artist statement + bio
website navigation
I chose this layout for my website because it is how I would like to see an artist’s site if I were to visit it online. On the home page you can also go directly to the tabs under “My Work” once entering the site. I chose to organize my work into 4 different sections. Studio art includes drawings, sculpture, painting and some mixed media. Graphic design is images done on illustrator or photoshop. Mixed media was created to contain the video and audio projects and if I were to make any animations or installations they would be included in this tab. I also decided to include a poetry tab because I feel this is an art form I express myself through more frequently than others. I have a separate poetry blog that I plan to transfer my writing from. My artist statement and bio will be included in my “about me” page and my contact will include my email and links to my art focused social media accounts.
Video Remix Project
This video is meant to illustrate the story of the soundscape previously posted. As the audio follows the story of two lovers, so does the video. However, it’s not such a literal love story. I wanted to use an array of clips that gave the distorted feeling of a love gone wrong. I chose to use all vintage-esque videos to give a sense of nostalgia and whimsy. I began with a visual of a tape rewinding and the movie begins with an old Lucky Strike ad with a romantic air to it. Most of the cuts that begin shortly after this clip came from a 1924 Dadaist, post-cubist film by Fernand Léger called Ballet Mécanique. I felt the frantic and disorienting artistic direction of this film suited the audio so well I segmented it and used it for most of the video. Some other clips are from a film titled Where’s My Wife by Herman C. Raymaker, mostly used to give a sense of commotion and socialization. Another clip I used was a close up shot of bees to emphasize the swarming sounds. I used a lot of repetition in the clips as I did in the audio with the heartbeat and breathing sounds. I would have loved to get my hands on some longer clips of the faces I included in the video. I found it difficult to line up the cuts of the video perfectly with the audio but learned that even if imperfect, adding a visual element to a story can create much more depth and understanding to the listener. Enjoy! x
Videos used:
https://archive.org/details/bees-closer-1080
https://archive.org/details/vhsrewindd.d.teolijr.a.c.
https://archive.org/details/BalletMcanique
soundscape
this collection of sounds follows the story of a relationship between two people. lovers, friends, something in between… it’s up for interpretation. whatever the dynamic, it ends up going south. the first sound of this is the crying of the dog. i incorporated human sounds with sounds from nature like wind, insects buzzing and animals. often nature gives us warning before something disastrous happens- like the sky changing color before a storm- but sometimes it doesn’t- like the falling of a tree. no time to prevent or prepare, or even to run. the end of relationships often follow this routine too. i chose to follow a storyline with distinct sounds rather than give an overall feeling of repetitiveness or rhythm as you would get from a pop song or movie score.
more image + text examples
image + text
illustrator portrait
For this assignment, I chose to do a portrait of Wyatt Shears, a member of the band The Garden. The Garden is a bass and percussion duo between Wyatt and his brother, Fletcher. I discovered this band just a couple of years ago and quickly fell in love with their music, style and performances. I wanted to capture the eccentricity and uniqueness of his style, so I chose a simple yet interesting photo of him. I chose the background color because it is a bit unusual, but contrasts well with the portrait itself.
For the portrait, I did varying levels of detail. In the face and hair, I chose to do a simple style of shading by only using the essential highlights and shadows. Wyatt has a very angular face and I wanted to capture the sharpness of his features in the shading. For the shirt, I did a partially rendered version and for the jacket I did a simple two-tone interpretation. I think the cheetah print is fun and eclectic, much like Wyatt’s style, so I wanted it to stand out.
bézier game
discussion & critique
critiquing your work in class can be nerve-wracking, but it is one of the most useful tools an artist can have. it’s so beneficial to have new perspectives and opinions on your work. i got some great advice on layering and using tools i hadn’t thought of. it’s also great to see what other students come up with, as it can sometimes be a source of inspiration. creating a discussion leads to more ideas and more knowledge. with what you hear in critique, you’re able to create a more pleasing design or work and sometimes you’re able to focus in on details you hadn’t otherwise noticed.
Photoshop Project 1
kip mc. 