FUNNEST How-To Ever!

This was a while back but I had the pleasure to go to a GSA Visual Art Workshop held at my school one Saturday! And while I was in my chair piddling around and listening to the instructor preach about the making process of what we were about to do, this BIG exciting idea popped inside my head to Blog Bout It! So here I am with enthusiasm to give you an Easy 1-2-3 Step Process that is doable at home!

You might be wondering what I am even talking about. Some of you might know and many have already figured it out:

Paper Maché

Materials Needed: Newspaper, masking tape, bucket of water, casting gaug

e, unimportant scissors & a clean surface area (that can get DIRTY!)

*Note -- the use of wire can help for structure and support

Step 1 - Think of an idea that you would like to make into a sculpture. Draw your idea on paper. Remember “Simple shapes make basic forms”

EX: just by drawing out a couple of circles and a few lines, one can see the shape of an elephant

Step 2 - Take the newspaper and wad (crumble together, twist, etc.) it to make your basic form of the idea you had. Once you have a shape that satisfies you, use some of the masking tape so your form won’t undo.

I decided to make The Scream by Edvard Munch. And as you can see, I made two different shapes out of newspaper and can now tape them together to make the head and body.

Step 3 - Now once you have your newspaper sculpture, take the casting gauge and cut a piece (the size doesn’t matter, but I suggest not cutting it less than an inch).

Have the bucket filled with water near you and dip the piece of casting gauge into the water and back out.

Do the “Cha-Cha-Cha” motion, as shown in the video, and place the gauge on your sculpture.

Repeat Step 3 until you have your entire sculpture covered. The best way to have a nice finished piece is to have at least two layers of the casting gauge on your sculpture. Know that you can always add newspaper even after you have the gauge on. All you must do is put the newspaper shape you want to add on your sculpture and use the casting gauge to cover it.

Please post any comments, questions, etc.

I'll be more than happy to help, if something doesn't make sense! :)

Responding to Yuken Teruya.

Trying diligently to find a topic to inspire me for this weeks blog, I googled and googled so many different topics pertaining to art. but. Nothing. At least not until I decided to look up my own concentration (Nature: Trees) and I remembered that earlier today my friend, Kathryn, was working on a paper-cut-out project of some trees. And when I saw this, I knew I had finally found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Yuken Teruya is a Japanese artist who got his MFA (Master of Fine Arts) at School of Visual Arts in New York!! My heart jolted, a little, when I saw he was an alumni from SVA! :D

What I mainly love about his work, is the different paper he decides to use to cut out the tree or plant designs. Teruya’s art makes simple, everyday things into something appealing to the eye! To me, it is mind-bottling how much time, practice, and skill it takes to make this kind of art! Seeing his artwork makes me want to use up a thing of toilet paper just for the cardboard tube! Teruya has definitely opened the door to a whole new level of paper-cutting!

To check out some more of Yuken Teruya’s artworks, click here!!!! GO NOW! ^_^

Works Cited:

"Yuken Teruya Studio - Home." Yuken Teruya Studio - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2011. <http://www.yukenteruyastudio.com/index.html>.

College REPORT: S.V.A. in N.Y.C.

When looking through the different colleges that were going to be at Watkins College in Nashville for National Portfolio Day, I stubbled across this here college in New York. I had the chance to get my portfolio reviewed by a representative from the School of Visual Arts, but unfortunately, I was unable to because of the long line and the lack of time. Though it would of been nice, I know I still have many opportunities. . . .

