End of Trimester Statement

This trimester went by very fast. Looking back through all of the work I did this tri, I feel like what I set out to accomplish. I wanted to learn new skills and develop the ones that I already had. I knew how to paint with oils and water colors before this tri, but now I can say that I am a lot better at it. Before this tri, I had never learned how to paint with palette knives, know I can...to some degree. Here is my artist statement, followed by pictures:

ARTIST STATEMENT

In the beginning, I knew what my general goals were for the trimester, but I didn't know were to start. So I decided to do an oil painting of my vacation this summer. This painting doesn't really fit in with any of my other work. This was painting was based off of a picture, rather then life, unlike all of my other work during this class. 

I next moved on to impasto, palette knife painting. I had never done anything like it before and wanted to learn it. I started out by doing several sketches of different objects, and then moved to doing self portraits. The more time I put into practicing with the knives, I became better and better. 

started out here

ended up here.

After several weeks of Impasto I moved on to water color. The goal here was to become more proficient in using water colors in general. Like with the Impasto, I started out with a few sketches. While working with the water colors I became much better at getting all of the little details, and getting the different levels of shading. 

Started here

 (this ones my favorite)

my backpack.

ended here.
( this one is about how greed and hunger for power always over powers the kind and the weak)

 For me, this class was about developing myself and my painting skills. I still have a long, long way to go to get to were I want to be as an artist, but I have made significant progress in that direction. I'm sad to have to end this class =( 

Pencil Drawing of My Niece =)

18 by 24 inches

Week of Watercolor

This past week I focused on watercolors. I started out the week with a skull painting.

My favorite part of this one is the background. I had a lot of fun blowing the water colors around! I really think that the background makes this a LOT better!

This one was a quick 10-15 minute sketch on a small piece of paper. I really like the patterns that are on this vase!

This one is probably my favorite thing, or one of my favorite things that i have done this tri. I found an old metal sculpture of a dog in the art room and placed it on the table with a couple of animal skulls. 

The last thing I did with watercolors was....of course a self portrait! this one is probably my favorite self portrait so far. and I realize that it looks like I'm flipping you off. That was unintentional!! (though I was in an upset/bad mood on the day that I did this...)

Palette Knife/Self Portrait Painting

The first palette knife sketch that I did. It took a while to get used too, but after a while I started to get the hand of it. I made the mistake of starting out with the red on the tube of paint, making it harder for me to get the white to...well be white instead of pink.

The second sketch that I did. 

I did this one while listening to a Mrs. Woods talk about color and color schemes and  stuff.

This one is horrible, and its not even the first sketch I did. My eyes are all off and stuff. Each one of these I did in an hour.

 If I look really tired in this one...well it's because I was really tired. I did this one in very late at night.

My final self portrait. After looking at myself for hours in the mirror
 and painting myself, I just finally gave up and called it done.

A closer up look.