Field Trip

I really enjoyed the field trip to ISU, it was the first time that I walked around the ISU campus. I never knew how nice the Art studios there were and that they really had that nice of courses there. The House of 7 Gabbles was a really interesting show, there was a lot of different mediums of artwork there.

When we got to listen to Diario (I can't think of his last name) it was the most interesting talks I have ever gotten to sit in on. He talk about his latest pieces so in depth. His artwork was so interesting, and usually I'm not too interested in 3-D. But his work was very very interesting.

I'm really looking forward to making pieces that will go into the art show at ISU. I'm going to do more mixed media artwork for this project. I'm also wanting to add Droning Noises/Harsh Noises that go along with the artwork. Maybe even have the noises come out of the art itself. I have a lot of creepy ideas for these pieces, I'm really excited for them.

Concentration Portraits

So as most of you know I changed my concentration from Photography to Illustration (Watercolor and Pen). I'm really glad that I did this change, it's not that I don't enjoy doing photography. I just really enjoy doing watercolor paintings.

This project is some what out of my comfort zone, in ways. I'm doing portraits of people, from the time of birth to the time of death. I'm going to go through different ethnic backgrounds, races, "deformations", etc. I really really like this project idea, I think it'll surpass my other pieces I've done this year.

Concentration.Portfolio // I

So yesterday I started to take the portraits for the first part of this portfolio. As of right now I have to take 11 more portraits of people and 12 photos of nature to match with them. I took a portrait of Sydney-Jo, I had her be "the face" of calm/content. I was thinking about having a photo of still water or just a calm shot of a forest. Almost like a picture of something in nature that I find calming or that actually calms me. I'm actually pretty excited to see how all of these photos turn out. But i guess it's like that with every film or pinhole photo I've taken; you never really know what you're going to get.

Maybe I could match her with this photo or a photo similar to it. This was one of the most calming areas I have ever been to. No doubt.

Midwest Reverie // update I

Update Entry I:

I've been thinking a lot about what the first issue of Midwest Reverie is going to contain and how I should execute it. I'm having a hard time deciding what program I should use to make it. Should I use photoshop, illustrator, indesign, etc.? Or should I use just some basic stock program on my Mac or the Art Departments Macs (advice is welcomed). I've just been over thinking this first issue.

The innards:

With this first issue I'm of course going to put my artwork in it, wether that be some of the photos I take, paintings I do, or just some of my basic pen and ink/watercolor cartoons I enjoy doing.
I'm also going to add interviews with musicians and other artists. I want to interview Full of Hell, a Blackened Hardcore band from Maryland/Central Pennsylvania, whom have had a pretty big influence on me as of lately. They've influenced my band, Ikari, and even some of the concepts to my pen and ink drawings lately. So I really want to put an interview with them in there and ask some questions about art and what not. 
I'm going to feature articles about the local music scene (music releases, shows, new bands, etc.) and the local artwork (art shows, local artists and their work, words of wisdom and guidance from the art teachers, interviews with local artists) that's going on in the Peoria/Washington area.

Arts vs Crafts

I'm in different when it comes to this topic. There can be a difference between the two, arts being more heartfelt and meaningful or crafts just being fun and something you do when you have the time. But like you said, Mrs. Martin, some of your family members do it and sell them at craft shows. They probably make their "art" heartfelt and love doing it.

I think the word "craft" or craft making is just another word for "art". It just depends where you were from. Some states or cities may you use the word craft in-place or the word art.

But I will agree that crafts seem to be a little more "corny" then artwork.

Zine

Lately I've been wanting to start my own 'Zine with my photography, artwork (like my short cartoons/comics), articles of local bands (interviews, show fliers, etc.), my friends art, and just random articles. I was planning on doing this as a project for the AP class. I've started collecting some material to make the first release, I just need to go about making it at this point. As of right now I just made my tumblr for the zine, "Midwest Reverie", I haven't put too much on it yet but I will soon start updating it with more stuff that I will put into the first pressing.


Keep up to date with it:

midwestreverie.tumblr.com

Doubt

When it comes to art I'm always doubting myself and my work. Especially in situations like this class. Where this work is shown to the public no matter what and could potentially decide my fate when it comes to College. I have a hard with procrastination, I'm sure Mrs. Martin has noticed. And that also causes me to doubt myself.

I always think my work isn't good enough to get me to be noticed, or that I shouldn't even be an Artist. This is always running through my head. But when someone says my art piece is good or complements it in any way what-so-ever it really boosts my confidence in my art. Not to sound cocky or arrogant, but I'm sure it's like that with most of us Art Students. 

I will always have doubts in myself and my art, but I know that if I really put all my heart into I can go somewhere with it.