Still Life Series

So here are a series of Still Lives that I did during my Drawing I class. Here are mainly my "finished" pieces. *You may notice that the number on the still life start off not at 1. That is cause the still lives I posted before were probably before this*

Still Life 5
Medium: Ink
Canvas: Drawing (medium) Paper
Size: 24"x 18"

This was the first time I really used ink as a medium to create whole pieces. I have to say... it gives it a much more "illustrated" look. At least for me. These were just random objects put together by my teacher. The hard part about this... the Mirrors. Not only were they hard but you had to make it so that you can distinguish it as a reflection and not as another object. I think I completed the task about 80%. It could look more "reflection" like I think.

Still Life 6
Medium: Graphite Pencil & Charcoal
Canvas: Drawing (medium) Paper
Size: 18"x 24"

This was an assignment that we were required to take 5 objects that represents us. So I chose the following: Personal Size Pichacco Pillow, Fuzzy Slipper, Zune Player, Pencil, and a Loofa. These items I think represent my personality and me as a person best. For the pillow... it is like my "blankey." I usually have it everywhere I go to sleep. It is just so comfortable hee. Also I think I am a comfortable person to be around. I am hyper and always usually smiley. The Loofa and the fuzzy slipper was used to represent my airy and light personality. I have to say that many times I am very hyper and happy. I take things lightly and usually go with the flow. The Zune... man that is one of the most important items here. I love music... not only to listen to it... but to me its meditative. Times when I am worn out or just in a bad mood... music is always there to pick you back up. I find that it is another dimension.. a place where you can just run away for 5 minutes at a time. So definitely that is a MUST HAVE whenever I travel. And finally the pencil... which is why I have this blog and major in Art. I love to do it... it is my hobby and another door to escape reality. What items represent you? Think about it... what is most precious in your life... a MUST HAVE?

Pods Still Life 7
Medium: Ink
Canvas: Photo Paper
Size:

This was a practice piece for using ink. When we first started to use the medium, we were instructed to use a page for prep. To get used to the medium before going for the final piece. Who would have thought the practice would be a final piece for me. I really like it... what do you think it looks like? I have gotten many different answers for this. But the answer... its just a dried up stem with some dried up pods.

Paper or Plastic?

Paper or Plastic?
Medium: Charcoal & Conte Crayon
Canvas: Drawing (medium) Paper
Size: 24"x 18"

This was one of my still-life assignments in my Drawing I class. To draw crumbled paper bags. I have to say it was tough... but I think the middle paper bag really came out good. I think what I like most about it... is the dynamic shadows... and the way I put it so that it looks more geometrical compared to the bag in front of it. That one looks more organic and therefore does not really resemble a paper bag.

So I guess all I can say... Paper or Plastic? hee

Figure Drawing Series

So I have been posting mainly paintings on this blog... But did you know? I am a Drawing Concentration (haha) ... So yea... I haven't been able to post up any drawings. But I was able to upload some of the drawings that I have made throughout my classes here in Binghamton. I have to say... although the Art Program here is not strong... the professors are definitely worth coming to this school. They have given me so much support and guidance that without them... Well lets say my drawings and paintings would look nothing like they would now. They say Practice Makes Perfect and the professors definitely back that up.

So here is a couple of Figure Drawings that I made during my Fall '08 semester in my Drawing I class. I have to say that Figure Drawing is my favorite... something about the human body that is just a "natural art." Male or Female... of course many people would say the Female body is more aesthetically beautiful ... but the Male body has its very complex technical parts which holds its aesthetics too.

I'll add some comments to things that I see wrong or weird about my drawings... since we all grow through time... and I am definitely growing with Life Drawing Class.

Figure 1
Medium: Charcoal
Canvas: Newsprint Paper
Size: 24"x 18"

This drawing was done really as a sketch but I really liked the results in the end. We were supposed to only concentrate on the shadows of the body... hence no face but only the shadows to suggest where her features are.
Her stomach area seems a little stretched... The curve of her hips I feel should really start maybe around under her navel area.

Figure 2
Medium: Charcoal
Canvas: Drawing (medium) Paper
Size: 18"x 24"

This has got to be my favorite pose during most of the class. I feel that it is very dramatic and full of emotion... is she crying? sleeping? napping? No one will know...

Figure 3

Medium: Charcoal
Canvas: Drawing (medium) Paper
Size: 24"x 18"

This is just a regular sitting position. This model was a very professional model. She could really hold a pose... unfortunately due to certain circumstances with other classes... she left. But I definitely will continue to recognize her for her diligence in her work. She said she loved to model because it was art. I would think to be a model... for some is quite a good feeling. The feeling of being immortalized. Definitely will miss collaborating with her.

Again... I think her stomach area is a little stretched... Either that or her legs are way too short.

