Pat Stevens

Western Civ Class

[patstevens5]

For the final project, for my keeping, I used one of my favorite quotes along with a variety of colors to kind of put a spin on the meaning. The quote says “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” and this almost haunts me daily as I feel as though I currently am in the good old days. I don’t have a worry in the world and I live with 7 but really 10 guys that have turned from friends to family over these last couple years at Bonaventure.

I used a variety of colors in the background that we have learned about throughout the semester and in our reading of the secrete lives of color to show that just because what I think will be the best years of my life are ending, I won’t let that ruin the ones ahead.

This class has taught me the history and meaning behind not only various pieces and techniques of art but rather behind the colors we see everyday that I once overlooked and thought was meaningless.

For my second artwork, I decided to make it for my good friend Mitch. Mitch deeply loves America, sports and hanging out with friends. Over this past year, there were a few key events that really scared Mitch in regards to things he truly cares about but most importantly his friends and country. some of these events are depicted throughout the collage in various ways.

I made Mitch this collage, a technique we used through the semester and I would argue this was my favorite. For someone who isn’t very artistic, I learned while reading the secret lives of color you do not have to be a stereotypical artists to embrace creativity and color.

This style of artwork allows me to “paint” a picture without actually having to paint or draw. The pieces throughout the semester that challenged me the most were the ones that required free hand drawing or a great deal of creativity. This class certainly made me think outside of the box in very different ways than other classes.

[patstevens5]

My quote hopefully inspired people who read it in the library today to kind of take a step back and realize there’s always fun in life and no matter what situation you find yourself in that it will be what you make of it. Finals can be stressful and it’s important to realize how little many of this actually matters so keep on trucking and keep on having fun. At the end of the day, it’s not about what your grades are or your tests score but rather the person you’ve become and developed into over the years here at Bonaventure that will truly matter.

Secret lives of color, page 244, states “Fallow is a faded, caramel-tawny color, the tint of withered leaves or grass, and one of the oldest color names in the English language." From the 1300s the word has been applied to farmland resting between seasons of use to replenish the soil-we still speak of fields lying fallow”. This quote was very eye opening for me as I can not recall the word fallow ever being used nor could I have put it in context prior to reading this today. After reading, I could visualize this exact color and season of crops and fields from back home and almost the exact moment in time in which the crops and field become fallow without ever even knowing that color or word meant.

[patstevens5]

On my table for the year, I filled it with many things that made my year and are important to me. My year is filled with many meaningful things that all revolve around friends, sports and the outdoors. Everything on my table and in my life can be placed into those three categories, my Jeep wranglers steering wheel allows me to adventure and off-road through the great outdoors and my friends and I often socialize while drinking or going out to a bar for music or dancing. I hunt whitetail deer which contained my animated collage part of the piece while the liquor bottle with the skull on top has a double meaning and contained my death part of the table. This creative, open ended homework really allowed me to reflect on the year as a whole and even sparked conversation between all my roommates and I about what a great time we’ve had and all the memories we made. The tables legs have the year 2023 and out the window there is a great view of the mountains that surround us.

Secrete Lives of Color, “The Romans, believing green to be restful to the eyes because of its prominence in nature, pulverized emeralds to make expensive eye balms”. This quote in the reading stood out to me and made me really take a break from the reading and think outside the context. Wondering if other various colors were tied to more expensive things or higher end brands due to their natural occurrence in nature such as that emerald green mentioned in the reading.

[patstevens5]

For my portrait I included the use of a “dramatic” background which also has a deeper meaning in connection to the person I chose to draw, my roommate. My roommate’s name is Mitch Mahar and anyone who knows Mitch knows that he loves Busch Light which is the mountains depicted behind his portrait. He’s from the great small town of Wilson NY and looks forward to moving back that way upon graduation to start his career.

Secret Lives of color page 159: “The story of purple is bookended by two great dyes. The first of these, Tyrian, a symbol of the wealthy and the elite, helped to establish the link with the divine. The second, mauve, a man-made chemical wonder, ushered in the democratization of color in the nineteenth century. The precise shade of the ancient world's wonder dye remains something of a mystery.” This quote from the reading made me start thinking deeper about the importance of colors in various businesses and logos. Do certain companies use purple and other colors due to its origin or meaning and rather less of just its pure aesthetics and looks. Certain brands and companies immediately starting coming to mind about how their logo may very well mean something due its colors and hold a deeper meaning that further portrays the company which I found very interesting.

