Identity Results

For the past few weeks, students have been stretching their creative legs on this first project theme dealing with Identity. It is always interesting to see the results of the first project simply because it is often one that is the most timid. I think students are still getting used to the responsibility of selecting and enacting their materials for their plans, which can be overwhelming.

This seems to have some students stumped and they settle on solutions they feel more comfortable with instead of taking big risks. The good news, though, is they they learn a ton from this experience and use that to help shape projects going forward.

Even so, I am still pretty satisfied with the results of their efforts and look forward to what choices are made for the next works. 

Here are some highlights from finished works with this theme:

Brayden: In my art work, I did print making. It is a picture of me holding a basketball. Basketball is my favorite sports and it is one of my favorite things to do. I used Julian Opie's idea by creating people. In his artwork he uses a lot of pictures of people.

Sydney: To create my art work that shows Identity I used many different techniques to complete my piece. First I had decided to cut out eyes of all different sizes and color. Then I had collaged them all over the poster board in a way to bring out each eye. Later on once all was glued on I had done a wash of paint over the eyes and the board. To make it more personal I had taken come up with a quote and written on notebook paper to make it more original yet special and then I had added extra eyes that I had and glued them on to pop more color. These techniques had help me create an identity peace that meant a lot to me. I had taken the signature of Julian Opie who always had two beady eyes in his art work which had given me the idea to center around eyes. The identity piece that I had created is personal to my identity because I get complemented on my eyes and I have seen things that no one else have seen and have gone through things that no child could imagine. Eyes and the secrets they hold and the stories they tell mean a lot to me because I seem to see the stories of someone through their eyes.

Eli: For my identity project, I used printmaking and ink to make the red objects. I used a tool with ink which is normally for texture in clay, but I thought the design would look cool as the background. I used complementary colors, red and green to really show the two parts of the image, and to express both as a whole piece. I used Identity by making and carving things I like into the print (red) I put glasses, a pillow, glass cleaner, and I filled the absence with designs. There are many ways you can make your Identity in art, but I thought the coolest way was to make a print with stuff I like in it. I wanted this to show the things I like and also try to use the rule of thirds.

Samantha: n my work I wanted to tell a story about identity. I used Frida Kahlo as inspiration because she always tells a story with her art, just how I wanted too. My story shows a black and white portrait, and then puzzles pieces covering some of the face of this person. This represents that even though you may think you know your identity you will really never fully know what it is just like how it takes forever to finish a long puzzle. I had the puzzle pieces covering some of the face because maybe she knew that part of her identity but didn’t know the rest of it, which is the black and white portrait. While creating this piece I used a collage technique over the puzzle pieces to create images that might have made up someone’s identity. I also used a drawing technique where I shaded the hair outline and strands of hair them I got a paper towel and blended them together to get a shaded hair look. I think that the techniques I used helped the picture stand out to the eye and made them wonder.

Abigail: In my drawing, "It's The Inside That Counts", I use drawing pencils to both shade, and get the color of the skin, hair color, and ect. I use also use pan paint for the background, and use the sponge technique to get the unique texture. One reason I used the pencils is because all my life, sketching with pencils has been my big connection to art, and so I thought, what better way to show identity than by using the tools I've worked with for so many years. The reason that I used the sponge technique is because I thought the texture would compliment my drawing quite well. This art overall shows the concept of identity, by showing how I use my artwork to explain things. For example, inner beauty is a big thing that I like to promote, and I also love to draw portraits (that's my strong suit), so I thought this project would be a great way to show both of the things that make up myself, make up my identity. When it comes to artist's, I believe my art relates to Frida Kahlo's the most. We both use personal connections in our art, her with her Mexican heritage, me with my portraits. In the end, I am happy with my project of identity, and can't wait to do a project like that again.