We took the
TTC there. The ride was painfully boring, and we almost got lost… Anyways, once
we reached the centre, we were greeted by Austin, Ina, Patricia, and Brenda. We
were then taken into the gallery where many paintings were held. When I was in
there, it felt like another world. There was a vast selection of paintings to
see, ranging from something as simple as a river to something as complex as a
forest. We were asked to sit down in front of a painting that interested us. I
chose a painting that had a complex forest, and a field in front of it. The
field seemed to be on fire, since the entire painting was red. This perked my
interest. What does this make you think of?
After we
chose our painting, we were asked to “memorize” the painting. The staff took us
through some exercises to remember the painting. After that, we went into the
studio. This is where the magic happens. We had to draw a picture that was inspired
by the painting we chose. We all had to have a background colour, and mine was
red. I began to draw. I drew like my life depended on it. I drew what seemed to
be a tree at the time, and two smaller trees beside them. These “trees” then
turned into pedestals holding fire. I was very pleased about this drawing. I
named it “Fire Tree” to represent the giant “tree” in the middle. What does
this drawing make you think of? After we were done our drawing, we looked at it
for ten minutes to see if we wanted to change the direction it was in. I was
fine with my painting.
After we
looked at our paintings, we went back into the gallery. We got into groups, and
discussed our drawings. I predicted that my drawing looked worse than everyone
else’s. Fortunately, I wasn’t wrong or right. The drawings varied from good to
bad.
After lunch, we were then asked
to draw a second picture, this time our motivation was our first painting. We
were allowed to use two background colours, so I used orange and blue. What do
the colours orange and blue remind you of? I then drew a caterpillar and an
unfinished dragon that was being chained. I titled this picture “Unfinished”
because I ran out of time. I liked how it turned out though.
We got into the same groups, and
discussed our drawings. I found that most people didn’t finish their drawings
just like I did. This made me relieved. I made up a story, in where I predicted
that the caterpillar would grow up someday and free the dragon, bringing it
happiness. What did you think of when you first saw this painting?
Overall, it was a very fun trip,
and I predict I will be coming back in the future. I thank Austin, Brenda, Patricia, and Ina for hosting us on this wonderful adventure.
(Credits to Saksham for the title)
(Credits to Saksham for the title)
~Fanticc
Very good. Though I disagree about peoples drawings being bad. And yes, I too noticed that lots of people did not finish their 2nd drawing. Did they give us the same amount of time?? Or maybe we all just wanted to put a lot more on it. Who knows??
ReplyDeleteI really love the caterpillar, I think he is so cool looking and awesome. Unfinished is without a doubt is my favourite out of your paintings. your blog was well written. I agree with Joshua, no painting would be classified as "bad" because some of us just decided to make abstract art, but not everyone views art in the same way so I guess your comment is correct (in your perspective). Nice blog!
ReplyDeleteAdrian,
ReplyDeleteIt's always a challenge to give NK classes enough time, because of the time it takes for them to travel. We hate to rush the afternoon drawings, but the magic seems to happen anyway.
You ask what we see in your second drawing: I see a powerful contrast between the two halves. The round, curved shapes (caterpillar) and cool colours on the left, and the sharp angles, square shapes and hot colours on the right side. But then there is the red border on the left side and the blue border on the right side that show how to bring the opposites into relationship. My question for you: what will happen when the caterpillar frees the chained dragon?
Austin
The Milkweed Collective
Joshua and Sabhat,
ReplyDeleteI realized what I said might have been offensive(and for that, I'm sorry), but for some reason I'm very critical in art (even though I'm not that good of an artist myself...) so that's why I would judge some things to be "bad", when in reality they might be perfectly fine pieces of art.
Austin,
Sorry for such a late response. I believe that when the caterpillar frees the chained dragon, they will befriend each other, because they're heading in the same direction. I didn't mention this in the blog, but the caterpillar symbolized our desire for knowledge. It grows and grows until it turns into a beautiful butterfly.
The dragon's chains represent all of the roadblocks that occur in your life that prevent you from learning new things. When these chains are broken, anything can become possible.
After the caterpillar frees the dragon, their desire for knowledge will finally be fulfilled.
Adrian,
ReplyDeleteRight from the get-go, I would like to say something so it is out of the way. Although you have already apologized for it (I just realized that you did), I would just like to say that I agree with Joshua and Sabhat that no art is bad. It is just a matter of perspective.
Now that that is out of the way, it’s time to get down to business. First of all, I agree with what you said about the Art Center. No matter how many times you go there, you just aren’t disappointed. Even if you think that you made the worst piece of art ever, there is still something about the place that makes you enjoy your experience. What do you think makes it so?
Anyways, I agree with what you said about the gallery. It is very interesting and contains so much art, ranging from sketches, all the way to multimedia. It is amazing that they change it every few weeks. I got so caught up looking at each picture, that time ran out and I didn’t even get to see all of them. However, I think I remember seeing the picture you are talking about. It was a painting that was completely tinted red. To me, it represented that everyone has different perspective and everyone sees things differently (in this case, in red). Along with that, it also reminded me of forest fires, due to the large amount of red, on a forest. You never said it, so I wonder, what did it remind you of?
