Art & My Life
As Janet Jackson once said, “Funny how time flies when you're having fun.” When I started taking Art 110 in late August, I merely saw it as a means to get enough credits to graduate. Three months and a semester of learning later, I lament that it is already time for the final assignment. Although I initially had low expectations of art in general, I am now extremely grateful to call myself an artist. I now realize that art has allowed me to tap into my creativity, release my frustrations with life, and form new friendships.
For most of my life, I never considered myself artistic. I was the child that would color outside the lines in his coloring book and make a mess out of paint. In time, I realized that this was my latent talent: Abstraction. When that particular assignment was issued, I bought some finger paint and a broadsheet of paper and went to work. The end result was something vaguely resembling a wildfire, which was what I named it. Eventually, I found out I was even better at photography. As I had already taken plenty of family photos and familiarized myself with Photoshop and iPhoto, it was all a matter of arranging the correct materials. Both techniques have allowed me to use my inner creativity, and for that, I am grateful.
As I am a History major, my other classes this semester involved a lot of nerve-wracking essays. But as I observed the school’s art gallery and saw how professional artists vented their frustrations with life and society into their masterpieces, I realized that I could also do the same with my artwork. In my final assignment, I made a collage with photos of my father during his younger years as a South Vietnamese Marine officer during the Vietnam War and a more recent photo of myself wearing a ninja costume for Halloween. The message of the work was “Contrasts.” I created it because I felt chafed by my father's overbearing attitude towards my education and the often unrealistic standards he held me up to. But I now realize that in his day and age, my father never got the opportunities and luxuries I have now. I am grateful that as an artist, I can take my anger and frustrations and turn it into something beautiful.
Most importantly, I have formed many friends this semester through collaboration on art projects. Kevin, Matt, Julia, Megan, Lou, David, Ramiro, amongst many others have all proven themselves to be invaluable friends, and I sincerely hope that I have returned the favor. Without friendship, this semester would have been unbearable. I shudder at the thought of what could have transpired had I not formed such bonds. As the semester ends, I pray that they will be successful in all their endeavors, and if they feel discouraged for whatever reason, they will remember the times we worked together.
At the end of Art 110, I have earned countless new friends to make a dreary semester better. I found an original way to make my negative emotions into masterpieces worthy of a museum or gallery. I could finally realize the talents that had remained hidden for so long. I now understand that art is the essence of the human spirit and that to become an artist is to master yourself. For that, I am grateful that I have surpassed my initial expectations.