Final Thoughts

     One highlight was the still-life. At first I didn't like using acrylics or capturing the likeness of objects, but by the end of the unit I felt more confident with the paints and felt like I was getting the objects on the canvas fairly accurately.
     Another highlight was the imaginative self portrait. I loved the fact that not everything was set in stone, and that it was me, so I could fill my head in the way I am and the way I feel. It looked like everyone had fun with this unit and came out proud of their work. I was pretty proud of my work, but it didn't really come out how I imagined it.
     The last highlight was the watercolors. The painting that I am working on will probably end up being my favorite. Even when we just started working with the watercolors, I felt it kind of click, I really like the way that watercolors don't give second chances, and that if you make a mistake you have to take that mistake and try to turn it into something beautiful.
     These experiences impacted my learning because they made me like art more, and looking back, they have taught me important life lessons as well. Like when something doesn't turn out the way I imagine it, I have to look at it in a different light, and accept it and take it in for the way it is. Also, if you make a mistake, there won't be second chances, the only hope is to approve upon the mistake, or take the mistake and make it into something worth being proud of. They taught me things about my life that I didn't even realize at the time, and they helped me look inside. They have given me a different outlook on the outside world and the way things work.

Work of Art I am Most Proud Of

I am most proud of the still-life painting. At first I wasn't good with the acrylic paint or capturing the likeness of objects. But after a long while spent on the struggle bus I started to enter a flow. Mixing the paints and putting them on the canvas became easier. This impacted my learning because it's made me realize that even if something is hard, if you stick at it, there's a possibility of improving the quality of my work. I feel like I really pulled through on this painting, and it's one of my favorites of the year.

Watercolor Techniques

Purpose: To experiment and learn a variety of watercolor techniques

The most important concepts I learned from the watercolor practice techniques is to start light, how to layer on paint, and how unforgiving watercolors are. Layering on color after color will make the color darker, but too much water and paint will break down the paper. The thing about watercolors is that once you put paint down, you can never get the white back, so before painting use masking fluid or tape to cover the parts you want to keep white. Also, if you put a dark color on the paper, you can not make it lighter. Watercolors are so unforgiving that if you so much as let a drop of water land on your painting where you don't want it, the whole painting could be ruined. This could be bad but it's also good. It teached me to be careful what I do because there aren't second chances.