As for your pictures, I can see how they were inspired off of the original painting, and each other. However, while you look at your pictures as two separate things with different stories, I see them as a set of pictures all relating to one thing, with one common story shared by both. When I look at the first picture, I see your tree as a snake; with the dark green/blue as the neck, the silver as the head, and the red/green as the flaps on the side. In my opinion, the picture looks like a courtroom. The snake is either a judge, or lawyer in the foreground, either debating for one side, or being the mediator. The two pedestals holding the fire seem like the two benches in which the plaintiffs and defendants sit. The rest of the picture/background looks like a courtroom. Then, when I look at your second picture, I see the two sides, both complete opposites, with conflicting perspectives, battling and fighting for themselves, and their rights. On the left, you have the small creatures, with smooth curves, a gentle nature, and cool colours. However, on the other side you have the complete opposite; enormous creatures (since you said it was meant to be a dragon), with jagged and rigid shapes, a rough nature and very warm colours. In my opinion, your pictures tell a story about how two opposites have to come together and create a solution with each other. It teaches us about teamwork and that even if you have a different perspective than someone else, you have to respect other people’s opinions, knowing that you might not necessarily be right. It also tells you that you have to listen to both sides before you can judge what is right and what is wrong.
Now that I told you my story of your pictures, I would like to know you’re story behind your artwork. You said your first picture has a tree in the center. What makes this tree so important that it is surrounded by pedestals? Does it have a story behind it, or does it symbolize something? What makes it so important?
ReplyDeleteIn your second picture, the caterpillars seem like complete opposites; in size, shape, nature and colour? Is there a reason why you chose this contrast? In addition, you said the caterpillar would free the dragon. What is the reason that it will do so? What will happen after the dragon is freed? In a response, you talked about what the two represented. By bearing this, and your first picture in mind; if you were to create a third picture, what would you make?
As you mentioned, in your post, you, along with many other people didn’t get to finish their second picture. Don’t worry, I think most people didn’t get to finish. At least you’re better off than me. I didn’t get to finish either picture, so I had to rush at the end. The people at the center said that it was because North Kipling is so far away so our students have less time to work on the actual art. Anyways, even with time limits, many great pieces of art were created. I also find it interesting how you named your picture “Unfinished,” the same name that Debbie gave to her morning picture. Anyways, I think both of us, and everyone else in the class, can agree that the Neilson Creative Art Center is an amazing place, where rainbows go and creative juices flow.
P.S. When were we about to get lost?
P.P.S. I would go back to the art center any time I have an opportunity (just as you said you would).
P.P.P.S. I really loved the sharing groups. They made us look at the art in ways we never would have before.
P.P.P.P.S. I learned about this PS thing from Tashifa’s post. It is really interesting.
-----ABDUL
I had to divide my response into two parts because it wasn't posting the other way.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote a report....
DeleteBut I guess I did too
DeleteHey Adrian.
ReplyDeleteYour blog was really good, well written and informative. I especially liked how you left you pictures open for interpretation and you allowed other people to expand, and meditate on them (just kidding) ponder on them.
In the start of your blog you said that you got excited about going to the art centre, and your never disappointed when you go there. I agree with you on this as I look forward to going there every year and when I go I am never disappointed. It is always fun, surprising, and you learn a lot about yourself. I think going there every year is a must...for many reasons.
“We took the TTC there. The ride was painfully boring, and we almost got lost.” WHAT!?! The ride was definitely not boring. It was actually interesting. We got to see a different part of the city, talk/hang out with friends, and WE GOT TO GO ON THE SUBWAY!! I mean, how interesting is that. The getting lost part...okay, we missed our stop, but I would not think of that as getting lost. But life is all about perspectives, so if that is yours, whatever.
I agree with your reaction of entering the gallery. It was like entering another world. There were so many paintings that I could look at them for hours. Just kidding, not that long, maybe an hour. But it was truly fascinating. I think I may of saw that fiery field painting, but I am not sure. I was some time ago. That painting reminds me of the Saskatchewan prairies, a wildfire racing across them, unstoppable, until finally.....it burns out. Truly amazing how people can create artwork like that, because let me tell you, I CAN'T!
After picking your painting , memorizing it, then told you had to draw something, you said you “drew like your life depended on it” What does that mean? Were you drawing neatly, fast, what? These “tree's” that you drew, are in my opinion, really cool. Looking at them, I agree that they do look like pedestals holding fire. Funny how things evolve in artwork. But that pedestal/tree idea seems like a really cool idea for a book or movie. Maybe this book or movie could be named Fire Tree.
When I am looking at your painting without any other person telling me anything, I see a butterfly in the middle tree. That design on the side of the pedestal seems like a design that would be on a butterflies wings. On top of the three trees, I see some grey lines that make me think about a spider. Maybe the mama butterfly, and her two babies got trapped in a spiders web and are going to be devoured by the mama spider. Who knows? What do you think of this explanation?
I am glad that you are proud of your picture, but if you are proud of your painting, then why would you think it would look worse then any others. I think all pieces of artwork are good, creative, and if the other person likes it, its just perfect. I do not agree with you in saying that some pictures are bad. I know you are an art critic, but that could offend someone. But who knows...maybe you are practising for your future career.
The colours orange and blue remind me of a art project I did a while back that looked horrible. So whenever I think of orange and blue I think of bad art projects (not that yours is bad). I think your second drawing is something you could say a lot about. I think that the caterpillar is good, and the dragon is bad, and they will fight off in an epic duel that will determine the fate of the people of the valley that the dragon oppresses. But as your title goes....the result of the duel is unfinished.
I agree that most people ran out of time. I wish that we were able to get to the centre earlier, and leave later, so that we can have more time to work on our artwork. But overall it was a really fun experience and I hope that we will be able to go back.
Until next time, BYE!
Sorry for the long post
DeleteHi. I really liked your blog. It shared a lot of information that a lot of people missed. Anyways, I really liked your painting. I was wondering though, how your second painting would have turned out if you had some time. For your second picture, I believe on the right is the dragon. To me, It seems the dragon is stuck or stabbed with some kind of tree trunk. So maybe, hes in some kind of pain while stuck.
ReplyDeleteFor the first painting, at first, I though the trees were mushrooms that were spitting out their poison. Then I saw more and more of the fire tree. Anyways,I really liked your blog and paintings.
-Iqbal