Digital Sketchbook

[artsy-cakes93]

FINAL EXAM

Title: Blood

Artist: Chastity Navarro

Media: digital

Date:  ca. 2022

I chose to create my image using digital media. This image, though may seem simple, is not. The black background symbolizes our vast love for each other, and the almost totally opaque images of us in the upper left corner and the lower right corner symbolizes are past memories together, though time has passed these memories are never forgotten. The two fingerprints (my sisters and I) combine to create one united heart. The hearts above each of our heads is meant to show that even though we are sisters we are different, hence why one heart is to the left of the dashes and the other is to the right. The red and orange swirls in the background are the fluidity of our relationship.

THE PROCESS:

I tried to include as many screenshots as possible, BUT I learned when you are creating it is hard to remember to document the process. You get caught up in the fun of creating and expressing yourself.

[artsy-cakes93]

VS #4 (JACKSON POLLOCK)

(WRITING, THINKING, AND LOOKING CRITICALLY) The short clip on Jackson Pollock explains how he exiled himself in an attempt to beat his relationship with alcohol. Pollock had the potential to be a professional painter but was a rebel in his tracks and chose a different path. I think Pollock started with abstract images but, over time, wanted to let his work express how he felt. He was able to create his famous drip paintings from pent-up emotions. Each "drip" represents an emotion, feeling, and movement. Pollock's paintings described himself, the American dream, and Americans' wild and free spirit.

(ART PROJECT)

[artsy-cakes93]

VS #3 (VISUAL ANALYSIS)

Title: Narcissus

Date: ca. 1645

Artist: Gerard van Kujl

Media: oil on canvas

Gerard van Kuijl was a Dutch painter from the Golden age who specialized in oil paint. He was heavily influenced by the style of Caravaggio and centered his work around religion and mythology. He lived in Rome from 1629 to 1631. Some believe he may have seen the original Narcissus by Caravaggio. In Kuijl's Narcissus, he used oil on canvas, with the dimensions 45 x 56 3/8 in. (114.3 x 143.2 cm). I went to the Ringling museum, and this painting instantly stood out. The man in the image was young, handsome, and charming. I wondered why he was staring into the water. What has captured the undived attention of this ethereal man?

I soon discovered this painting is about a greek myth- Narcissus. A young man cursed by the nymph Echo (after rejecting her) to fall in love with his reflection waste away and dies. Kuijl was able to represent this greek myth ideally by elegantly using two simple things, Narcissus and the river. The painting itself has no distinct shapes, geometric or abstract. The color palette is limited, composed of primarily dark shades— and dramatic use of light and shadows. In the upper right corner, strokes of blue with white stratus-like clouds pop out. The beautiful and youthful Narcissus is draped in deep red cloth and is staring at himself in the river, entranced with his reflection. Kuijl strategically places shadows and light to make this painting come to life. Narcissus's body is the focus of the image, and his relaxed yet perfectly poised posture adds balance. He is sitting up with one leg bent horizontal to the water and the other bent upright. Stretched out is one arm, and the other is turned inward toward his own body, flat with the water. The water is unnatural, so dark it almost appears black and bottomless. The only light source in the dark abyss is the reflection of Narcissus's palm and fingers reaching back to himself and a slightly rippled reflection of one of his legs. The simplistic nature of the picture adds to its unity.

One can sense that the man in the painting is lost, almost as if he is in a trance as he looks down into the water. Yet, his face holds a soft smile as if in love. Seeing and reading about the picture invoked an extreme curiosity inside me. How can someone die from self-admiration? Then I thought, I'm living in an age where you can not escape social media and the constant pressure to look beautiful and be picture-perfect. I started to doubt and question society and the emphasis on vanity. Will this generation continue to obsess over our looks and how others may perceive us? Will we all waste away too as Narcissus? What kind of future lies if everyone is overly entwined and captivated by their appearances? After observing this beautiful work of art, I realized that, centuries later, humans haven't changed. We are just as narcissistic then as we are now.

[artsy-cakes93]

VS (ARTIST CHOICE)

Media: wet- water color

Sweet Victory

[artsy-cakes93]

VS (CONNECTING ART TO YOUR WORLD)

Color is vital to emotions, and my life is saturated in pink. My bedroom is an excellent example; everything is pink, from the bed sheets to the rugs to the curtains. I usually tend to favor a softer, pastel-colored pink. This particular shade of pink makes me feel delicate and beautiful and gives me a sense of happiness and excitement. It seems the color scheme of my life would have to be soft hues of pink.

[artsy-cakes93]

VS (WRITING & LOOKING)

Damien Hirst, Posterity- The Holy Place, 2006. Butterflies and household gloss on canvas. 89x48, (pg. 72).

Recipe of the composition: Damien Hirst, Posterity- The Holy Place is composed entirely of butterflies and perfectly symmetrical lines, which brings unity and balance to the piece. Natural colored butterflies help create a neutral area and help bring emphasis to the vibrant blue and yellow butterflies near the center, creating a focal point. The use of different-sized butterflies adds rhythm and variety to the composition.