Figure 4
Medium: Charcoal
Canvas: Drawing (medium) Paper
Size: 24"x 18"

I remember the whole few sessions with this model. She was always the one that I seem to make into more of a "model-like" drawing.
The position is a more dramatic sitting position which really seems to "strike a pose" haha. I definitely think this is a "model-style" drawing.

Her stomach area... seems a little to narrow... compared to her upper body. If she was a real person... wouldn't she look like she would fall over? hee

Figure 5
Medium: Charcoal
Canvas: Drawing (medium) Paper
Size: 18"x 24"

This was a nice laying position. A little dramatic with her stretched like so.

Her leg on the bottom... something is wrong with her positioning. Makes it look like she has no foot or ankle. hmm...


*End Note*
Yea so far these were the major pieces during my Drawing I class. I definitely had fun drawing from models. Practice makes perfect... I definitely do believe it. My friend messaged the other day... and he just got into drawing. He would always say how good I am and how bad he was... but he says he's been improving. He was drawing for 2 straight weeks... practicing how he views certain objects and how he puts it on the page. I definitely believe that you don't need a "God Given" talent to create great art.
My Life Drawing teacher told me the other day during class that, the so-called "Talent" can only bring you so far... but sometimes it is that "talent" that can hold you back. Because you know you are good at something... you are prone to only use that method that you are most comfortable with. And because of that, you don't take risks and try new things that would definitely hold you back from growing into an even greater artists.
So I think its time to take that advice to heart... try new risks and learn from mistakes. Trial and Error right? To think about it... that is how I am in Painting class... I have never painted any complex works until coming here... but I could definitely see an improvement from Painting I to Painting II. Let us all work hard on growing! FIGHTING! 화이팅!

Asian Blossoms

Asian Blossoms
Medium: Oil Paint
Canvas: Pre-stretched Canvas
Size: 20" x 16"

I always have admired many Asian styled ink paintings because of their beauty even though they are so simple or just black & white. Also the admiration for the Japanese Cherry Blossoms definitely held a strong influence to create this piece. Although I initially wanted to have the flowers as cherry blossoms, I think those roses still works very well with the piece. So I see this piece as an Asian fusion painting... incorporating styles of simplicity along with few shades of color.

Overall I am really satisfied with this piece. I think if I get more practice... I will be able to make better ones... interior design anyone? haha

Mystic Forest

Mystic Forest
Medium: Oil Paint
Canvas: Pre-Stretched Canvas
Size: 24" x 18"

This piece started off as a still life of a bouquet of flowers... let us just say that it got very frustrating and therefore a little imagination started acting up into the piece. The three flowers in the middle were from the still life while the others were all an addition of the imagination.

I figured out in this piece that if something was not going right... flip it around a couple of times... you can probably find a new perspective of the piece. And sometimes its even better than what you had in the beginning.

I started to play around with the coloring of the flowers to the point where it began to look like it was in a new environment. And at the end, a sort of Mystical Flower scene appeared. Sometimes I don't even know how things turned up the way they do. But I am really liking the piece.

MYSTIC FOREST DETAIL

Ithaca Hiking

Ithaca Hiking
Medium: Oil Paint
Canvas: Canvas Board
Size: 24" x 18"

This was an interesting project. It was actually influenced by my friend, who was taking a hiking class during this Fall '08 semester. The class would occasionally go to Ithaca, NY to walk through their hiking trails. And no doubt would there be great scenery. It was quite fortunately that my friend took a handy camera with him and snapped some interesting pictures. Being an engineering major... this guy has some good taste is good pictures (hee)

So after seeing this picture... I could not help but to try to reproduce the picture. Although I have always love to admire those artists who create such realistic landscape art, I can never seem to emulate that myself. I guess everything I do has some kind of cartoon-ish feel to it. But I am quite satisfied with the resulting product.

I decided to mix up the techniques of painting in this piece too. The middle rock (with the waterfall) was painted on by just batching on different color paints, one on top of the other. Therefore no real blending or mixing of the paints were done prior. It was definitely quite cool to see the resulting color to pop out at the end. On the right-hand side, the large cliff there was made by only placing horizontal lines one after the other. I also layered different shades in order to create that layered rock look. With the trees, I only blotted on the different colors. To just blot on the canvas (without moving paint around) definitely give you that tree-like texture.
I definitely still need to work on the technique... but that is what time is for no?

*Photo taken by Ryan Saluzzi*

Night Life

Night Life
Medium: Oil Paint
Canvas: Pre-stretched Canvas
Size: 18" x 24"

This piece was influenced by a commercial ad with the Korean singer Lee Hyori 이효리. The original picture was used to advertise hair products... no wonder. So this was my small twist to the advertisement. At the end, it resulted in a more "club/ night-life" feeling, but still held the advertisement feel to it.

At first I have wanted it to be more representational... but with the result of a more "cartooning" style canvas, I think I am quite satisfied with the end result.

Maybe I should submit it to Herbal Essences (haha)

NIGHT LIFE DETAIL:

*Painting influenced by VS company Korea*