Well, December is almost officially over, and so is my final student art show. It was a little bittersweet, but also a very happy experience. I can honestly say I had more fun on the 19th than any other art show I've been part of at Croxford. I was presented with overwhelming support from friends, families, and strangers, which felt absolutely incredible considering all the work I had put into my project up to that point. People were just as interested in the story behind my art as in the art itself, which was absolutely thrilling. All in all, it was an incredible 'last hurrah' as a VAM 30. I had the opportunity to explain and present my art to dozens of people, and even left the show that night with 2 potential sales and a commission request! I felt like I was on cloud 9, and still do. I'll attach pictures of my show setup below! Of course, the project wasn't completed as of the show, which is why I was given the opportunity to live paint (an amazing experience, in my personal opinion), but I can happily say that I had completed painting 3/4 and begun 4/4 before Christmas. As much as I've loved having a constant stress outlet throughout the semester, I'm so happy to be finished with this project. I want to potentially make prints, sell the originals, or have them put on display somewhere. I will provide pictures of the finished third painting below, as well as the progress of the fourth painting that I have photographed so far. The next time I will post on here, this project will be complete, and my VAM career coming to a teary close. Until then, Ciao. It's been an absolute pleasure! Edit: My website crashed and the blog didn't save. I just realized, so enjoy this two and a half week late post <3
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It is officially the end of November, meaning that the Celebration of Learning is right around the corner. I am halfway through painting 3 of 4, which I am to finish before the Celebration. Unfortunately, I believe it is unlikely that I will be able to fully complete this project before December 18th as planned previously, but I have talked to my teacher, and will be live painting during the Celebration if I am not finished. The thought is both exciting and nerve-racking, as I have never painted around people other than my family and classmates before, but I think it will be an interesting experience!
Back to the paintings; I definitely have a favourite as of right now. Painting ¾, which depicts the loss of a loved one in a pandemic, just holds so many small details that took forever to paint, but look absolutely amazing in my opinion. So far, my prompts are: Broken Family (¼) Political Unrest (2/4), and Loss Widespread (¾). I think for my fourth painting, I will be focusing on the effect that celebrities and trends have on social media. I think it will feature two masked celebrities acting onscreen, surrounded by advertisements, headlines, and conspiracy articles. It will likely be contained in a smaller TV screen within the canvas, with the adverts and other media overlapping and distorting the image (if I can figure out how to paint that). I’m honestly extremely excited to continue this project, even though school and my extracurriculars have been taking up more of my time than usual. It is almost exam season, after all! Overall, my progress this month has been slow, and I need to ramp it up in order to meet the semester deadlines in place. I’m sure I’ll be able to do it, even if I need to pull a few all-nighters to do so. This month, I completed painting 2 of 4, and began painting 3 of 4. I’ve also begun searching for references to complete my sketch of 4 of 4. Attached below will be photos of the finished piece, as well as my newest painting’s progress. I can’t wait to paint some more after this busy week is over, and my schedule can return to somewhat normal. Crunch time has begun! It feels like barely any time has passed since my last blog, and yet, we’re almost halfway through the semester. I have to say, that once again, I have overestimated my ability to paint fast just a smidge.
