#virtual sketchbook

[danycab6]

Virtual Sketchbook 1

1.

Self-Portrait by Alice Neel, 1980. Oil on canvas; 54" x 40".

Alice Neel was 80 years old when she produced her work

It took her five years to complete the portrait

She struggled during the process of painting it stating, "The reason my cheeks got so pink was that it was so hard for me to paint that I almost killed myself painting it."

The piece is a representation of aging

The artwork portrays a realistic view of the nude female, far distinct from the traditional, idealized versions

The very first glance of the artwork stunned me a bit. I was thrown off by the nudity at first, and then I began to notice other things like the person’s late-age. The woman had gray hair, wore glasses, and had saggy skin. My mind then asked what she had been holding in both of her hands. Now, I realize that the artwork is specifically a self-portrait of Alice Neel, the artist. After noting this, it then came to me that in the painting, she was holding a paintbrush. I failed to gain a deeper understanding of the piece in my first look; however, during my research, I discovered that Neel was attempting to make a statement about the realistic appearance of the female body. Utilizing her own, aging self, she depicts a different perspective from the traditional, idealized versions of women. I think it is very brave that she used herself to make a message about the female body.

2.

Paisaje by José Joaquín Tejada

The media used to create this artwork was paint. This piece of work was created from the Barbizon school of painters which stems from the Realistic art movement. I think this landscape painting is incredibly beautiful. It is reflective of the paths and nature found in Cuba. I am in love with artwork about nature; its colors and life allow a refreshing break from society. Additionally, both my parents are Cubans, so my homeland and culture is incredibly represented through this painting.

3.

My name is Danyella Cabrera, and I am 18 years old. The gender I primarily align with is female. I was originally born in West Palm Beach, but I’ve lived in Bradenton the majority of my life. My ethnicity is Hispanic. For fun, I enjoy listening to music and playing on my saxophone. I’m involved with several clubs (I’m still in highschool), so I am part of the HOSA (health occupational students of America) organization. I don’t currently have a job, but I recently became EKG certified, so I want to find somewhere that needs part-time EKG technicians. I feel that I am unique in my passion for the medical field and my excellence in STEM.

4.

Self Portrait by Danyella Cabrera

I’ve created a culmination of my fascination for music, my future aspirations, my cultural background, and my mental struggles.

[laurasteves]

Inktober Day 20: Rainy days have come this way.

[actuallyhusksofcorn]

This was a fun one~   Should be working.exe

   -H 

[racanhaiscool101]

Virtual Sketchbook 2

Journaling: Principles of Design

Unity and variety: ensuring the appearance of an art piece is similar and consistent throughout. Variety is the opposite, having diverse elements in art pieces. In real life, people wear different outfits. These outfits have unity but also variety, such as jewelry to make them interesting.

Balance: finding an equal state between two forces that can be achieves through symmetry or asymmetry. When I'm at the gym, I need to make sure the barbell is balanced, having the same number of plates on each side.

Emphasis and subordination: drawing attention to a specific area in an artwork, usually done by using high contrast or more attractive details. Subordination is the less attractive areas that are more neutral. When studying, you tend to highlight the important material that will most likely need to be remembered, this is an example of emphasis. The other key words and terms aren't highlighted, not standing out.

Directional forces: this shows how the viewer will look at the art, visual pathways made by the artist. During a drive in a car, you'll typically look ahead and follow the road further to see where you're going.

Repetition and rhythm: recurrence of elements that unite the art piece. Rhythm regards the recurrence of elements that have similar or related variations. Walking up or down stairs is an example of seeing repetition. You repeat the same stepping motion/rhythm.

Scale and proportion: the comparison/difference in size from one thing to another. Proportion is the relationship of the sizes of the different parts. Looking at a blue whale compared to a dolphin, the scaling of the sizes of both animals is vastly different. Compared to the huge ocean however, a whale looks tiny, this is proportion.

Writing and Looking: Boys Wading by Winslow Homer - Chapter 7, Figure 7.2

The Perfect Composition Recipe:

There are two boys standing in the water, in the center of the artwork. They are the first thing the viewers notice, making them the focal point.

There are horizontal lines created by the water.

The boys' bodies are bent down, utilizing directional forces to drag the viewers eyes to the water. There are ripples in the water that create a sense of rhythm as well.

There is a realistic sense of scale and proportion as can be seen between the two people, the boat, water, and docks.

