Art 103 | Assignment 1

Part 1 - Oblique Strategies Artwork

Group Presentation

My Final Image

Artist Statement

For my image, I decided to go with photography. I think there was something only a "real" thing could show. I took the phrase a little literally by choosing an actual dark room. However, I also wanted to play around with the word "quiet" using darkness and light.

In a more physical sense, I wanted to viewer be able to "hear" the familiar sounds from the picture. For example, the audience might be able to hear the flicker of a candle, the rattle of an old, metal chair, and the wind blowing through the window. Ultimately, I wanted this piece to show how sometimes loneliness and silence is welcomed because we always need time for ourselves, hence the single chair and candle.

Part 2 - Quotes on Creativity, Process, and Personal Artwork

Two Quotes I Identify With:

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” -- Pablo Picasso

Although it is a famous quote, I truly stick by the meanings behind these words. Instead of trying to become better than others, I’ve always focused on how I could evolve as an artist myself. Evolving usually means breaking down walls and finding new ways to explore meaning.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” -- Pablo Picasso

I found a lot of quotes about how art was an escape from reality or it’s a new realm of thinking. However, I think Renoir’s quote fits me the best because I don’t necessarily use art as an escape from reality. I become so focused on art because of the fun and excitement that comes out of it, which in turn becomes an escape from reality.

One Quote About Creativity and an Unfamiliar Process:

Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terrors, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them. -- Anais Nin

Since art has always been something fun for me, it is hard for me to do art when I’m emotional. As much as I am an explorer, I become very addicted to the thought of “perfection.” It is hard for me to welcome mistakes.

One Quote About My Creative Process:

Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons. -- Al Hirschfeld

For my Art-74 class three years ago, we were given an open class time to explore different camera shots. Everyone else in my class went a very traditional route of filming a tree or scenery. I was inspired by these little collectible figurines called Smiski’s and created a cute and playful short love story.