Thinking Skill: Analyzing Perspectives (Final Project)

I sat here looking through other artist's work, and I couldn't come up with anything for a while now. The project that I'm doing now is Analyzing Perspectives, where you break down a particular point-of-view or opinion to examine the reasons or rationale for that view. After thinking, sketching, and looking for a few days... an art piece I discovered spoke to me.

When I saw this, it got me thinking even harder. And at last, an idea came to my mind. I plan on doing a somewhat abstract painting that's main focal point is a blue butterfly that's lit a flame.

A blue butterfly has a lot of symbolism in many cultures. The color blue in a butterfly is often thought to symbolize joy, color or a change in luck. After finding that out, I discovered that I could relate it to my life (not in a bad way). You see, luck in my life is a constant. Though something may not be viewed as good luck at first, it often leads to benefit me in the long future. An example of getting type one diabetes when I was 5 years old, and then discovered that I was suffering from a brain tumor at age 11 because of my blood sugar suddenly dropping and refusing to go up. In short terms, by diabetes saved me and the tumor was removed a week after they found it. That tumor would have killed me in 10 years if it wasn't detected then.

By representing that luck in a butterfly lit aflame, it is meant to symbolize that luck is fragile and that it shouldn't be taken for granted, and that often times comes in unsuspecting ways.

I plan on using these pictures to assist me:

Sketch:

Entire Background:

Adding In Actual Flowers:

First Few Mouths:

Details:

While painting all of this, I actually zoned out for quite some time. And before I could realize it, I've already done 90% of the background. I kept in mind that I had to take more pictures as I went, and from there I proceeded to do so.

Since I did this, I have grown to accept the luck that's come in my life. Every challenge that I face I always make it out okay in the end. I used no single artist as a reference or guide through all the paintings I had done in this class, and they've all turned out quite well. It's like drawing a perfect circle for the first time. That is luck.


I had a lot of fun in this class and I look forward to increasing my artistic ability later in the future through practice and using the luck that I've gained.

Thinking Skill: Compare and Contrast (Project 5)

For my 5th project, I decided to try and take a different turn. I was greatly inspired by an artist known as Melissa McCracken. She is an artist who takes what she envisions when hearing a song and paints it down on a canvas. She listens to the song a few times, to decide on what colors she wants to do first, and then she goes on from there. Painting while continually playing the song.

Videos about her:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbh7tAnwLCY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDzvPmAap8M 

Here is a few of her work:

I plan on trying to attempt this because it caught my eye, and I'm overall interested as to what I can come up with.

I'm thinking of using this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCD2tB1qILc

Process:

I listened to the song and thought it was best to have this as my background:

The part of the song that really caught my attention was that first few sentences in the beginning. It just came in smoothly while coming in with a backup piano solo. From that in mind, I added these:

The second part that caught my attention was the first chorus, where everything suddenly gets loud. In my mind, I thought of an explosion. From that, I added the white:

Afterward, when the song was over, I looked it over and thought a few things looked off. I went back in with my brush and fixed it up a little:

Artist Statement:

By doing this project, it has brought my attention to the fact that no two people are alike. We view things differently. We process scenarios separately. It could be as simple as our handwriting or how we see colors that make all the difference. I actually really enjoyed doing this art piece and I thought of it as a really great learning experience. For the last project, I am now determined to give it my all to bring out some great artwork.