Zoe


 * Concentration 3: Ambition**

In this past quarter, I have pushed myself to work faster (i.e. create more pieces) within the time limit. Also, I have further developed my understanding of my concept. My work from this quarter better reflects the image I hope to create of myself through my work. I've tried to almost totally decide on a concept and meaning behind each piece before I start it instead of beginning a piece with the intention of deciding a meaning later, which often left me with little personal connection to the final result. I have also experimented with both acrylic and watercolor paints, which I previously have not been so comfortable with.


 * Concentration 2: Evolution**

My project has evolved from its beginning stages because I have started considering the overall meaning of each piece more instead of just the material objects I include in each one. In doing this, I think about my materials, color choices, facial expressions or body parts or positions, composition, etc. I changed my materials deliberately in order to finish pieces more quickly, and I also included body parts other than my face in order to express different emotions. Naturally, my personal connection to each piece has changed as I've been forced to fully consider what I'm trying to say through my work.


 * Concentration 1: Generation**

I've gone about generating this project by brainstorming ways in which I like working, and objects that I would like to include in my work. I really enjoyed the self-portrait piece, as well as working with pencil, so this led me to my concentration. Originally, I'd planned on doing most of my pieces with pencil and based off of photographs. However, my first photo included several small and complex details that are hard to accurately render, so I need to take that into consideration next time I choose a medium. Also, pencil drawings take a significant amount of time to finish, so I don't think it's realistic for me to try to finish 12 pencil drawings this semester. Next quarter, I think I'll try to take pictures for a few pieces ahead of time so I can start several at the beginning. This gives me more options for what to work on and allows me to be more productive. Also, I think I'll try to finish at least one "quick" piece, one that I don't have to put quite as much time in for as I have for my first piece.


 * Digital Project**

I found the undo and history tools very helpful in using Photoshop. This allowed me to experiment with different tools and techniques without having to worry about permanently ruining a piece, like I do with painting or drawing. I like the feeling of physically creating something with my hands, which is why I like drawing, but this project was a nice break from that. I can make use of this program in designing my concentration because my concentration will be primarily photo-based, so Photoshop will allow me to alter images before printing them to use for physical pieces.


 * Project 5: Embracing Chaos**


 * I think the purpose of this project was to learn to deal with what you're given. We were given very specific instructions on how to start this piece and then let loose to finish it any way we liked. In the future, what I've learned from this project will help me figure out new ways of working in order to accommodate different needs or problems with any of my pieces. The first stage was to find a patterned background, so I made a metallic striped board. It was irregularly shaped to start out with, making this piece more of a challenge. The next step was splatter painting it, then adding two unrelated objects on top of that. I chose a monkey and a building. After this step, my piece seemed well laid-out but un-unified in terms of the relationship between the background and foreground. In the end, I solved this problem by going back into the buildings using bright green outlines in order to make them stand out more and gold and silver paint to make the background feel as if it's interacting with the buildings. Lastly, I painted a wash of dark blue over the "sky" above the buildings in order to give the piece a better sense of space. **


 * Project 4: 3 Layers of Space**

The strategy we used for this project was definitely new for me. It was a little confusing and hard to wrap my brain around. It helped me accomplish a clear sense of a "scene" happening in my piece. It also gave me a structured method of varying my techniques. It is simple to create three layers in space, but it is complex to unite those layers and make them interact. Strategy is very important to executing a successful concentration because you have to figure out what you will do with each piece and how they will all be tied together. I could focus on different subjects or techniques of working, as well as different ways of looking at things. For example, I could take blurry photographs of my subjects. This would allow me to render them more abstractly than normal since I would be starting with something other than the subject itself.


 * Project 3: Dramatic Self Portrait**


 * If light was a metaphor, it would symbolize knowledge. My expression interacts with this meaning because I look dumbfounded and pensive, thinking about whatever knowledge the light brings. This could say that I am generally thoughtful. I literally brought a sunhat, which in a way could symbolize blocking out some of the light (knowledge). I played around with angles of light and different expressions and poses in order to find one image that was far above any other, so I brought experimentation to the photoshoot. As far as lessons that this project has taught me, I've learned that it will be important to carefully consider what mediums to use in my concentration, as well as to take into consideration time limitations. Time management will play a key role in completing my portfolio on time. **


 * Project 2**

I started out with the idea of a high-heeled shoe because I like the contour of the heel. This evolved into a representation of a girl's self-esteem and self-image. I presented my shoe as being made of cracking glass, which contributes to the idea that girls' feelings are fragile. I chose to use pencil for the shoe part of the drawing, but I painted with white-out to make the cracks in the glass. Pencil allowed me to get a wide range of values in my piece in order to make it look more realisticly like glass, and it also gave me more control over the strokes I made. The white-out was very difficult to work with but it let me get very thin lines down, which were also noticeable because the color was so bright. I wanted the cracks to stand out to emphasize the fragility of my object. If I were starting a concentration with this, I could continue it using different things to represent emotions using a variety of media.


 * Project 1**