl @belleandsaintsebastian @ear-motif @animenta @kordeliiius @communistcinema @brutaliakhoa @raelyn-dreams @troythecatfish @4ft10tvlandfangirl @queerstudiesnatural @northgazaupdates2 @skatezophrenic @awetistic-things @gentl3m4n @baby-girl-aaron-dessner @devilofthepit

[occupywhitewalls]

A 'let's play' on The Art assignment? DAISY is bending reality!

[hansoete]

Surface test

Surface test #surfacetest @fotoatelierdezilverbeek #theartassignment #youareanartist #surfacetest #teachersofinstagram @theartassignment

#surfacetest @fotoatelierdezilverbeek #theartassignment #youareanartist #surfacetest #teachersofinstagram @theartassignment #surfacetest @fotoatelierdezilverbeek#surfacetest @fotoatelierdezilverbeek#surfacetest @fotoatelierdezilverbeek

[katarinanavane]

The Art Assignment on YouTube challenged us to make a book out of atypical materials, so here is my mini book of curios. Materials: nature items, packing tape, thread.

[sepp-gw]

Emo Goodwill Signage

[kelly-smith-msudenver]

Sound On :)

Song: All I Want by Kodaline

Art Assignment: Body in Place

I chose this assignment because the original artist, Maria Gaspar, talked a lot about looking at spaces that we are used to seeing in a different light. Gaspar talks about making those places that are familiar, seem not so familiar, and to look at them as someone who has never seen them before.

We have all been stuck in our houses for quite some time now, so this space for me is one that used to be familiar, that is not so much anymore.

I decided to take a video of myself walking the route I take from my apartment to my car, on my way to my first day going back to work. Mask hanging from my ear, gloves in my hand. This is a space I have not found myself in months. I thought this would be a little bit of a twist on the assignment, as I think quite a few people are going through the same thing right now.

This was emotional, because work is a second home to me. My co-workers are my family, and to not see them for so long has been hard. Not only was I returning after so long being away, but I was returning to a family that was missing a member. One of my co-workers passed away this week, so this walk was one filled with emotion. It was the first step I had to take to start a new chapter.

[artbykieran]

Art Assignment Final Project 

For my final project, I decided to follow the art assignment “Off”. The concept was to use the blackness of a screen to reflect what it sees. To me, I thought this assignment was very current with everything that is happening. Now more than ever we have to use the technology that we have with us and it can leave us being stuck indoors and stuck succumbed to learning about everything happening around us. This assignment allowed for me to just go outside and quite literally turn off everything happening in this world and just focus on the here and now. It gave me the peace I needed and allowed for me to just focus on the plants flowing and the clouds moving. I hope this can give everyone peace as well. 

[maymoodie]

Petunia the Duct Tape Imaginary Friend

For my art assignment I decided to create an imaginary friend like JooYoung Choi. When I was a kid my friend and I would make these dolls out of duct tape and I immediately thought of this when I saw JooYoung’s assignment. Meet Petunia:

Petunia is made mostly from duct tape with her insides stuffed with pillow stuffing and her arms, legs, and mouth with cardboard. I used some craft supplies to make her features and skirt and super glued everything that wasn’t duct taped. Some of this stuff I had laying around and some of it I went to the store to buy. I bought two rolls of duct tape but only used half of one. With the leftover materials I plan to take them over to my 10 year old cousins house to see if she would like to make her own duct tape imaginary friend.

I made her like a puppet just like JooYoung made her friends in hopes of animating her in some way. I put this clamp on the back where the hand holes are because otherwise her head just falls back. I wasn’t very confident in my puppeteer skills so I ended up taking her to my work so she could have tea with a friend. My friend Kelsey enjoyed having a tea party and imagining if Petunia could talk, what her personality might be like.

Overall the process was pretty fun and nostalgic. It was interesting to go to the store during this time and having to wear a mask. That was the only thing that was unusual about this process considering the Covid-19 pandemic. I ended up straining my left wrist from all the pulling of the duct tape.

I think JooYoung’s art is really fun and intriguing. I enjoyed learning about The Cosmic Womb and seeing how JooYoung brings her friends to life and interacts with them. I love that the mention of Henry Darger and his world he created for The Vivian Girls comes up in the art assignment video. I discovered him a while ago and was fascinated by his work and story. I think it’s really amazing how vivid people’s imagination can be and I think we could all benefit from opening that up more so and allowing our minds to find new realms within our imaginations such as how JooYoung and Henry Darger have.

[gerardo7cruz]

Art Assignment 

Artist Statement

I have always liked to take pictures, regardless if I am in the pictures or if I’m not in the pictures. Since I have gone on many trips and I have been to all of the major cities across the US, I have taken many pictures of all the places I have been to. I also have a lot of pictures of myself since I have done a few photo shoots. When I take pictures and I am in them, I always like to have a nice background. When I go somewhere or when I go on a trip, I always take pictures of the top attractions in the city I am in. This time around when I wanted someone to take pictures of me, I wanted my dog to be in the pictures with me. For this project I chose the Landscape Archaeology since I like nice backgrounds of landscapes in my pictures. In these pictures of my dog and I, I chose to have a nice landscaping background as we are walking. 

