Opening Practice: 2015-2016

Look at the work or works you created last week. What is your initial response to the works? 

     When I look at the work I created last week, I first notice the variety of different textures and the dark, moody colors. The emotion that I was assigned to depict was despair, and I used clutter, passionate colors, and sharp angles to capture this emotion. When I see the piece, sadness and panic come to mind first. Although I do think that I could have made a more precise and cohesive composition had I had enough time, I believe that my emotion was expressed thoroughly through the textures, patterns, and colors used. 

What emotional, conceptual, formal elements emerge as important in the final piece(s)?

     To me, the most important elements of my final piece is the use of directional movement and varying texture. The fast brushstrokes and angular cuts I used create a feeling of movement that helps to illustrate my emotion. Also, the distinct shape and form that I used to create the face of the figure stands out to me and invokes a certain sadness or depression. Emotionally, the dark, turbulent colors in the piece emphasize the emotion of despair clearly why the harsh, jagged lines and edges make the composition more unsettling. 

How was working with limited time and materials helpful to you?

       Working with limited time and materials allowed me to express my true and immediate feelings in my work. I did not have the time to censor myself or to filter my thoughts, so any ideas that I had were quickly implemented in my work. As a result, my piece is more natural and genuine than it would have been otherwise. Though it is also slightly disorganized, I find my work to be raw and emotional rather than polished and vague. 

What in this quick introductory practice would you like to take into your regular creative practice?

     In my regular creative practice, I would like to incorporate the quick and uncensored mentality that I embraced during this project. In the future, I hope to put my first ideas and reactions into my work directly without editing myself to create more emotional and genuine photographs. I want to embrace the expressiveness of this practice and to implement the spontaneity and fearlessness in my work this year.