I started my second painting last week, and am about ⅓ done. Don’t worry, I’ll post progress pictures below! So far, I’m very happy with my project, as I’m learning so many new techniques. I painted velvet for the first time, and I’m currently learning how to blend skin tones to look three-dimensional, and how to soften the edges of objects to make them look far away. That has been challenging, to say the least, but I’m sure that I’ll be satisfied with the final product even if it doesn't turn out the way that I’d like it to, since I’m learning! I really want to be officially completed 2 paintings by November 5th, 2023, along with the remaining 3 sketches for my other paintings, so that is my goal. I’m going to hunker down and get ‘er done, as they say. This upcoming weekend may have to contain an all-nighter to achieve this, but I don’t mind in the slightest. I’ve also considered the possibility of selling this collection once they are finished. I’ve done commissions and things before, but the prospect of selling a non-custom work is very exciting to me. If I can’t sell this collection, however, I am perfectly content with keeping them for myself. It just seems like an interesting path that I could take, though I’m not entirely sure who would buy them, where I would post them, nor pricing. Just a thought. I have decided to title these paintings with the premise they are based on. So, painting ⅙, which I had previously titled as “You May Not Fix It”, will now be titled something along the lines of “Familial Discord”, and so on. I think this will better help observers connect with the meaning of my painting, rather than pondering a long and abstract name. The purpose of these families is to acknowledge the traumas of being human, and I realized that the complex names I have used have taken away from this. Hopefully, more straight-forward names make just a little bit more sense. I haven't taken a picture of my first painting completely finished, so I'll get on that when I can, but I do have some progress photos that I'll put below! Ciao until my next progress update! September 28th, 2023 After today, I will officially two weeks into the VAM 30 course. After a few minor hiccups (major class schedule rearrangement), I was placed in the VAM 30 course a whole semester early, and yet almost a week late. Unfortunately, this set my project back a considerable amount, but I believe that I’m almost back on schedule. This project has been marinating in my brain for almost a whole calendar year now, and now, I finally have the opportunity to set it free. It has undergone several shifts and reworks since the idea’s creation, but I finally have a concrete foundation to build upon. For one, I finally have a name for this collection that doesn’t reverberate immediate regret in my ears. My collection is called (drumroll please)... “Dystopia; The Burden of Being Human”. Hardcore, right? I promise it’s as depressing as it sounds once you delve into each painting’s true meaning. Here’s what I will divulge to you about this project for right now:
Last week was all planning. Completing my presentation and written proposal, gathering materials, and gathering references, for the most part. I fortunately received a giant burst of motivation last week, and completed 3 of 6 reference sketches (which I will add below). I also gave each of these a rough drafts a name (that could or could not change by the end of the painting process)! This week, I came into class eager and ready to paint. However, before I could do that, I needed to transfer my wonderful sketches onto my canvases. Luckily for me, my teacher/supervisor as able to project photographs of my sketches in a manner that I could trace them onto my canvases (hooray for Mr.Gray!). I completed the transfer of these images with a rate of one a day. As of yesterday’s class, I completed the last canvas transfer (that I had available) and can move onto painting next week! Truthfully, I might even start painting this weekend because of how excited I am to truly start this project. TLDR: last week, I finished half of my required reference sketches, and this week, officially have half of my canvases primed and ready for painting!
The art show was honestly a hit! I had so much fun. I got to see the Drama academy’s production for the first time, and sat in on the CMA music performances. Both were incredible, and I am very pleased with how my night went. I received many compliments for my independent project, and feel that my hard work has paid off. Everyone in VAM worked so hard creating their work and helping to set everything up. I feel that this show was extremely successful, and I am grateful to have been part of it. I will hold this show in my heart as I move on to VAM 30 due to the amount of fun that I had!
If I could make any changes to my work, I would redo one or two of my pieces. The difference probably wouldn’t be too noticeable to anyone but me, but I believe that it would have made me more confident with the project’s outcome. This show also helped me recognize my growth throughout my time in VAM. I have come so far from the first drawings I did this year, and especially the first drawings I did in my first year of VAM. My development, at least in my opinion, is mind-blowing. I know that even if I do not pursue art further than high school, VAM will have been a memorable time all the same. This was an amazing experience, and I am so glad to have been accepted into VAM 30! I can’t wait to showcase my special project next year! As of today, April 17, my last independent project is complete. The 11 Graphite and ink drawings of various body parts are finished, and I am excited to display them! In total, there are 2 male torsos, and 2 female torso drawings, 2 leg/feet drawings, 2 skull drawings, and 3 hand drawings. Thankfully, I was able to acquire a light table later on in the project, which cut my processing time in half and saved me many pages of tracing paper. I definitely am going to use the light table so much! It’s super handy, and it projects through multiple pieces of cardstock, so I’m very pleased!