This college offers 11 Undergraduate degree programs: Advertising - Animation - Cartooning - Computer Art - Film and Video - Fine Arts - Graphic Design - Illustration - Interior Design - Photography - Visual and Critical Studies

The Steps To APPLY for SVA:

1. Fill out an Undergraduate Application form. You must first create an online Account, here, before you can fill out an application online (physical applications are available by mail).
2. You must send a NONREFUNDABLE $50 for the application fee. They DO NOT want cash!! If applying online, you have to pay with a credit card.
3. Have a Portfolio! More information is below.
4. Need to have Official Transcripts from your high school you attended.
5. They would like to see your results of the SAT and/or ACT.
6. Written Essay. Statement of Intent - basically you write a 500 word or less essay about why you want to pursue an undergrad degree in visual arts
7. If your primary language is not English, you must demonstration your English proficiency.

Portfolio Requirements:

For all of the majors, an applicant should have a portfolio with about 15 to 20 examples of their own work consisting of things like drawings, paintings, sculpture, etc. EXCEPT a Photography applicant should include photographic images AND a Film and Video applicant should include a two-part essay instead of a portfolio.

This link will go beyond the basics of what I have written:

http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/adm/index.jsp?sid0=4&sid1=56&sid2=90

Click here to view Undergraduate Tuition and Expenses.

The reason this school appeals to me is because it is located in the city of inspiration. Everything about NYC is like buying a ice cream as a kid or seeing a drawing of DISAPPOINTASAUR (sorry Alec if I misspelled it)! I think it would be a great place to art and get that artistic vibe that only NYC can give off. I’m not saying that is the only reason, but it is a selling point! :D

A Personal Interest in G.S.A.

Are you a resident in Kentucky, either a sophomore or junior in high school, and have a passion for the ARTS!?

Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) is a FREE, three week summer program (from June 17 to July 7, 2012) at Transylvania University. They offer the chance to participate in one of nine artistic disciplines (click on each, to get more information):

• architecture
• creative writing
• dance
• drama
• instrumental music
• music theatre
• new media
• visual art
• vocal music

Note: Each Area has different requirements for auditions/ reviews*

*There is also an Audition/ Review, one must go to, along with submitting the actual online application plus the recommendation letters.

Important Dates for Applying:

**DECEMBER 31^st, 2011 is the Due Date for Applications!!**

On January 25, 2012, all applicants will receive an email from GSA to confirm the time and place where they will be expected to be. Also one will receive a link that one can download the GSA Recommendation forms.

Recommendations must be postmarked on February 15, 2012 to the GSA Office by school officials.

During the Fridays and Saturdays of March 2012, there are specific dates each Audition/ Review site will be held. Now where you go all depends on what you suggested location on the application and then the confirmation email from GSA.

April 13, 2012!!! GSA will be sending out letters by mail to applicants for confirmation on if applicant got into the program; depending on how far you live, the letter delivery time might be slower or faster.

To get even more INFORMATION please visit: http://www.kentuckygsa.org/

APPLY NOW!

Another Historical Analysis? Claude Monet.

“Sketch of Woman and Umbrella”

By: Claude Monet

Brief Bio- Oscar Claude Monet (1840-1926) was a French painter who “looked to nature for inspiration and use vibrant light and color”, and he was a main figure in the Impressionist movement. His artwork, below, was done with oil on canvas and called “Sketch of Woman and Umbrella” (1866).

When I first look at Monet’s artwork, I see the brightness and pureness of his use of color which makes my body fill up with a sense of sweet, happiness and peace. The first thing you probably notice is his brush stokes (or lines). He uses small and almost quick brush stokes for the texture of the grass blades; when you add the color, it makes the painting have atmospheric perspective since most of the darker value lines, of the grass, are closer to the bottom of the picture and the lighter are more towards the back. The use of color and value are also important in the shadow of the woman and the lady figure herself because it forms . One is able to picture exactly which direction the sun is shining and the effect the light has on the overall depth of the value.

Now focus your attention to the sky. See the different texture Monet uses to separate the ground from the sky. He makes the sky seem fluffy like and serene. It took me a bit to actually notice, but I assume when Monet painted this artwork, it was windy outside. Their are certain “clues” that help support the movement of the wind. The main one is the woman’s scarf, since it is not resting on her but instead it’s pretty much horizontal. Also back in the day, ladies who used umbrellas during the day had them to block the sun and the wind. The last two examples are the direction of the dress and the grass are going. They both face the direction of the scarf. Isn’t it amazing how just a few minor details make this painting more natural and alive!?

