Assessment 1
Over the past seven weeks in my DVB102 class, I have created a total of 30 pieces of artwork, crafting five each week with the exception of week six. Starting from simple lines and shapes in the first week and gradually moving on to still life, comics, posters and various other art forms has been an absolute delight. These 30 pieces not only gave me a chance to discover new techniques I hadn't known before but also helped me refine what I already knew. Through this reflection, I will take a moment to look back on my experiences and feelings throughout this creative journey.
For the first week, I focused on "Drawing exercises" as my main theme and spent time exploring the fundamental elements of drawing. Through Image 1, I got to understand the unique features of various materials. By comparing their pros and cons, I was able to identify the tools that best suited my style. Subsequently, utilizing Images 2~4, I delved into the techniques effectively portraying lines and planes, the fundamental elements of drawing. When I drew using only lines, it was possible to depict details intricately, but it was challenging to create a sense of volume. On the contrary, when I focused on using shapes in my drawings, it excelled in distinctly rendering structures. However, it proved challenging to capture the intricate details. The picture became perfect when lines and planes were combined in image 4.
During our second session, I was tasked with creating still life drawings that documented an object changing over time. I chose an ice cube as my object, observing and capturing its transformation from a solid state to liquid. This process demanded meticulous attention due to the ice's transparency and the resulting phenomena of light transmission, refraction, and reflection. Attempting to accurately depict these in my drawings was challenging but incredibly enlightening. It provided me with a detailed study of light and shadow—encompassing aspects like highlights and reflected highlights—which greatly enhanced my skills in representing these elements in other still life works.
This activity is my favourite among all the activities. This endeavour was not merely an exercise in drawing comics, but rather a comprehensive process that required refinement of basic techniques such as pen strokes and shading. The task also necessitated imaginative creativity and sophisticated storytelling skills for effective character development and intricate plot design. I adhered to a classic narrative structure comprising exposition, Complication, Crisis, Climax, and Conclusion while writing the story-line. Additionally, the creation of images 11~15 provided an opportunity to delve deeper into human illustration than I had previously been unfamiliar with it. Through this process, I've seen a substantial enhancement in my technique of portraying individuals.
In Week 4, the objective was to select one of several environmental topics and create a poster advocating for environmental protection. While the focus in Weeks 2~3 was solely on line drawing, the use of colour became significant in Week 4. The influence of colour on human perception is far more profound than one might initially consider. Therefore, when colouring the Earth in my artwork, I opted for shades of olive and brown instead of the commonly perceived green. This was done with the intention to subtly communicate to the viewers of the poster that our planet is undergoing pollution. This was done to evoke a sense of urgency about environmental issues. Through this activity, I was able to make some progress in overcoming what has been a personal weakness of mine - colour perception.
The theme for the poster in Week 5 was, like Week 4, related to the environment. However, in this week's poster, instead of using collage techniques, I was required to use the lino-cut printing technique. I wanted to use the lino-printing technique in an unconventional way. Instead of carving the entire poster, I carved the main objects - a penguin and an ice tray - and used them for multiple printings. Additionally, by focusing more on shapes than lines, I revisited the method I learned in Week 1 of drawing using only shapes. This allowed me to integrate past learning into the current project. This was because I hadn't drawn any pictures related to 'shapes' from Week 2 until now. I was able to complete the picture by modifying the printed penguin and ice tray images in Photoshop and adding other elements. In the process of finalizing it, I was able to revisit my journey from Week 2 through Week 4 once again.
The end of this long journey was a time to express my identity. In the process of drawing my self-portrait, I engaged in introspection and exploration. Setting the concept for this poster was a much easier task compared to the previous activities. I endeavoured to depict myself using the symbolism of a cat, and I am pleased to say that this endeavour was met with success. To accomplish the creation of images 26~30, I was compelled to harness every piece of knowledge and skill that I've gathered over time. During this process, I discovered my unique colour (week 4). In order to narrate my personal tale (week 3), I meticulously crafted the artwork (week 5), thereby encapsulating a record of my own existence (week 2). In this way, to construct this piece, I revisited the journey of the past seven weeks once again. It was unequivocally evident that this recurring process would act as a substantial impetus and support as I progress towards my future endeavours.
While engaging in this 'oneperday' project, I faced a multitude of obstacles. Among these were periods of lethargy and moments of creative depletion. Nonetheless, by surmounting these adverse sentiments, I was able to triumphantly fulfill all the assignments. Additionally, having the opportunity to reflect upon myself at the end of this long journey was indeed a great fortune for me. Thanks to this precious time, I was able to rediscover what I truly desired, something that even I had forgotten.