[patstevens5]

For my first activity I chose to draw a portrait of my roommate Mitch. According to google, “The combination of yellow and red makes orange convey excitement, warmth and enthusiasm. Social and inviting, this is the color of the extrovert, exuding happiness and joy, releasing inhibitions.” which is exactly why I chose the color orange to highlight Mitch in my portrait of him. Mitch is from Wilson NY and wants to go into sales, he’s certainly enjoyed his time at Bonas and absolutely loves the small town atmosphere and environment he gets to call home. I drew Mitch indulging in a cold, Busch light which is his favorite beer, while playing his favorite game called Beer die.

For my second activity I sure am glad we weren’t required to lift 25-ton boulders as Kenzie and I were partners. We headed to the trail one early morning on an absolutely perfect fall day. We walked to the trail until we reached an easy river access point and found a large rock already there that was perfect for our foundation. We talked about the weekend and our week ahead while building our creation and it was a great start to the day.

For the third and final activity, Kenzie and I also partnered together and painted pumpkins and enjoyed fall snacks. Even better than the paintings and snacks was the time spent with our friends at Kenzie’s laughing and enjoying the company of others on a weeknight. It was a nice change of pace for the week as most of my nights are either spent studying or preparing for my next chapter in life or working. The whole idea of painting with friends is definitely out of my comfort zone but I will admit I enjoyed the night with friends.

[patstevens5]

Animal Facts: According to National Wildlife Federation (NWF, https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Fish/Bull-Shark)

Also pictured with my sketchbook, is the picture of the 300lb bull shark I was fortunate enough to hook into and lay my hands on this past summer during a fishing trip in the Atlantic Ocean. Pictured underneath the bull shark is an accurate representation of what I saw while we were fighting the male shark, a cobia swimming directly underneath him which we then paused the shark fight and targeted and were lucky enough to catch right off the sharks back. Cobia is often argued to be one of the best eating fish in the world.

1. Adult Bull sharks range from the smaller end 200lbs up to the larger end of 500lbs. Their size can range geographically but also dependent upon its migration and diet patterns.

2. The average adult male Bill Shark is roughly 7 feet long where females grow closer to 11 feet which is a common misconception.

3. Unlike most sharks, Bull Sharks have adapted and are actually able to survive in freshwater for somewhat long periods of time.

4. Bull sharks are argued to be one of the most aggressive and protective sharks known to man making them one of the dangerous and deadliest to humans.

5. Bull shark will feast on just about anything, their diet mostly consists of other fish but commonly will prey on other shark species and have even been recorded to eat other bull sharks which speaks for itself regarding their aggressive behavior.

Consumerist and Technological Facts:

1. According to Zippia, the coffee industry is worth an astonishing $490.5 billion dollars where the USA holds nearly $100 billion of that.

2. Golf.com stated that in 2021, the rules of the PGA were changed and for the first time ever golfers were allowed to use laser rangefinders which have been a huge technological advancement for the game.

3. Backlinko states that Peloton has created a platform with roughly 5.9 million active users who are looking to achieve healthier, active lifestyles which shows how technology can and should be used to promote a healthy country.

4. According to Harvard health, “type of cardiovascular physical activity, which increases your heart rate. This improves blood flow and can lower blood pressure. It helps to boost energy levels by releasing certain hormones like endorphins and delivering oxygen throughout the body” and can easily be tracked and followed by the GPS watch pictured.

5. The International Trade Administration states that the global travel industry is worth a record breaking $1.9 trillion. Supporting nearly 10 million American jobs resulting in almost 3% of our country’s GDP. Technology has played a major role in this unprecedented increase.

Secret Lives of Color page 152, “Over several hours William Henry Perkin, the scientist and businessman who had discovered mauve [page 169] and revolutionized the dye industry, told the assembled listeners, in rich, exact detail, about another breakthrough: the synthesis of alizarin. By the end, only the most determined of his listeners would have grasped the significance of his achievement. Alizarin was the red colorant in the roots of Rubia tinctorum, Rubia peregrina, and Rubia cordifolia, better known as madder. Perkin had been able to create in a lab something hitherto produced only by nature.” was an eye opening and mind boggling part of the reading. It led me to really question the “achievement” of creating or discovering some things that actually took no creation at all. It is said that he accidentally found it and really had no intention or meaning but somehow still revives the credit and praises of those who care or are interested such as the author of this book.