I also ended up re-doing a few drawings that weren’t up to my standard of satisfaction, and I am so much happier with the products! Below I will attach some photos of the final products and a few of the note pages. Overall, I am happy with the end product of this year’s project, but I wish that I chose something a little more fun. It progressed my art exponentially, and now I know how to draw difficult anatomy! Ciao until the spring show~ Issy <3 Well, it’s that time again. The struggle of the Independent Project is upon me. This year, I have chosen to value progression over pleasure by choosing a project that will further my learning but not necessarily be over-the-top enjoyable. This year I am doing a study of anatomy. This entails 8–12 drawings on 10×12 manila textured card stock. Now, this is not a full-out study, there’s not enough time for all of that. This project consists of 2 skull studies, 2 leg and foot studies, 2 male and 2 female torso studies, and 2-3 hand studies. These will be completed using graphite and ink. I also completed several note pages, 2 of which will be submitted along with the completed drawings. Below I will paste a photo of the completed projects (of which there are 5), with one of the note pages to come. I have to admit, for the first few weeks of this project, my work ethic was terrible. I focused on the note pages with only a vague notion of the time remaining, but now that it’s crunch time, I’m feeling the heat. I’m working like mad! I can’t wait for this project to be over, both because I can’t wait to see the final presented project, and for this high-stress time to be a little less stressful for me! My process for this project is actually quite lengthy, if you can believe it. First, I print a black and white copy of my reference and use a light-table to mark the general shapes and proportions of the image. Then, I fill in the details by constant comparison to the digital versions of my reference, filling in shading as I go, from darkest to lightest values. After that, I scan the finished drawing, enlarge it, and reprint it in black and white. After the image is printed, I go over lost lines in graphite, then break out the tracing paper. I trace the image on both sides in order to keep the alignment that I want, then I go over the side of tracing paper with hard graphite, putting lots of pressure on the pencil, which transfers the image to my manila paper. After that, I re-trace my line art, fix my shading, and then ink it. Ta-daa! One drawing complete! Now rinse and repeat 7-11 more times! Ciao until the end of this project~ Issy <3 The first show of the 2022-23 season was a hit. The December Celebration of Learning, as it's known, is a big part of the specialized academies. Theatre students performed, music students played their hearts out, and art students put up their pieces around the school. In the VAM (Visual Arts and Media) program, which is where I am situated, we were lucky enough to be able to display multiple pieces of art. Each of us had a sculpture, painting, and our choice of other media. I chose to display three photographs I had taken, and a pencil + ink drawing. I wish I would have known how big the photos would be printed because I would have selected another photo to add. My presentation, Portraiture: Persons & Paradise, consisted of the photos Vie Solitaire, Kylie and Nine-teen 50, and the drawing Pulchritudinous (meaning beautiful). They are some of my favourite photographs, but I wish I tried harder on the drawing. I honestly just tried to get it done and though I’m somewhat happy with the product, I wish I had been more creative in my approach. If I had the chance to redo my set-up, I would have included my favourite drawing. My favourite one is a mannequin study I did on brown paper with white pencil crayon and white gel pens. I love it so much, and can’t wait to bring it home and hang it up somewhere. Right now, I’m sitting at my desk burning a coconut-scented candle, and couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this show. The only thing that could have been better was if an art school scout came in and offered me a full ride scholarship, but one can dream. Overall, this was a very fun experience that I hope to expand on in the future. I enjoyed it immensely. Below I've attached my artist statement, the pieces I displayed, and the display board all put together. March has passed by like a breeze, bringing in the scents of spring and a new semester. With the start of the Spring semester, came what I’ve been waiting for since applying to the Art Academy: our Independent projects. It began with an idea, like the best of things do. As I stressed and pushed for a concept, one hit me in the gut. The Contrast (or Dark side, I suppose) of