Connecting Art to My World:

I have noticed that color tends to have more influence on me than I think. When I was younger, I told my parents that I wanted to have a room with dark blue walls, and they decided to surprise me with a newly painted blue room the week. I realize now that the darker blue hues made me feel more gloomy, tired, and more prone to being sad. A few years later, we moved and I got a pink room that was extremely saturated. This color made me get overstimulated and stressed me out easier. Now, I understand that the intensity of a color matters more to me than I originally thought, especially if that color is what is going to surround me in my personal space. For my life, I would pick a light blue monochromatic color scheme!

Art Project- Comic strip: Social Anxiety

Photo/Design-

Group 2- Layout Design

Good Layout Design Example:

Bad Layout Example:

The colors, images, organization, and placement of text are all factors that are important in making a good design. The intent of a layout should be to organize the materials on a canvas in a way that gains the attention of the audience and directs them to the important parts of the design. The Coca Cola design fulfills its purpose, using bright red and white colors to make it "pop" and is structured very neatly. The text placement is easy to follow along and overall does a great job on explaining the product. On the other hand, the second design uses more colors but organized very messy. There are multiple images scattered across the design with random text everywhere. It does not fulfill the purpose of advertising efficiently due to the clutter and random placement. 

[mfarid810]

Virtual Sketchbook #3

On March 10, 2025, I visited The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, a cultural gem known for its historic architecture and expansive grounds. Upon arrival, I discovered a sign indicating the museum was closed, apologizing for the inconvenience, so I couldn’t enter the galleries. Undeterred, I kept walking around the outdoor areas and documented my visit with a selfie in front of the museum’s main building, showcasing its Venetian Gothic tower and palm-lined courtyard, as well as photos of the outdoor sculptures and event posters. For this assignment, I chose to analyze The Three Graces, a marble sculpture attributed to an unknown artist from the 19th century, displayed in the museum’s Courtyard of the Gods. Carved from smooth, white Carrara marble, the sculpture stands approximately 6 feet tall on a rectangular pedestal, depicting three female figures—Aglaea, Euphrosyne, and Thalia—standing closely together. Their draped garments flow naturally over their bodies, arranged in a triangular composition with two facing forward and one slightly turned, creating a sense of rhythm and harmony. The marble’s polished surface contrasts with the etched folds of their dresses, emphasizing texture, while the symmetrical arrangement ensures balance. The bright Sarasota sunlight highlights the marble’s translucence, casting delicate shadows that enhance its elegance. 

Experiencing The Three Graces in person evoked a sense of timeless serenity, amplified by the unexpected freedom to explore the grounds. The figures’ graceful unity reminded me of the importance of connection in my own life, especially in 2024, a year marked by global challenges that underscored the need for community. Wandering the lush landscape, surrounded by palm trees and the echoes of Sarasota’s circus history, I felt a nostalgic pull to simpler, more harmonious ideals. The sculpture’s themes of beauty and companionship resonated with me as I reflected on my own friendships, which have been a source of strength this year. Its presence amidst the vibrant setting felt both timeless and urgent, inspiring me to seek balance in my own life despite the day’s initial setback. 

Research revealed that The Three Graces is a 19th-century reproduction of a Roman original, likely acquired by John Ringling as part of his collection of classical art. The Three Graces were mythological figures symbolizing charm, beauty, and creativity, often depicted to celebrate human virtues. During the 19th century, such reproductions were popular among wealthy collectors like Ringling, who sought to emulate European grandeur. Placed in the Courtyard of the Gods, the sculpture reflects The Ringling’s mission to preserve art that bridges historical periods, connecting visitors to ancient ideals through a modern lens. 

The Three Graces holds cultural significance as a testament to the enduring appeal of classical mythology in art, reflecting society’s fascination with beauty and harmony across centuries. At The Ringling, it underscores Sarasota’s legacy as a hub of cultural preservation, born from the Ringling family’s circus wealth. I chose this piece because its elegance, discovered during my unplanned exploration, inspired me to find grace and balance in my own life, making it a meaningful encounter in 2025. 

[kendall-arh2000]

1. JOURNALING: 

Unity & variety: unity means that all the elements in an artwork together to give consistency, while variety means the opposite, so there are different colors, shapes, and textures within one artwork. Example: a decorated living room that has a complementing color palette but also has different textures for the rug, coffee table, and couch. 

Balance: when different parts of an artwork come together, despite there being different elements that make up the whole piece to create stability. Example: a charcuterie board at a restaurant because a chef can arrange the food symmetrically to give an aesthetic appearance to the customer. 

Emphasis & subordination: emphasis allows for a specific area of an artwork to become the center of attention or the focal point, while subordination allows for the other elements to be less noticeable, meaning that it supports the focal point/ emphasis of the artwork. Example: a movie poster having the main character in the center of the poster while the other characters are in the background/ further back. For instance, the poster for Mean Girls is a good example of this.  