[patstevens5]

In my drawing I chose it incorporate my skull on top of a beer bottle as it somewhat portrays two very different sides of alcohol and the often overlooked power the substance can have on individuals. For me and my friends, right now, it as used as a fun way to relax and have fun where for others it ruins their lives and controls their every move. The need for this constant buzz is incorporated within the skull because it will in fact kill you either directly or indirectly if you let it control you and dictate decisions in your life.

For many, they would view this drawing as some sort of old library looking building with no real significance or importance to any piece of the artwork. For me, this is a visual that has and will continue to fuel my aspirations for a financially stable future where I don’t often hear the word “no”. I don’t want to be bound by any means or restraints that society has on things which most often times are financial. This building is known as Watts and Pepicelli, P.C. and they represent clients in both personal injury and criminal defense cases. I hope to one day have a successful firm, like this one, and everything else in life like traveling the world or skydiving will naturally happen with financial success.

[patstevens5]

Homework

1. My zodiac sign is Virgo.

2. The colors associated with that sign are green and brown as it helps “keep a sense of grounding and focus on continuous growth. Brown represents stability while green represents growth in nature strengthening Virgo's life long plan towards self improvement.” According to Louella Alderson, Virgo is associated “with with the elephant and dove – two animals that embody their loyal, strategic, and nurturing natures.” which is directly correlated with the colors green and brown, very natural colors. I chose to incorporate the elephant in my sketch.

3. Virgo is deeply connected with the planet mercury which is the messenger planet of communication as it is the first planet from the sun but is however the smallest one in our solar system.

Attendance

The Secret Lives of Color, page 118 says “In the late 1970s American cities were scourged by wave after wave of drug epidemics and spiking violent crime rates. So when in late 1970’s a professor announced that he had found a way of making people less aggressive, the nation pricked up its ears. The secret, Alexander G. Schauss announced in the pages of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, was a sickly shade of bright pink.” This quote stood out to me as the real pandemic America faces today is that of the same issues we were faced with in 1970 yet no solutions or even any real progress has been made to end our country’s ongoing drug related crisis. Overdoses in our country are on a rise as simultaneously cities are creating camps and providing them with tools needed to be “safe” which really makes me scratch my head wondering if there is a deeper, underlying motive behind their actions and whether or not we still have people like Alexander Schauss looking for solutions.

[kenziejensen]

Homework:

1. The animal that I chose was a rat/mouse. Growing up, I was always very close with my cousin. She and I were the only girls on my dads side of the family and acted like sisters. We started calling each other “rat,” when we were young and it just stuck. One thing I learned about rats is that their lifespans vary based on color. Brown rats can live for two years while black rats only live 12 months.

2. My favorite music to listen to during fall is calm, vibey music such as Noah Kahan, Zach Bryan, SZA, and Quinn XCII. My favorite Halloween movie is halloweentown by far.

3. I was born in 2002, and one of my favorite movies (Lilo & Stitch) was produced in 2002. This movie was a feel-good, funny, yet science fictional masterpiece, and it will never get old for me.

4. One song I chose that reminds me of my childhood is American Pie by Don McLean. The lyrics I chose were “the day the music died.” This song reminds me of summer nights sitting around a campfire with my family and it brings me happy memories.

Attendance Prompt 9/18-9/26:

The quote that I chose was, “Goddesses, fairy-tale heroes and heroines, and models are disproportionately fair-haired. Blonde waitresses have been shown to get bigger tips” (St. Clair, p. 68). This sentence was extremely interesting to me. Historically, popular women are often blondes and it is a wanted hair color. I’m also a waitress (brunette) and am curious if looks/hair color do have a true affect on tips at the end of the day.

[patstevens5]

The color Kenzie added behind the leaf really makes the artwork pop and somehow mixes the colors of fall plus the idea of Lilo and Stich and that sort of beach vibe. Great job Kenzie and good song choice!

