Family Portrait

Although my Family portrait was never finished (it was going to be painted and the circle is supposed to be the Earth (with continents)), I feel as it I really built upon my concept of how to make "simple" figure" look like an actual person! My thought behind this portrait was that I wanted to have my family (My Dad, My Mom, My Brother, and Me) emphasized in the front, to show that this is my real family. Then sprouting from above my parents would be their parents, and others in their "lineage" that have passed away since I was born and that I knew well. Then, I wanted to show my close friends and family friends, who are like family to me and special in my life; implying that these people were like family to me and I consider them as family. Then I wanted in the background, the Earth and people holding hands, because I wanted to make the point and express that we are all one big family. In creating this I wanted to go from "close" family to a broader sense of family. I was very happy one how I was able to put perspective, emphasis, and I was able to show the distinct features/actions of the people I was putting in the portait (except the big face!).

Reflecting on my Work

Self Portrait:

Using cool, water blue and red, hot fiery orange, I wanted this painting to be the paradox of two of my personalities, which balance each other out. I can be very mellow sometimes, and go with the flow, but other times my fire and passion can become dominant inside. For example, on the tennis court, I may look calm and relaxed, but on the inside I can be full of fire, passion, and energy. Some of the challenges that I experienced while making this painting was how to use the color to show perspective, rather than using the drawing. I finally was able to recognize that the shades and emphasises of color was the key, which led to some "success." Another challenge was making the colors "blend"/"fade" when I was trying to make things stand out and/or show depth (for example under the eye). Oppositely, I think that I was successful in creating/mixing the colors that I wanted to get for this portrait. In addition, I really like how the "fiery"-side of the portrait "fades"/transitions from a more yellow orange to a more red-orange, touching on the spectrum of the continuum of red and yellow (going from yellow to red on the color wheel). Overall, I was extremely happy with what I got for the right-side of the portrait, and I definitely want to come back and finish up the right and finish the left-side of this painting. If I were to do this portrait another time, I would, without second thought, get the drawing portion of the assignment over with as quickly as possible (not pay so much attention to it), so I could focus on having a finished portrait, and I could put more effort into the painting (main part) of the project.

Story Collage

(Collage coming soon!)

Surfing Santa Teresa, Mal País, Costa Rica

Kris B

The Story that I am telling in this collage is me surfing for the first time in Costa Rica. I got up the first attempt, and I had a lot of fun riding the big waves. The view from the water, looking at the beach, and then "the land" was spectacular.

The most challenging aspect of this collage was getting everything how I imagined it to be in my head.

The most successful aspect of my collage is... not finished yet.

I See the Light Drawing

(Picture to be added soon)

Tennis With My Family With A Magical Evening Sky. (On Cape Cod)

Kris B

The story that I am trying to tell this drawing is me and my family playing tennis on Cape Cod. Playing tennis as a whole family is always memorable to me and this evening was especially special because of the beautiful sky and the vibrant and incredible colors in the sky.

I used value in this drawing to illustrate the many shades of the evening sky, to make the ocean look more realistic, to show the magnificent sun reflecting in the water, to show the incredible light from the descending sun, and to make depth and perspective.

The most challenging aspect of this drawing for me was showing the perspective and getting the right color. I am a "perfectionist" and it was hard to do everything exactly how I wanted it to be; in other words, I reached too high, and did not have all of the skill to really get the "exactness" that I wanted.

The most successful aspect of my drawing is that I was able to show perspective very well, and I was able to get and happy with the light aspect.