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.