Reflection Paper

Michelle Lee

Painting ARTS 320 001

Spring 2011

Reflection

            My goal for the beginning of the semester was to experiment with new materials, concepts, and approaches through paint. My thirty studies assignment was my first attempt at my goal and because I had so many opportunities to create works, I became less attached to each piece I was making and felt liberated to make mistakes or works I didn’t particularly like. For the second assignment, I continued to work small and make multiple paintings that concentrated on using hair as a medium. Although I enjoyed creating many different kinds of pieces, I realized that I wanted to invest more of my time and efforts into fewer and more detailed projects.

            I remember wanting to go back to making figurative paintings after the first critique. I felt unfamiliar with the works I was presenting and wanted to create pieces that people were able to visibly recognize and respond to. I was used to talking about whether or not the subject matter of my painting was anatomically or proportionally correct; or whether or not the environment I was painting was interesting and successfully receded back into space. I planned on moving towards a subject matter and style of painting I was more familiar with for my third assignment.

            Although I had my canvas and materials ready for the next class, I was not prepared to paint a particular object or subject matter. I began the class by mixing colors using the new mediums we received in the beginning of class. I began to paint improvisationally, using a palette knife with no particular agenda in mind. I created different textures and experimented with different marks and color combinations. I bought a second canvas in the same square shape and painted the same red ground to create a similar undertone. I worked on this painting at home while I worked on my second piece at school. I noticed that the painting I did at home used more earth tone and flesh like colors compared to the painting I did at school, which had more contrast and was more repetitive with the marks that were created.

            For my final project, I knew I wanted to really push myself to experiment and approach painting in a completely different way that I had never thought about before. I was originally going to buy a rectangular canvas then sew and attach different fabrics or other materials to the canvas, but at the last minute I changed my mind and got the idea to hem wire to the edges on the canvas to form my own structure to paint on top of. I had gotten this idea from a paper sculpture I was making in another class, and thought that canvas would react beautifully to the way I was manipulating the paper through this method. After hemming the wire to the edge of my canvas I was certain that the piece was going to be displayed on the ground, but after experimenting with the different forms, I decided it was suppose to be presented on the wall. Beginning to actually paint the object I had created was the most difficult part of this process. I was so satisfied with the form I had made that I didn’t want to create unnecessary characteristics in the piece that would oppose other aspects of the piece I was satisfied with. I began painting by creating the red ground surface I am used to beginning with. I eventually loosened up and started to create a more calm textured painting compared to the two square paintings I had done previously. I Enjoyed making sparse marks throughout the piece and following the folds and emphasizing the depth of each fold using color to accentuate the three dimensional characteristics of the canvas.

            I am genuinely satisfied with what I learned from this painting class. I created paintings using techniques and ideas I had never used in the past. Reflecting back into the semester, I believe I had gradually achieved my goal and learned a lot during the process. The unconventional objective for each student to explore individual ideas and goals really allowed me to focus on the aspects of painting I was particularly struggling with. Although it was difficult at times, I really enjoyed this class along with the assignments that each student developed for himself or herself.

Marina Abramovic!

Although I had heard of Marina Abramovic's work prior to her talk at American University, there were many things she showed us and discussed during her visit that I was both surprised and humbled by. 
The most striking piece that became ingrained in my mind was  a performance she did many years ago, where she sat and continuously ate three onions in front of a camera with bright red lips and nails. She gagged and cried as she forcibly took large bites out of the onion, while a voice over played in the background about how she was tired of the routines and obligations she chose to attend to in her life. The experience of watching her perform was unsettling and devistating.

As I watched her other performances, I began to explore questions about how much power physical pain really has over me and whether or not it should be that way. I thought about the notion of public nudity and public humiliation as I watched some of her videos. One of her performances consisted of Marina and her male partner standing in the middle of a garage in the nude as they continuously slammed their bodies onto podiums in front of a large crowd. I remember hearing one girl laughing in the background, and thought about the kinds of characteristics a strong person would have to have in order to stand confidently in front of another person who has opposing opinions. Watching her perform made me want to become a braver person.

Other ideas of how much we depend on other people or need other people in certain aspects of our lives arrose. In her performance Breathing in/Breathing out, her and her male partner inhaled the oxygen the other person exhaled for the duration of 17 minutes.
During her discussion Marina talked about the act of being completely present during a performance and experiencing every moment with complete consciousness.
I really enjoyed hearing her visit to AU! She has a very calm and confident presence that I found to be slightly intimidating. Overall I learned alot and found the experience of watching her talk and perform to be worthwhile.

half way crit

I originally planned on presenting the canvas on the ground but after experimenting with the nature of the object I was manipulating, I decided to hang the piece on the wall. During the critique I got positive feedback with this decision. Questions about how I was going to paint the canvas were asked. Ideas of whether or not I would continue to work using thick paint, or if I was going to leave some parts of the canvas blank were asked throughout the ctritique. Although I am unsure of the different decisions I will make throughout this process, the half way critique allowed me to explore some questions I will be facing in the future. I found the critique to be extremely helpful and it also allowed be to have a better understanding of the work process of classmates.

Response to Critique 2

I found the new written form of critique to be was extremely insightful. I was able to take my time and read through each and every comment at my own pace and really take away from my classmate's opinions. I received several comments encouraging the kinds of textures and mark making techniques I was exploring. For my next project, I plan to continue exploring new and interesting mark marking abilities as well as the different textures I can develop through various painting mediums. Many people also commented on how compared to my first series of paintings, these new paintings are less grotesque and more aesthetically pleasing. In this new project, I hope to achieve an element of both qualities. I also received another comment to enlarge the scale compared to the sizes I was previously working in; I plan to do this as well so I can focus on one particular piece for an extended period of time.
For my next project, I decided to move away from the conventional presentation of a canvas. Using an elongated piece of canvas, I hemmed wire into the seams. The wire in the canvas allowed me to form a new surface to paint on. Although I am unsure of how I will approach the project from here on, I am excited for the different possibilities and plan to continue with different forms of experimentation.

2nd painting

stage 3