Claude Monet’s exquisite artwork is very moving. His emphasizes the piece not just around the women with an umbrella but around the beauty of nature too. He is able to make the painting flow all together with texture but still look distinguishable compared to not being able to tell what-is-what.

Works Cited:

"Claude Monet Biography - life, family, name, death, wife, young, information, born, time, year." Encyclopedia of World Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ma-Mo/Monet-Claude.html>.

"Claude Monet Study of a Figure Outdoors (Facing Left) Poster Print." Monet Giverny Directory. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.interagir.com/?entryID=61>.

Yeahh, so. I might be Rambling…

It is officially FALL BREAK so I wanted to record some of my progress and art from my sketchbook and just ideas on the Interwebs!!

I am not sure what to categorize this blog on the assignment list but I really wanted to try something new and FUN-ish!

These first three pictures are taken from my actual sketchbook. The first one is what I like to call “my tribute to the 10th anniversary of 9/11” and was first just cut-outs from an art magazine. Most of the pictures in this sketch are explanatory but in case it is unclear, the smoke from black building of the Twin Towers is symbolizing the action of when the top part of the building collapsed downward. My second picture, to me, is not a very strong sketch compared to my many others but I find it uplifting and it was also my first water color (from a Crayola set, nothing fancy). The last sketch is a print I carved from a linoleum block which I then inked and put it in my sketchbook. Later, I came back in and added a little bit of watercolor to spice it up.

This was a project I did last year when I semi-taught (I had a basic how-to from my art teacher) myself how to do metalsmithing. It is all hand-made, not including the beads, copper necklace. Earlier today, I was ask I could make another one of these kind of tree necklaces except made with silver and have greenish beads instead. An idea was said that this would be a great business, if I made a lot and sold them. I truly feel like thriving artist growing everyday.

-AS

Cartoonist = “Like” a “Really” Big No-NO

Now, I know what some are thinking, “WHAT!? You don’t like cartoonzz!?” But in reality, I grew up loving to watch cartoon shows and reading the massive comic pages in the Sunday newspaper (while drinking my coffee of purely sugar). Think of it as being your career path. There are so many job opportunities like writing for films, illustrating books, or having a strip in the newspaper. It almost sounds too easy to even be a job, but when it comes down to actually drawing a cartoon, that’s when I take a step back.

Like all art careers, you have to work and climb that ladder to success. In other words, some artists struggle to stand on their own two feet after graduating college, and they have to sweat to get a stable career. Being a cartoonist, you are competing against others who are well-known, like Jim Davis (Garfield) and Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes). Of course, not everyone leans toward making comic strips but they can relate in ‘what it takes to be a cartoonist’.

Cartoonists draw and use words to get their message across. For instance, their reason might be for a political, humorous, learning, or even just-for-fun purpose, plus so much more. Needless to say, a cartoonist needs to have outstanding drawing skills plus, depending interests, knowledge of worldly news and good grammar and literary skills. When choosing a major, they must think about personal interests and goals so perhaps majoring in Journalism would be the path to take, if one wants to pursue that type of cartooning. Unless, a school of interest majors in cartooning, then a portfolio might consist of different cartoon strips, figures, etc. As a cartoonist, one must have their own creative and intellectual ideas which are refrained to a short time span, or deadline. A good way to get involved early is to try to draw cartoon strips for a school newspaper. It is pretty much required to be able to work well with people and communicate efficiently. The salary, too, depends on the particular job desired, but it ranges from $50 to $1,500+ per week and an average of about $40,000 annually. To check out what the average salary in your state, click here.

