#unit 2 final

updated background for unit 2 final

The concept of wearing a mask was the inspiration for this project. My goal was to create a visual representation of what it feels like to have traditional Catholic ideals constantly being projected onto me. With my family, I tend to always have to walk on eggshells around them. I have to make sure to fall in line to what they deem appropriate and holy. It is a like a constant weight on my back that forces me to fall into like, wearing a metaphorical mask for my pwn protection from ridicule. With this in mind, I really wanted to use my painting skills on an untraditional surface and paint in an untraditional (more abstract than naturalistic) way; similar to how I quietly rebel against my families traditions. I chose colors that were similar to those in the Corinthian room at the Masonic Temple, just far more saturated and contrasting. using colors that are so bright and strong helped me created a tension and heaviness that seem to weigh the whole photo down. I wanted to use someone whole could understand my experiences, so I asked my friend Hayley (she is also Roman Catholic). Using previously mixed colors that I tested on my own skin, I painted what resembles a saint, but with a twist. Though there is a weight on my back I still do what I can to break free of the traditions forced upon me. Some of the saint is flowing and soft, while other parts break free of that and become jagged and geometric, all while still blending in with the colors of the rest of it. Camouflaged, yet standing out. I also did my best to make Hayley be close in color to the wall in front of her, and even have some parts of the painting  almost seem to be like one with her skin, all blending together in attempt to stay hidden. She is hunched with a weight on her back, but still manages to support herself. Every single aspect of my piece was thought out to reflect my own experience with finding ways to feel comfortable in my own skin and also make my family happy, all about balance. Though the piece could be stronger, I feel I still achieved my goal.

The theme of journey wasn’t too hard to capture in this project. I have a wonderful friend who has been on quite a journey herself, so, when presented with the theme of journey I immediately thought of her. Having struggled with family issues, mental issues, and just about anything else a person could go through in the short 18 years of her life, she naturally felt pretty down about her future. She had recently gone through a very significant change in her life- and a positive one at that. She chose to join the marines and it was the very last thing anyone expected her to do. She had already applied to colleges, gotten accepted to a few too. However in mid march of 2017 she decided that the marines was where she wanted to be- and she couldn't be happier. Tackling her story felt appropriate for this project. Her beginning wasn't so pretty, so i started from there. The start was ugly, gritty, unhappy, and it progresses to a clean and happy person. My goal was to illustrate that with watercolor and micron pens. I drew six portraits in the form of an accordion book, so that one can see the journey in all it’s glory, or page by page and experience it the way the character I’ve drawn has- one page at a time. I addressed the theme of a journey through the sequence of pages, showing each step of said journey that my friend has gone through (figuratively of course- not literally). I used the formal elements of line and shape to convey my ideas. I used basic shapes to form the faces with watercolor- letting the paint do what it wanted. Then I refined said shapes with line to make it more clearly read as a face. I used more line and shape for the beginning portraits to show distress and some agony or anger. I slowly used less and less of it to show change in the character, making them less and less detailed to symbolize positive change. I feel I was successful in portraying the journey that my friend is still currently living. She will most definitely be successful as a marine and I’ll be cheering her on as she enters boot camp this December.

Final Accordion Book- Unit two final

unit 2 final: draft for accordion book! (pre-inking, pre-cut out for book)

In the first two projects pf this unit, I had the overarching themes of betterment and growth within a human being. This was based off of a friend’s story.  Not to reveal too much personal details- she had a rough upbringing, which resulted in a not-so-lavish life. Whenever it seemed she was on the up and up, something was always there to bring her right back down. However, since she has joined the marines, and is currently training for bootcamp in December, she has never been a more positive and strong person. Making the life changing decision to join the marines was the last thing anyone would think she would do- but she did it. She only has up to go from here, and she shows no sings of slowing down. My projects have been tributes to her strength and perseverance. The text project showed her struggles and how they felt like a never ending hole, that she has now climbed out of. My photoshop project showed how she has shed her damaged skin and grown into her new found confidence as a marine. My final project aims to show her progression step by step to making the  decision to become a marine. with the use of the accordion book style, i want to depict a girl that resembles my friend in a state of distress, almost like a zombie version of herself. As the pages progress, the same portrait will slowly get more and more clean, no more dirt, no more grit. Her hair will also get shorter as one flips through the pages, showing her start anew as a soldier, the short hair is paying tribute to her new marine uniform she has chosen to wear with pride. The last portrait will be the cleanest one, showing the most potential and happiness ( my chosen medium will be micron pen and watercolor paint). The theme is also growth and betterment.