[artsy-cakes93]

VS (JOURNALING)

Unity and variety- are two complementary concerns at different ends of a spectrum. 

Unity: togetherness, no variety, sometimes considered boring.

Variety: diversity, with many different aspects, can seem chaotic.

EXAMPLE: rainbow- a rainbow contains the spectrum's colors and offers unity, variation, and a beautiful scene in the sky.

Balance: making something even, leveled, visually or physically.

Symmetrical: both sides of an image match near or exactly, whether two or three-dimensional, creating symmetry. 

Asymmetrical: neither side is the same, creating an imbalance. Different elements in the artwork make sense of balance using size, placement, and weight.

EXAMPLE: a window- all sides are equal in length, height, and width and symmetrical.

Emphasis: bringing attention to an area.

The focal point: is the essential part. 

Contrast: can be used to help create emphasis.

EXAMPLE: stop sign- the emphasis is put on the word S-T-O-P, which is in all white capital letters, standing out in contrast to a bright red background.

Subordination: Less critical areas in a picture helps support the focal point or points of emphasis.

Directional force: to help influence how someone looks at a work of art by using and placing actual and implied lines. These directional forces help to move the viewer's eyes across a piece of art the way the artists intended.

Repetition: regular recurrence of visuals to help unify an art piece's composition, flow, and emphasis.

Pattern: the repetitive ordering of elements.

EXAMPLE: a stop light- the pattern of green, yellow, and red, is on a content reputation to manage traffic.

Rhythm: the regular recurrence of elements, usually by repetition with variations of the same image, usually dominant and subordinate elements.

Scale: the size of one thing in comparison to another.

EXAMPLE: Kennedy dental sign- the sign of the buisine is large but still smaller than the size of the building, making it inviting to come in.

Proportion: how the size of the elements relates to each other.

Format: size and shape. Usually influences the whole composition of the artwork.

Composition: the way all the elements come together in a work of art.

EXAMPLE: Chick-fil-A billboard- the cow is usually as large as the billboard itself, which brings attention to the smaller words he is writing, the red used for "Chick-fil-A also helps it to stand out against the white background. 

[artsy-cakes93]

VS (PHOTOJOURNALISM)

This photograph tells a moving story. The event depicted in this photo is the American invasion of a Jewish concentration camp. The American flag is being raised in the background, and you see numerous holocaust prisoners, all wearing the infamous striped pajamas, smiling and cheering. You can sense a feeling of relief on the prisoner's faces. Still, some faces appear emotionless and bleak because though they are now "free," their lives will never be the same. This one photo can evoke inspiration and hope but also sadness and despair. To the world, these faces would become what we know today as survivors.

Depicted clearly in this photo is the movement for the legalization of medical marijuana. I found this photo to be the sum of many topics in one. The gentleman, obviously an older man, is seen smiling without a worry in the world. He is wearing a black hoodie that helps make the symbols on the back stand out. A prescription bottle with a marijuana leaf filled with the American flag sits in the middle of the phrases "patriots" and "helping vets." The picture tells the story of the battle many Americans, including veterans, face in the struggle to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.

[artsy-cakes93]

VS (ART PROJECT- SELF PORTRAIT)

This is me summed up in eight photos, enjoy.

[artsy-cakes93]

VS (WRITING A SELF PORTRAIT)

28 years old

Female

Born and raised in Florida, primarily the Bradenton/Sarasota area

Hispanic

I enjoy spending time outdoors in the water, kayaking and traveling

I am currently not a part of any organized groups]

I am currently working as a dental assistant for a general dentist

I think my outlook on life makes me unique. I tend to feel more than a typical person should, but then again what is typical.

[artsy-cakes93]

VS ( ART & WRITING)

The paintings I chose are located in my bedroom. I choose a small combination of different works of art all centered around Frida Kahlo. The combinations of works include paintings, quotes, and synthetic flowers. Each painting has a different meaning to me. I find the quotes on two of the paintings to be inspirational and remind me to stay strong. I also find the flower paintings to be uplifting and a good way to start my day, full of color and vibrancy.

[artsy-cakes93]

VS (WRITING & RESEARCH)

Assigned lucky #22- Anish Kapoor (2004-2006) Cloud Gate. Stainless steel; Height 33’ x Length 66’ x Width 42’. Five interesting facts: 

Nicknamed "the bean" because of its shape

The Cloud is located at the millennium park in Chicago, Illinois

Constructed of 168 stainless steel plates welded together

Anish Kapoor was born on March 12, 1954, making him a Pisces

Anish Kapoor is most known for making sculptures using materials such as granite, limestone, and metals, just to name a few.

From the first time I looked at the art piece to know my impression has changed. At first, the picture shown on the slide is of The Cloud at night, seeing all the beautiful colors from nearby buildings bouncing off were breathtaking and almost futuristic. After doing light research, I learned Anish was inspired to create The Cloud by liquid mercury, which makes complete sense now. The sculpture itself has a fluid-like look to it and distorts reflections. I was also able to see pictures of the sculpture during the day, the sleekness of the piece is unmatchable to anything I've seen before.