“To be, or not to be (a cartoonist).” I personally could not, mainly because I can not draw in a consistent way to make the drawing always look the same. I find it hard to do so, and there would probably be many noticeable eraser marks of me trying to get it right. While I do find joy in looking at a cartoonist’s work, I haven’t had that “spark” of talent arise in myself to be able to make out-of-this-world comics. BUT have no fear cause I have found a way to help in my or anybody else’s lacking of cartoon fun!

CLICK LINK BELOW! :D

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/

Works Cited:

"Cartoonist and Animator Job Description, Career as a Cartoonist and Animator, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job- StateUniversity." Job Descriptions and Careers, Career and Job Opportunities, Career Search, and Career Choices and Profiles- StateUniversity . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2011. <http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/102/Cartoonist-Animator.html>.

A Contemporary Artwork Response

This week I really wanted to find a modern piece of artwork that can relate to my own personal concentration. For those who may not know, this year my art class was asked to have a focus that would be the base to all the artwork we will be doing throughout the year. My concentration is Nature, especially the life and growth of trees and plants.

The artwork below is an Acrylic piece on canvas by William F. Renzulli called Solitary Tree on purple. His primary focus is on architecture which has led him to mainly draw and paint environments, townscapes, and urban landscapes.

In this painting, Renzulli uses a fair amount of texture. If you look closely to the sky it has a splotchy look to it which represents the fluffiness of the clouds and to further differentiate the sky (background) from the ground. The ground too has a more rough and horizontal texture compared to the sky. It looks like to me that perhaps he used a wash to paint the ground because I see different layers of color underneath the low key and value of the brownish-red. Now, noticing the color choice, Renzulli definitely used complementary colors to make his painting pop-out. Do you see what I mean? He is using the colors red and green plus yellow and purple in his artwork. By doing this, he emphasizes the tree even more. This emphasis of the tree would make this piece have an asymmetrical balance, since the tree is place more toward the left of the canvas.

I am now very fond of William F. Renzulli’s work and I encourage you to check out his website below to view some more of his artworks.

Works Cited:

"the Art of William F. Renzulli." the Art of William F. Renzulli. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http://renzulliart.com/home.html>.

A Response to Linzi Lynn

As I blogged last week, while looking through the artworks from the contemporary artist site, I stubbled across a few works from Linzi Lynn that caught my attention. Her art mainly consist of acrylic paintings on canvas.

My first reaction to her work was that it definitely stood out like a sore thumb and I could unquestionably recognize her art by her artistic style. By style, I mean how the use of color and the similar gold gradation as the background really defines her work and sets her apart from the other artist, which in my opinion makes her artwork more noticeable.

Works Cited:

Linzi Lynn's homepage of art website-

http://www.linzilynn.com/home

Thumbnails of all of Lynn's work-

http://www.linzilynn.com/index.php?thumbnails=on

An Inspiration to Me

Have you ever heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”? Have you gotten that pang of warmth and excitement when you take in something visually then process it into an Idea? An idea that leads you to a world of different possibilities. Today, I got that feeling when trying to plan this weeks blog.

*Note to the teacher: I hope you don’t mind but I am twisting my interpretation of relating an “article” to my own personal research.

Earlier today, I thought I was going to write about an contemporary artwork, so I went to Google and typed “contemporary artwork” to get some ideas. I found a very interesting site that I think most of you will enjoy, that inspired me to write out my thoughts and ideas to get some feedback plus to remember what inspired me. (The website is at the bottom of this post.)

I looked through some of the artwork in the Sculpture section and found a few that caught my eye.