[mikaylasart]

Project #4: Exquisite Corpse-The Art Assignment

While scrolling through all the possible assignments of what I could do for project 4, I found many that seemed interesting and fun to do. But this one stuck out to me. For this one, called Exquisite Corpse, we had to get a group of people (though in these times not too many people) and work on one drawing surface. The only catch is that we had to hide our drawings without the others knowing what it was. They were supposed to add on to yours. This was an interesting concept to go at and the idea of seeing where a persons mind goes when you ask them to add on to your work is very interesting. The artist, Hugo Crosthwaite, has an awesome idea in collaborating others into his work. I decided to do mine with my family. My brother did his based off of light fractals. My mom did hers on her favorite character from Bambi, Thumper. My dad did his on a plant box he plans to make. It was interesting to see where their minds went to add on to the covered drawings. Their minds went to completely different routes. All in all, this was really fun to do and it was nice getting my parents and brother to collaborate with me on this.

[hcarbone3]

Studio 4D - Project #4

Art Assignment = The Quietest Place by Jace Clayton

I was really excited to do this #artassignment because after being cooped up in my tiny house for the past 2 months, it felt nice to get out, walk around, and soak up the sunshine. Unfortunately, my neighborhood is filled with barking dogs and street traffic, but by following the quietest path, it lead me to a beautiful park/pond. I completely agree with Jace Clayton’s advice to us all that we need to find time in our busy lives to be quiet and take advantage of the beauty that surrounds us. The quarantine didn’t necessarily make this project more or less complicated, but it definitely helped me appreciate the fact that the world has not been destroyed throughout all of this chaos - we are able to still find peace and have moments of no stress or anxiety. My walk almost felt normal, and normal is nice during a time like this. I would highly recommend to each and every one of you to step outside of your homes (while maintaining social distance, of course) and breathe in the fresh air and take a moment to exhale all of the uncertainties and worries that may be burdening you. We will get through this! 

[oneyscribbles-blog]

Finding Peace in Isolation

This may not follow the general model of the Art Assignment projects but I decided to make a hybrid of two of them. Constructed Landscape and Quietest Place to be exact. I, like many people am considered an essential worker during this pandemic. I deal with the public face to face for up to 15 hours a day. I find peace in being away from work, I find “quiet” when my mind can finally stop racing. There’s a small lake near my home and seeing how I begin work around 3AM I grabbed my camera and took some photos of a ceramic trailer I made last year. Camping in its own sort of “isolation”. Conversely I took more photos at home where my personal Quiet Place exists. Being home with people and animals that care about me is always the best part of my day. 

[bh333333]

Project #4: #theartassignment   Paper Weavings   

http://www.theartassignment.com/assignments//paper-weavings

Artist Statement coming soon.  

[katarinanavane]

Another atypical book inspired by The Art Assignment. I wanted to bind together postage stamps directly but couldn't get that to work with the signature binding I wanted to do, so this is what I would up with. It's about 1.25 in. high and 2 in. across.

[jpowel50]

Project 4: The Art Assignment

Critique: I really enjoyed looking through all of the different projects for this assignment. It was difficult for me to choose what I wanted to do but I eventually decided on “Psychological Landscape”. 

For this assignment we were asked to draw a landscape of some kind on a peace of paper weather that be a realistic one or a more creative one. After the landscape is drawn the next step is to populate the landscape with figures that have “human like” characteristics. 

I was interested in creating a landscape from something that typically isn’t seen as a landscape so I chose a pool table. After drawing the pool table I eventually came up with the idea to populate the landscape with figures that looked like Bamax from the Disney movie “Big Hero 6″. 

It was a very random thought but the reason why I chose to populate the landscape with this character is because I wanted to put figures on the landscape that would be able to withstand an environment like this if there were people who were actually playing the game. I would have drawn people playing the game but I wanted to make sure that I stuck to the simplicity of the assignment. 

In my opinion, a pool table is a dangerous environment to be in if it was even possible. But because Bamax is a balloon like figure who was assisting the main character in the Disney movie by protecting him during very dangerous circumstances, I felt that it would be fun to add a character like this into such a random environment. 

The humor to it is that the character Bamax is practically the nicest being in the world and is unable to be aggressive unless a chip was placed in him that would activate his aggression. 

I also chose this assignment because there aren’t any changes that I needed to make in order to fit the assignment to our current circumstances of social distancing. 

I forgot to document myself during the process of creating this assignment but I do have a picture of the landscape of the assignment when it was almost finished, before I placed the Bamax figures in it.