REFLECTION

This marking period has benefitted me so much in terms of art in more ways than one.  Although I have learned new and different techniques in art, I have also gotten to know the people that I sit with day in and day out at my table.  I can learn from them, and admire their work, and then maybe use some of the things I've seen in my own work.  I am looking forward to many new things in the remaining school year in art, and hope to continue to get closer to these people and the art techniques that they bring to the table. (NO PUN INTENDED!) 

SELF-PORTRAITS

Currently in Creative Arts, we are working on self-portraits, and this is the week that I have really begun to tackle painting my self-portrait.  It has been a challenge for me in terms of being able to lay down a color and go back and work it in with a lighter color in certain areas.  Mixing the color I created with the black and white to lighten the contrast and creating colors in general was also difficult because at the day's end, you would have to clean up that palette and start from scratch the next day.  All in all, this has been more enjoyable then I could have expected because initially I was not looking forward drawing myself on a HUGE piece of paper. The picture above will be used in my booklet as well as the other creations I have been making this year.  As you can see, I still have a lot of work to go... Wish me luck !

APPLES

I finished drawing my apple in both black and white, but just now got the chance to discuss the process.  Surprisingly, drawing the apple shape, and base was a lot easier then I expected.  But when we had to shade them in pencil, and make them look realistic, I began to have trouble pulling highlights from the apple to make it look real.  Finally after I passed that  task, I moved on to the color pencil shading.  This was easier for me because I really enjoyed mixing the colors together to give the apple life.  Drawing apples was a simple task, but now we're on to self-portraits... Wish me luck !

"Just wait til you get to highschool.....it's gonna be great!

I've heard this time and time again.  And I have to say, thus far, it HAS been great.  But nobody tells you how hard it is to balance school, family, sports and friends as a freshman.
I'd have to say I have a good sense of priorities and I have a clear vision of what's important and what's not.  But to actually apply this to daily life as a 15 year old is at times tricky.  Chronicling these events is two fold....it gives me a chance to reassess my goals more frequently and can serve as an almost diary to look back on and reflect as my responsibilities and goals increase.
So sit back and enjoy and watch as I poise myself to fit it all in and balance it all and not go completely insane.  I know it's gonna be a great ride.  I look forward to the struggles, the growth and the successes.