Directional forces: the lines, shapes, and/or patterns that create a pathway for the viewer’s eye to follow throughout the artwork. Example: a spiral staircase that leads to the next story of the house to show an upward movement. 

Repetition & rhythm: repetition shows the elements in an artwork being repeated, while rhythm shows the movements and flow of an artwork. Example: a row of streetlights that are along the road as you are driving down a highway as this shows a repeating pattern that is consistent. 

Scale & proportion: scale shows the size of an object and how it compares to the size of other objects in its surroundings, while proportion shows how the different object parts correlate to the other parts in the artwork. Example: A skyscraper next to a taxicab in New York which shows the intense scale of the skyscraper while the taxicab is the small subject in comparison to the proportions between the two. 

2. CONNECTING ART TO YOUR WORLD: 

Color has affected my style and emotions in various ways. For instance, I wear a lot of blues because this color makes me feel at peace, which is a similar feeling I have when I go fishing on open water or watch the sunset at the beach. Since I feel comfortable in this color, I also feel my most confident when I wear different hues of blue and my favorite blue is royal blue due to its saturation. Moreover, I also like earthy tones, like greens and browns, as these colors remind me of nature and animals. For instance, I show and raise livestock, so these earthy tones remind me when I walk on the bright and intense green shavings with my animals in the show ring, so this color of green reminds me to stay grounded and humble. Due to all these reasons, I would say that the color scheme for my life would be a mix of earthy greens, warm browns, and intense blues to give a color palette of balance and peace of mind. 

3. ART PROJECT: 

This painting is supposed to show my steer in his pasture on a beautiful day with his rope halter on. This is something I’m passionate about because I have spent countless hours in pastures that look like this to work on walking my steer so we can improve on my showmanship. It was days like this that I miss the most with my steer. Like the steer in the painting, my steer was a black angus, and his rope halter colors were blue and teal. This is also an acrylic painting that I made on a white canvas. I used the colors: white, black, blue, teal, green, and yellow. 

[kadeonkelly]

My Beautiful Pelican

The vibrant colors of this painting immediately draw me in, it's like the first thing I see when I step in the room, particularly the bright blues and oranges of the buoys and the pelican's plumage. The artist's attention to detail is remarkable, from the subtle texture of the wood to the intricate patterns on the pelican's feathers. I especially appreciate the way the pelican seems to be perpetually giving me the side-eye, adding a touch of personality to the artwork. This painting reminds me of the beauty of nature and evokes a sense of peace and tranquility, making it feel like a little piece of home. I believe the media used to create this painting is likely acrylic paint due to its vibrant colors, And then it was printed on canvas.

This painting serves as a beautiful focal point in my home, adding a touch of color and personality to any room. The vibrant colors and the playful pelican create a cheerful atmosphere that uplifts my mood whenever I look at it. I find it incredibly beautiful because it captures the essence of nature in a way that is both realistic and artistic.

[kendall-arh2000]

1. ART AND WRITING: 

The work of art that I chose (the first picture) is a painting I have in my bedroom, right across from my bed. This is a painting of an up-close daisy field, along with some daisies flying in the wind in the distance. I’ve had this painting for about 7 years. This is a canvas acrylic painting, and it serves as an art piece to help tie in my aesthetic theme of plants with cool undertones. I think this painting is beautiful because it captures the calm and coolness that nature can be and how there can be peace even under a grey sky.  

2. WRITING A SELF-PORTRAIT: 

I’m 18 years old and Hispanic. I identify as female with she/her pronouns. I’m a born and raised fourth generation Floridian. For fun I raise and show livestock (cows and pigs) and travel around Florida to compete in livestock competitions. I’m a member of FFA and Manatee County Young Farmers and Ranchers. I work as a part-time babysitter as I’m still in high school. What makes me unique is that I can find a connection with the majority of people because when you raise livestock, people come from various backgrounds and experiences. Also, I come from a mix background, a Hispanic dad and white mom, so I have a mix cultural lifestyle.      

3. ART PROJECT (SELF-PORTRAIT):  

For my self-portrait (the second picture), I did a scrap book type design to represent the memories I had with my past/ current livestock animals. These pictures of myself and my animals show a time when I was happy sending time with them. However, the middle picture of the collage shows a representation of what it is like raising a terminal market animal. While you will always have the memories of bonding and caring for these animals, once they go to the market, all you are left with is their halter and empty stalls.