[patstevens5]

Attendance Prompt, Secrete Lives of Color page 82. “In its glittering natural form, which was thought to resemble gold, it was one of the mineral pigments and one of two yellows, along with ocher, used in ancient Egyptian art.” This quote from the passage made me wonder what colors I associate with what and so on, I would simply never see any color and associate it with mineral pigments or ancient Egyptian art despite maybe that being it’s true origin. I would be far more inclined to see a yellowish gold color and think of the Pittsburgh Steelers or WVU or the 49ers. It’s interesting to think of how each of us could be looking at the same color and thinking of two completely different things.

1. The animal I incorporated into my drawing was a whitetail deer. Growing up, hunting and fishing is something basically everyone lives and dies for in my town. We had the first day of deer season off of school as it was basically a holiday. I spend a lot of my time in the fall and winter chasing these beautiful creatures as I learn their habits and schedules hoping for the opportunity to be able to harvest a mature deer.

2. Fall for me means college football and deer season as I don’t get to amped up for any of the Halloween festivities. It’s gotta be one of my least favorite holidays but with that being said nothing beats a chilly night around a fire with my best friends listening to country music legends like Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Zach Bryan, Luke Combs and more.

3. I was born on August 16th, 2001, exactly 26 days before our country changed forever. My mom was from Long Island and went to an all girls school in NYC before coming to college at Bonas where she met my dad. My grandfather was a NYC fireman for 30+ years. On the day that I was born they rushed to Meadville and stayed for a week or so but then had to go back home for a little while. On September 10th they got in the car and drove back to Meadville meaning my grandfather wasn’t going to work the following few days. On September 11th our country changed for ever and despite me not only being a month old that idea of patriotism is forever bedded in my roots.

4. “Take it easy, take it easy, don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy” is a line from the Eagles hit song “Take it Easy” that always stands out to me. I think it today world people are always so caught up in their little problems and road bumps in life that they let things change the outcome of their days and really affect them. I’m as easy going as it gets and you really couldn’t ruin my day if you tried. Nothing in life is worth getting upset over to a point where it drastically changes your mood or day, just take it easy and everything will always work itself out.

[patstevens5]

The Secrete Lives of Color (Page 47) “Ivory, whether sourced from walruses, narwhals, or elephants, has long been prized. And when elephant hunts became a status symbol, ivory only grew in prestige”. Color and status are often times correlated but when it comes to a color that is so strongly related to something such as ivory the two are directly related. Certain things are known for their color like the tool brand Channellock, made in my hometown, the tools are known for their light blue trademarked handles that anyone with a toolbox in their garage would know. Color can be directly tied in with not only brands but also objects such as ivory like in the quote from the reading.

[patstevens5]

Today on my nature walk I found three bright and vibrant plants. The last picture of the tree is a crab apple tree, although crab apples are not very good eating, the apple itself is NY state’s fruit. The yellow flowering plant is often referred to as goldenrod but it’s official name is solidago and is normally found in large bunches in open fields. The last plant I believe is called a New England aster and this was my first encounter with the plant to my knowledge. It’s purple and yellow colors stood out on my walk this morning.

[patstevens5]

Attendance Prompt #2 (The Secrete Lives of Color) (Page #26, “There are also discrepancies between the name a society gives a color and the actual color, and these can shift over time, like tectonic plates”). This quote jumped out to me from the reading and forced me to step back and take a break from the passage to really take a deeper dive into the significance and true meaning behind this powerful sentence. I found my mind wandering to thoughts such as “who says the grass is green and why is green green?” and then found myself thinking of certain colors that are known to be specific things and what would happen if those were changed. It is so weird to think the entire world associates blue with the ocean and sky but it very easily could’ve been red or black and however decided this has no idea the impact it would have. Many quotes and messages from the reading stiff out but this quote specifically stood out to me and really made me take a step back and think.

[patstevens5]

Homework #2

[patstevens5]

My name is Pat Stevens, I’m from a small town in northwest Pennsylvania called Meadville. I currently am studying business management and political science here at Bonas with aspirations of attending law school following graduation this May. I’m an avid outdoorsman who loves to fish, hunt and spend time with friends. I very well could be the least artistic person you know so this class will certainly be interesting as the semester progresses.