Beneath the Surface

Beneath the Surface

Materials:  Acrylic paint on reading novel paper

To create this piece, I first placed pieces of paper which I have ripped out from old novels, and glued them on top of a large sheet of paper.  Once the glue had dried, I painted the face of woman on top of the paper, using only black paint for the details of the face and blue and white paint for the eyes.  Using different tones and washes of the black paint, I was able to create the appearance of shadows on the face, making it appear more realistic. 

I decided to call this painting beneath the surface because the woman in the painting looks as if she is looking in the distance and is captivated by something which cannot be seen by the viewers.  I also decided to paint the entire face using black paint, while only the eye with blue paint because I believe that eyes are the windows to the soul; a lot can be seen through the eyes of a person.  It is a persons eyes which light up as they tell an intriguing story, that start to water when a person is emotional, and that never change as a person gets older.  I believe that beneath the eyes, there is always more beneath the surface of a person.  There are untold stories which want to be shared, but cannot; thoughts that are cramped up inside a mind waiting to find a way out.  Many people may think they may know a person well, however, they may not see the entire person inside and out.

The main goal of this piece was to captivate an audience and intrigue them into finding what is beneath the surface of this woman, and also make them wonder what the woman is looking at which cannot be seen.    

- Yours Truly 

Inspiration:  http://favim.com/image/2440144/

Native American Art - Geometric Bird

Geometric Bird

Materials:  Acrylic paint on cartridge paper 

To create an art piece representing Native American Art I painted an image of a bird.  In the Native American culture, there are various symbols representing different things.  

I tried to recreate this image of Native American art which I found.  It is a very intricate drawing of a bird that has meaning to it.  The bird is believed to represent the physical form of a spirit helper and guide.  It is also believed that because of their ability to fly, birds are seen as messengers and bringers of change.  The birds of the feathers are used for spiritual and ritual uses. 

Within the bird, there are different geometric shapes that make the image of the bird appear to be slightly abstract.  This image of a bird does have meaning for Native Americans and I believe that it is important to understand the art of different cultures.  It is important to see the differences and similarities between the art of cultures, so people can find ways to connect with each other.  

- Yours Truly

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/397935317051618491/

http://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-symbols/bird-symbols.htm

Art of Mexico - Flowers and Leaves

Flowers and Leaves

Materials:  Marker on paper

To create an art piece for the art of Mexico, I decided to draw patterns on paper using various markers.  All of the objects in the foreground of the drawing are flowers while the green background is supposed to be images of leaves.

I was inspired to create this drawing as I saw this Mexican art piece which includes images of trees with flowers and leaves falling off of it.  My art piece is more abstract since it is difficult to see what it is actually a drawing of.  However, I wanted to capture a similar feeling as this piece, and so I included flowers and leaves in my drawing.

- Yours Truly

https://www.pinterest.com/hofer77sandra/mexican-art/

Art of Africa - Peaceful Place

Peaceful Place

Materials:  Acrylic paint on paper

To represent an African art piece, I painted this image of a silhouette of a tree, placed in front of a sunset.  Using pencil, I first drew the outline of mountains in the background and the silhouette of a tree.  Then, using various colours consisting of red, brown and yellow, I created a wash with these colours to place in the background.  Once the background paint dried, I used black paint to paint the silhouettes.

I decided to title this painting "Peaceful Place" because as I look at this painting, it brings a sense of peace and calmness to me.  The sunset and the isolation of the scenery makes me feel calm as this place appears to be far from society.  It is far from wars, and far from anything bad happening in the world.  

I was inspired to create this painting as I came across this image of African Art.  This painting made me feel peaceful as I watched the sunset and the family in the foreground of the image, walking peacefully in the sunset.  

In my painting, I wanted viewers to have the same feelings that I did.  I wanted them to be able to picture themselves watching a sunset, as they are alone in a deserted area, away from society.  

- Yours Truly 

http://www.nairaland.com/124005/art-lovers-house-appreciate-african

Modern Canadian Art - Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom 

Materials:  Acrylic paint on cartridge paper

To create this painting, I first drew the outline of a tree, and then taking different tones of red paint, I blotted the paint throughout the background of the painting and then painted the tree brown. Once the paint for the background and the tree dried, I dotted white paint on the branches of the tree, and in the center of the white dots, added red to create the look of flower petals.

To create a painting based on modern Canadian art, I decided to paint a Cherry Blossom Tree. To me, this seems like a typical painting that would be hung throughout the homes of many people. It is a painting that many people would want to have to decorate a space.

I was inspired to create this painting as I came across another painting of a Cherry Blossom tree.  To me, this painting appears as if it is hung within a home as a decoration for the space.  I believe that modern Canadian art is any art that one would want to decorate a space with.  Also, because times are changing, modern Canadian art would be anything an artist would want to paint along with anything one believes is art.  People are becoming more accepting with different types of art, which is why art can be anything a person believes it to be.

-Yours Truly

http://vancouver.canadianlisted.com/art-antiques/original-canadian-modern-abstract-art-painting-cherry-blossom-200-west-vancouver-coquitlam_3094391.html

Surrealism - What we can See

What we can See

Materials:  Pencil and pencil crayon on cartridge paper

Surrealists focused on capturing their recurring thoughts or dreams in their art.  They also looked at capturing imagery found in nature, throughout their artwork, such as birds or insects.  

To capture surrealism in my art piece, I drew a picture of an eye with the world in the center.  Using various shades of pencils, consisting of 2B, 4B, and 6B, I drew and shaded the eye, and using pencil crayons, I coloured and shaded the world in the center of the eye. 

I placed an image of the world in the center of an eye because I wanted my image to give the message that everyone sees the world differently. My world may be different from someone elses world. This goes along with the quote "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  What one person may see beautiful, another person may not see as beautiful.

I was inspired to create this drawing as I saw this image of an eye crying in an ocean.  I thought that the eye in the image was very captivating and I wanted to include it in my drawing.  I also feel as though the eyes are the windows to the soul.  As one person looks into someone elses eyes, they can see a lot.  For example, as a person may look into someones eyes, they can tell if a person is lying or telling the truth.  Also, when a person shows strong emotions such as happiness or sadness, they may start to cry.  

I believe that this drawing can captivate an audience and make them think of the deeper meaning behind it, which is that everyone sees the world differently.  

"Behind the most beautiful eyes, lay secrets deeper and darker than the mysterious seas."  - yld

- Yours Truly 

http://www.theartstory.org/movement-surrealism.htm

https://www.pinterest.com/seaskywind/surreal/

http://quotesgram.com/behind-these-eyes-quotes/    

OpArt - 3-Dimensional Shapes

3-Dimensional Shapes

Materials:  Fine-liner on cartridge paper

Op art focused on creating illusion and different perceptions.  Some people say that op art consists of "retinal tiltilations", while others say that it is a kind of abstract Pop Art.

To create an art piece showing op art, I drew this abstract piece.  Using a fine-liner pen, I drew a series of triangles across a paper and then filled in the triangles with curved lines.  

In this image, it appears as if the shapes are 3-dimensional.  The curved lines add depth in the drawing which create the optical illusions.  I was inspired to create this drawing as I came across this art piece of op art.  In this piece, it appears as if there are triangles coming out of the paper, when in reality, the shapes in the image are just flat.  

The main goal of my drawing was for viewers to feel as if they have been tricked into thinking that the shapes in the drawing were 3-dimensional.  

- Yours Truly

http://www.theartstory.org/movement-op-art.htm

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/160229699212684226/