Cultures

This past week in Art class we learned about many different cultures and their art.  The one I liked the most was African culture art.  Most of the art was so simple but had many bright colors, which I really enjoyed.  I liked how most of the art we looked at was about women.  It reminded me how strong women really are. Also, it reminded me that no matter what the color of our skin is, we are all beautiful.  I am grateful that I did not have to walk for miles to find water for my family everyday.  I decided since I was grateful for that I would depict it in my art work this week.
I have painted a little bit in my life but mostly it has been paint by number stuff.  First, I did some research on African art.  I found a picture I really liked and decided to make one similar.  I like that African art mostly did not draw features or faces, it was mostly silhouettes.  I had to sketch my drawing then paint.  I mixed up some colors to make brighter colors.  Most of the art I saw they had brown dirt and lots of colorful dresses and bracelets.  I implemented that in my painting.  I found it hard to paint in small spaces and keep my lines smooth.  I am sure with lots of practice and better tools, this is something that could be improved upon.  All in all I like my painting.  It may not be perfect but what it stands for, makes it beautiful.  Here are a couple of pictures.  One is during the painting process and the other is the completed work.

    

Self-Criticism of my Art Projects

So far in Art class we have done three projects.  I have taken a picture of each one and posted here on the blog. There are four parts to self-criticism of art: description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.  My first project was sketching a water bottle with shadows.  Honestly, I draw stick figures, so anything other than a few lines that I draw looks good to me.  This project was a little difficult for me since I am not much of a drawer.  My artistic abilities is in other things, for example, making videos and photography.  I find drawing pretty difficult.  I think I did pretty well on this project.  I tried my hardest, but I know others looked better than mine, but that is ok.  My second project was the cave art drawing.  I liked this project best since last year I did a 15 page report on cave art for my history class along with I made my own paintbrush with a stick and leaves as the brush part.  Then I made my own paint with grounded up charcoal and oil.  I painted a few rocks and showed my class.  I had some back ground with this project so that really helped.  I liked the weapons they drew in this era so I included them in my drawing.  I also liked how they chose to draw people together like families, so I included that in my drawing as well.  Since my drawing could be pretty primitive since that is how it was in that era, I feel my drawing was life-like and I did well on it.  My third project was the stone pot.  This was by far the most difficult for me.  I had never used clay before and it was not easy to do.  I watched the video several times and she makes it look so easy.  Obviously, it was not that easy.  I made my pot and it took a lot longer than I thought it would to dry.  As it was drying I researched what they painted on pots and the colors they used.  I chose a design in black and I attempted to make a gold color for the inside of my pot.  I figured gold would look cool inside a pot if it had water in it.  It would make the water look colored.  They used a lot of black, brown, and gold in this Roman-Greek era.  I do not feel my pot turned out the way I wanted it to.  It looks like a five year old made it, but I tried my hardest and it was my best work.  I really enjoy the research that goes into making the projects.  I like the history of the art, but not necessarily making the project itself.  At least I am trying and doing my best effort and learning along the way!  

Roman-Greek clay pot

I have never in my life played with clay.  Silly puddy, yes.  Play doh, yes.  Never clay.  I was asked to make a Roman-Greek clay pot.  I watched a video on how to do it several times and it is way harder than it looks. Most of the colors they used in that era was black and gold. I tried to make a cold color by mixing colors to use for inside my pot.  At least I tried my hardest.

Me attempting to make a clay pot

My clay pot painted

Trying to make a gold color with white and black edges.  

Week three in Art class

This week in Art class we talked about cave drawings and different periods in time.  Last year I did a huge project for my World Civ class on cave drawings.  I enjoyed it so much that I was excited to learn more. We had to make our own cave drawing, which I was excited about.  Here are my halfway picture and finished picture.

The pumpkins are growing bigger and bigger

So far we have one orange pumpkin and a lot of green pumpkins that are just starting to turn lighter shades of green.  Here is a picture.

Community Pumpkin Patch

Each year, we grow pumpkins.  I love watching them grow.  Then we let our neighbors come over and cut them off the vines and take them home.  This way they do not have to spend money on the pumpkins.  It is a way to give back to my community.  So far we have about 22 orange flowers, which the flowers turn into pumpkins eventually.  Last year I grew 17 huge pumpkins.  I learn to take care of something and the biology of how things grow.  I also grow mint, watermelons, tomatoes, and cantaloupes.

 

Here is a picture of the orange flowers.

This is the pumpkin vines and some mint growing.

Art Class- shading

I usually draw stick figures.  I am not much of a drawer or painter.  Today we got an assignment to draw and shade things.  I did my best effort, which to some may look like I didn't, but if you only knew my previous drawings.  hahaha.