Aberlyn Sweetland
Shawn McPheron
Daphney Dohoney
Nate Stormer
Beth Dougherty
The critique of the series drawings took a kind of free form process this morning with Nate, Ashley, Tatum, and Shawn beginning the discussion about their work. Interesting that the discussion shifted after talking about Tatum's drawings to the wall were the Drawing I images were and didn't return to the advanced group until much later in the morning. There were several good points made about many of the pieces, but as I expected, we ran short of time by trying to get all of the images discussed by noon. My apologies to those of you who were rushed through your explanations and discussions.
The images above represent some of the beginnings, and in many cases we could actually start seeing the potentials of serial development. Others were perhaps still in the planning stages and need to get a bit more momentum going to have a sense of their serial potential, but some folks, I have learned, work better under pressure.
Some points that need to be considered (again): What am I going to do with the "background'? Don't draw yourself into that corner, think about it as part of the drawing; think about it as part of the process. Open or closed composition? Sketch it out first before you find yourself in another corner eventually cropping out hours of work to finally create a compelling composition. Is this support or surface doing what I need it to do in relation to my process? Experiment with a variety of surfaces, but don't use sketchpad paper, that stuff is fine for in-class exercises, but for your more committed efforts, use a support that enhances your work.
See you in the morning.
I felt that I left critique today with something new to think about. I didnt expect my work to shift in a totally new direction but I really liked the idea to do the series of just the magazines and am excited to go that route. I also really liked Aberlyns approach to spirituality. I share alot of the same feelings she disscussed and thought it was intresting seeing someone elses concept of it through their art.
ReplyDeleteI really want to thank Shawn imparticular for his input on my series. :) His suggestion to stretch my boundaries and use fabric was a great inspiration. I have the hubby's approval to cut up our old tent for the project. It not only gives me a new surface to draw on, but, it gives me a creative way to display the series as it's finished.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was doing well to try a new kind of paper. This is really going to be a creative reach, but, I think I'm ready for that.
Ashely, I think what was discussed opens up some very strong possibilities for you and I'm glad you're excited about that. Run with it.
ReplyDeleteConnie, having 300 and 400 level students facilitate the critique was for the very purpose for which you're thanking Shawn: their input and objective observations about your work. From both of us: thanks, Shawn.
I left feeling a little frustrated after yesterdays critique. I feel like I do spend a lot of time planning and sketching out my drawings to create an interesting negative space on the page. I know that I wasn't quite finished with the backgrounds but I don't really feel that I ignored them either. I do have ideas for the backgrounds (as far as colors and designs) but I think that it is always nice to get the opinions of others in the class when you can. I guess I kinda thought that was what the critiques were for in this series project. I do really enjoy doing these flower drawings, I love all of the detail that I can put into them and I love the feminine and organic lines about them. I also liked some of the ideas for adding text into the drawings to add some visual interest so I might take that and run with it.
ReplyDeletei really like the critique yesterday. it is really great to have upper level students in the class to give us feedback on our work. I felt that I got a lot out of the critique even thought we didn't really talk about my work. I had talked to shawn and nate before class and got a lot out of it.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I was telling my husband what you had said and we want something we can hang when I'm done with it at home. :) Anyway, this is my thought. What if I did a flat image of a each tent and did smaller images of accoutrements around each particular tent that I could 'build up' the image? For example, if there was a kettle in front of the tent I could draw the kettle seperately and apply it to the seperately drawn tent. It would layer it a bit but it wouldn't be standing up. In essence I would build each camp site in the series and then attach them all to one solid surface.
ReplyDeleteTatum, let's talk (come see me after class on Thursday). Critiques are about getting objective points-of-view, but ideas for "backgrounds" should be your decision based on your idea and your process. You give us the full idea and we let you know if that idea is being communicated to us, or if we're perceiving a different idea. 400 level drawing students know that they want their negative spaces to do to their positive areas.
ReplyDeleteConnie, you should pursue the idea that motivates you to fully explore its potential. I don't know if "something we can hang" is the best motivation. Contemporary theory is very supportive of installation. Recent in-house examples include Ashley Bell's Dolls during the Open House, or Kristy Ho's Gourd/Rice piece in the recent BFA exhibition, or Brian Harper's recent solo exhibit in the gallery. Your idea is very much based in time, in history. How can you best communicate that history to us to the extent that we get a sense of that time and place in the context of your time and place? You're studying Fine Arts, not just drawing, and to have a sense of the arts in 2009, it's important to start connecting your creative ideas to an aesthetic that's current. The idea of creating small tents with images of encampments is a much more intriguing idea than small drawings of encampments, unless those small drawings are so well articulated that nothing is left to question. Your idea expressed in the last sentence of your comment has all kinds of potential, but if it's an idea rooted solely in hangability at home, then I'd keep thinking and developing.
I guess if you saw my house that might have had more meaning. For me to say I want something I can hang on my wall means it means a lot to me. We have a pretty small house and there's not a lot of wall space for hanging art. So, if I say it's something I want to be able to hang up it's something I am more invested in. It means I care enough that I don't want to tuck it away in my portfolio bag.
ReplyDeleteI'll try to put together a rough draft on paper in my sketch book so you can see it tomorrow and tell me what you think then. I'll need to decide before the weekend so I can cut canvas for whichever direction it takes. :)
Connie, I'm glad you got inspired by the tent canvas, but don't focus too much on materials. What you draw on and with are only one part of the equation. You still need to practice, plan, and sketch each piece before it goes on the tent canvas. Stay inspired, but think and plan carefully. It will all come together nicely.
ReplyDeleteConnie, I know you're invested in the project, you've put in a lot of thought and processing. But my comment was directed at the idea of creating a piece because of it's potential to hang on the wall rather than the idea we had discussed yesterday morning about free-standing tents with drawings on the tent's walls, thus creating a more direct response to encampments. I'm open to whatever direction you'd like to take your series, but I also need to offer a point of view that will acknowledge a contemporary aesthetic to the equation.
ReplyDeleteI have continued working on my landscape scene. Building off of what I had already done, (mixing the oil pastels with the dry) I think my first one turned out to look way better than it did during the critique. I would have been a lot harder on myself with the midterm grade!
ReplyDeleteI am happy with the feedback I got from the critique but I dont think people got a chance to explain thier Ideas enough. The drawings I had were not my series they were just preliminary trials to see how the media works.. I am really looking forward to the next crit and cant wait to see what people have done. Also I really like that we get to have some one on one before the big group crit:)
ReplyDeleteNow that my series is reaching an end, i am looking back on what came out of this critique. I feel that i have taken a lot from the opinions expressed and owe a lot to everyone's input. It was really exciting to have a critique in which the 200 level students participated so much. In my experience, usually lower level students stay hidden and quiet during critiques which is a shame since fresh perspectives can be the most insightful. So i really have to thank everyone for their input.
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