Fantasy. The socially acceptable versus the original concepts of the mythical creatures prominent in our society. Mermaids and fairies and dragons took shape in my head as I tried to piece my ideas together. The beauty of the mermaid against the shark-toothed siren, colourful fairies made warriors protect their home, vicious dragons showing maternal instincts, and unicorns gone feral… all according to the various myths from which they surfaced. And now, halfway through this project, I realize I may have bitten off more than I can chew. Don’t get me wrong, I love how my paintings are going and am super proud of my creative genius, but I’ve hit a creative block. Maybe it was spending an hour on one fairy wing, or three hours designing dragons, but time has slipped away faster than I realized. There’s this quote by Guy Lombardo that I finally understand; “It’s later than you think.”, and it is. What started as a funky idea has turned into a severely time-consuming, complex project. I know I can’t rush now, though, as extreme detail in half of my series while the other half is simple would look sloppy. Though I am behind, I have faith that I’ll have this series finished on time, no matter how much coffee I have to drink. My first painting is called ‘Maiden of the air, Siren of the sea’. It is painted using acrylic paints on a 16 by 20-inch canvas. Facing vertical and split in half, this painting contrasts mermaids and sirens as well as warm and cold colours. Above the surface (upper half), the mermaid lounges on a rock. Her skin, hair, part of her tail, and the sky behind her are shades from red to yellow, with an occasional pop of purple or green. The rock is a pale grey, but grows dark near the surface of the water to showcase the splashing of the waves. Under the water is where the ‘mermaid’ transforms into her true self. One siren is partially in and out of the water. Her tail is warm colours above the water, but turns to dark greens and blue as soon as she is below the surface. All the sirens showcase different shades of cool colours, from green to purple. Their skin is dull, often greyish hues in their colour scheme, their hair is dark, and their tails grow a bit brighter. The surrounding water is a blue that I watered down to make it pale to keep attention on the sirens themselves. Sea plants grow out of the rock and the bottom of the canvas, which is above the seafloor. I fixed the messy spaces by the sirens the best I could, but the only picture I have of the full painting still has gaps. My second painting is called ‘Warrior of the Forest’. It is painted with acrylic paint on a 16 × 20 inch canvas. This painting is number 2 of 4 of my series. It features a peaceful background of mushrooms, leaves, and a tree's lower trunk. In the foreground are a few large mushrooms. The larger one has a tall fairy sitting on it. They face the side in a slouched-over position, looking unhappy. A smaller fairy looks away on the lower mushroom, holding a spear. Their wings are ripped, and they seem to have a neutral expression. On the tree in the background, some fairy silhouettes are in various positions. Currently, I’d say I am about halfway through this painting. I need to paint the tree and mushrooms and fairy figures in the background, the rest of the actual background and the fairies’ skin and weapons. I spent a lot of time on the fairies’ wings and leaves, and am proud of them. Yes, I am excited to finish this painting, but mostly am relieved to be almost done. Painting three has no name yet. It will be painted with acrylic paint on a 16 × 20 inch canvas. So far I have only completed the sketch on the canvas. This design is small dragons protecting eggs in a nest. Painting four is just an idea right now. I am thinking this one will be a unicorn as seen in some earlier myths; with goat-like and horse characteristics. Unicorns are described as beautiful but dangerous, protective and feral beings, so I want to highlight the ‘dangerous’ and ‘feral’ parts. I will paint the unicorn as beautifully majestic as possible but give it red eyes for the feral parts, and blood. Violent unicorn, yay! I’m playing with the idea that this unicorn was also protecting something, maybe a person they like or a baby. I’m excited to continue my series of Contrast in Fantasy. Writing this gave me a little more motivation and made me more anxious to see the final products! I will update you all with possibly a ¾ progress note, or maybe just after the project is finished. Stay safe, drink some water, and do something you love. Issy ❤ "Maiden of the Air, Siren of the Sea" "Warrior of the Forest" Acrylic, 16" x 20" canvas(Almae Draconis)
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January 2024
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