Place Project Thought Process

I thought about places that I've been and have had an impact on my life. I've grown up in the projects in New York City and that shaped me and made me who I am, but I felt that was too much like the Identity Project. I didn't want this project to be about me. I wanted it to be about a place. Of course the place will have something to do with me, but I wanted the piece to be more about the place than about the affect that it had on me. I thought about merging one place with another because it would be a way to get a feel of the two most influential places I've been balled into one and see the differences. Don't want to be too literal. So I focused on the ways that I've grown from each of the places I've been. Me coming to Charlotte has made me embrace the artistic side of myself. Rowe is the are buliding and if I can draw something about Rowe it could serve as my artistic side. I thought about charcoal because I know how to work with Charcoal and it would be easier than other mediums. I didn't want to do photos again. And I wasn't sure what I would use photoshop to do if I did use it.


Finished Project:


I'm not really satisfied with this image. It's nicely done, but I feel like I could have challenged myself a little more.

Identity Project Thought Process

At the beginning of the project, I had no idea what to do. I thought about my family being so separated and thought about using that as my touchpoint. I also thought about using my growth as a person as a touchpoint. I wanted to use thirst as my metaphor. Your separation from things make you want them which can translate into being thirsty for something. I wanted to use water in some way to show my evolving and every changing self while using something else to indicate the separation factor and family. I wasn't quite sure how to do that within a medium of art. The only idea that I thought came close to what I wanted was water pouring into my hands and turning into sand as it hit my hands, but I felt that might be kinda cliche.

During the process I realized how scatter-brained I was. And that triggered the thought that I should focus on me. I'm "separated" on the inside, but put together on the outside. The separation could also mean independence. I find myself to think alot about different things even when I should be focused on one thing. And that music is one of the only things that helps me to focus better. And my thinking also leads to my love of learning. When I think about things I usually hit a wall and wonder about things, and I want to go and find out more.

I wanted to incorporate a piece that told the viewer about me without telling them about me. I wanted to incorporate as many things about myself as possible. I did want to be very descriptive with this piece because I don't want it to go totally over the viewers' heads.



Finished Project:


I enjoyed how the piece came out. I may actually go back an do another self portrait on a much larger scale.