1 2

3 45

Bruce Macmillian’s artwork was the first picture I found that looked interesting. I think it really focuses on the growth of a seed which can be tiny and emphasizes life can sprout from something as small as this. I was mainly amused by Pam Stem’s crafting of the tree and how I could derive an idea from this. I saw Jason Houchen’s work and I have always imagined doing something similar, except I would add my own personal flare to it. I really like the aspect of designing a tree by twisting metal. When I first saw the thumbnail of Lana Chu’s limb I really liked the glossy appearance of the art which made it look fragile. I posted Michele DeSutter’s p because when I laid my eyes on it, it really reminded me of one of my own artworks. :)

My artistic side shone through while browsing the many posted artworks of so many talented people. I have sketched my ideas down that were inspired by the pictures I saw and I even hope to actually make some of them!

Works Cited:

"Find Contemporary Art & Original Art in online artist galleries at Artspan." Find Contemporary Art & Original Art in online artist galleries at Artspan. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Sept. 2011. <http://www.artspan.com/>.

Why Do I Have to Choose?

If there was any possible way to pursue every single art career known to man, I would definitely be one of those artist. Unfortunately one can’t, to my knowledge, do something as phenomenal as such, and supposing they could then that would be a mind-throbbing experience. I do believe every young artist should embark their journey by exploring their options and being able to work first-hand on a project similar to what an actual career would be.

A career that appeals to me at this very moment is a Stage/Set Designer:

Education: Bachelor's degree in fine arts/ design or even a Master’s degree

Training: Not any specifics, but it is suggested to have technical, artistic, and communication skills

Average income: $45,000 annually

Types or variations on the job: theatre, film production companies, advertising agencies, etc.

Start up expenses: None

Portfolio you would need: artwork you’ve done in the past

I have experienced the building aspect of "making a play," which has really opened my eyes to see a whole other world of artistic opportunities. During the summer of 2011, I went up to NYC and got to see the Broadway Production of The Phantom of the Opera. Afterwards, I came out of the theatre with a thought. A thought about how inspirational every detail on stage was and how it was made. I got to help build and set up during a Dinner Theatre hosted at my church, which allowed me to get a feel of what it was like. A set designer has a hands-on experience which has always been a talent of mine!

Works Cited:

"Set Designer Career - Job Description, Salary & Education Requirements." College Crunch - School Research, Degree Options, Career Planning, University & College Reviews. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2011. <http://www.collegecrunch.org/careers/art-and-design/set-designer/>.

"TV/film/theatre set designer : job description : graduate jobs, careers, recruitment TARGETjobs." Graduate jobs, careers, recruitment, schemes and advice: TARGETjobs UK. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2011. <http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/a-to-z-of-careers/tvfilmtheatre-set-designer#>.

"Set Designer Job Description | what is | how to become a Set Designer." Best sample job descriptions,duties and titles Guide and job description templates. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2011. <http://jobdescriptionsguide.com/set-designer-job-description.htm>.

I Scream, a Historical Analysis

“The Scream”

By: Edvard Munch

Brief Bio- Edvard Munch (1863-1944) was a Norwegian painter and graphic artist who emphasized most of his artwork on the aspect of man’s emotions. His painting, “The Scream” (1893) was done in tempera paint and pastels.

The Scream consists mostly of smooth, curved lines that has a certain organic flow to it. However, there is the exception, the bridge has straight, diagonal lines that have a geometric shape. The sky contains warm hues in contrast to the ground which have cool colors. I would say that this artwork is a low key, low intensity painting. I believe this painting has movement because in my mind, it seems as if the two people are walking on the bridge with the dark, blue water rippling in the background going beneath it. This piece has a asymmetrical balance since the two pedestrians, especially, makes the focus lean more to the left. The emphasis or focal point of The Scream is the man right in the bottom, center page with his hands to his pale face and his mouth shaped as the letter “O”.

Works Cited:

"Art Through Time: A Global View - Close-up: The Scream ." Learner.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Aug. 2011. <http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/103/zoom.html>.

"Edvard Munch Biography - life, childhood, death, wife, school, mother, son, information, born, time, scandal." Encyclopedia of World Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Aug. 2011. <http://www.notablebiographies.com/Mo-Ni/Munch-Edvard.html>.