Crit Notes #2

- continue with sketches
- finish up larger pieces
- keep some pieces unfinished as part of installation
- use music related objects to make art (i.e. records, cassettes, cds)
- figure out placement of objects

Cassette/CD/Record Paintings

I have been struggling to come up with other ideas of materials to draw/paint on. Since my theme is music, I have been thinking about items that relate directly to music. I came up with the idea of doing a painting on a bunch of, either, casette tapes, cds, or records. I was looking on the web to find examples of these ideas, and this is what I came across.

Being a genius vs. Having a genius, Elizabeth Gilbert

This TED talk was about an artist being a genius versus an artist HAVING a genius. I would say that right about now, I would ask my genius to help me think of new ways to present my art. As of now, I have a lot fo sketches on paper in pencil. Yes, I like them, but so many of them can get boring. I need to find new ways to present my art. One way I have done this is by drawing on a television screen. I hope that my genius can help me along the way, to find new ways to present my art. Brainstorming is one method, but I think brainstorming is a waste of time. I would much rather have my genius pop a few ideas in to my head every now and then.

Week 5

This week was a very productive week. I think I got some of my best pieces started this week. With school winding down, its hard to stay on track and keep my mind on what I'm doing, but I have managed to do just that. I found an old t.v. in my basement, which I have turned into an art piece for my installation using paint markers. Also, most of my pieces up to this point have been relatively small, so I decided to get started on a larger piece. This way, there is some contrast in my installation, so it is not only small sketches. I am liking the path I am on, and if I continue on this path, I believe I will have a successful installation.

U.K. Neighborhood Records Its Electricity Use on the Street

A recently came across a project similar to an artist we saw earlier this year in the Figure Five class. A summary of the project can be read here: http://www.tidystreet.org/ Basically, it is an art project where people in a small community in the UK put down how much electricity they used. Since the project has started (approximately. 3 weeks ago) electricity use has dropped by 15% in their community. This is another way to get the community involved. Something for my to keep in mind when creating a final project is something that the audience can take away from my work. This is a great example of that.

Week 4

This week was very helpful in working towards a final product for the Senior Studio show. We had our critiques, and I was able to get feedback about my ideas and work up to this point from my classmates. I explained my ideas for a final project, and I received helpful ideas for a way to create a final project. Coming into this week, I was worried about the organization of my final project, and how I would place it in the gallery. After hearing from my classmates, Ms. Roberts, and looking at different artists, I came to the conclusion that organization was not necessary. All I needed was a theme, a place in the gallery, and just throw work on the wall in a way that I was happy with. I don't feel like I need to work out the logistics. I plan on just continuing to make work about music, and how it plays a large role in my life, and then taking these pieces I have created and finding a way to put them together to make one large piece. My plan for the rest of the term is just to continue drawing, sketching, painting, different aspects of music in my life, and working out the rest later.

Austin Kleon

The quote that I found most interesting happened to be the very last quote on the page. Most of the quotes were long, and elaborate, but I liked this quote because of its simplicity. The quote is, “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.” - Jean-Luc Godard. I have never heard of Jean-Luc Godard, but this quote is meaningful. It is saying how it doesn't truly matter where you steal an idea from, it matters what you make it. It matters what you and your creativity can do with a little "push" from someone else's work.

A strategy that I feel would work well for me is "Write What You Like". In an art sense, make art that you enjoy. Imagine art that you would like to see, and go out and make it. I spend too much time making pieces that I settle for, and I make them over and over again. I need to being to mark art of things I want to see made. This will make making art much easier, thus helping with my overall project for the Senior Studio.