life is drawing

Humidity + Photography

2011-07-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

These photos are taken with my old Olympus. Not a great camera, but when I took it out in the humidity and experimented with the lens, I was able to create a halo effect around flowers. At first I saw these images as flawed, but as I looked through them I began to appreciate their softness.

Blue-spotted Salamander in Pool

2011-07-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

Blue-spotted Salamander in Pool
Oil on canvas
24" x 30"

Here is my latest piece. I worked from a carefully composed photo that I took recently. The Minnesota State Fair is coming up and I have registered this piece for the fine arts competition. Crossing my fingers that it makes it!

Random quick watercolors

2011-07-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

Cabin Photos

2011-07-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

Grandma's Garden

2011-07-14T21:26:00.000-07:00

These are photos taken at my grandma and grandpa's cabin on Pleasant Lake in Annandale, MN. I have always been intrigued by the things that my grandma manages to... lets call it collect. In my past artistic endeavors, I have reflected on unnecessary objects humanity makes/keeps that resemble already abundant, living creatures in the great outdoors. It is amazing how crowded my grandma's garden is with these objects rather than flowers. Call it what you want - cute or tacky. I have actually found these objects to be quirky and interesting when given a new life in photography and art. I am for some reason drawn to the comparison between real and fake and its purpose in humanity. So, anyway, here is my little exploration...

Swappers Meet (and a disclaimer)

2011-07-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

So, I am really behind on keeping up with this blog. But, I am constantly doing artsy things as I go (considering art is like breathing for me) that are worth posting. Been pretty busy with work and...real life...so, I will be posting a bunch of stuff all on the same date that covers a few weeks.

Annandale, MN
July 2nd
Swappers Meet

I sold jewelry and "aluminum can art" and actually did pretty well. I plan to sell again, but I will bring some drawings and paintings next time. People seemed interested, now I just have to figure out how to get more people to buy even more stuff.

Jason looks just thrilled to be helping me :)

Aluminum Can Crafts

2011-06-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Last summer I sold my hand crafted jewelry at flea and farmers markets. Didn't go so well. Apparently people at these markets aren't looking for jewelry. This summer, I've decided to try producing some other kinds of crafts that people would buy to decorate their gardens and cabins. There are a lot of lake homes and cabins in this area, so I figured fish would be a good subject to start off with. I recently purchased a crafting book at an antique store with ideas for crafting with aluminum cans. Here is what I've made so far:
Also, I am working on flowers and ladybugs. Once they are finished, I will post photos. Hopefully I can sell these things successfully so I can make some money for my last semester of tuition!

Can anyone identify this moth?

2011-06-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

I found this moth today, though I am unsure of its name. There is no record of how many moth species are found in Minnesota, so it is difficult to pinpoint.

Correction on my last post...
The caterpillar I mentioned is actually a forest tent caterpillar, not an armyworm. The name armyworm has been incorrectly applied to tree defoliating caterpillars, when in reality, the armyworm primarily feeds on grass, corn, and grains. Regardless, these forest tent caterpillars have large outbreaks every 5 to 10 years and can be detrimental to trees.

Another day of photographing found creatures

2011-06-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today, I found a blue-spotted salamander. As a kid, I remember finding larger salamanders with yellow spots (tiger salamander). It has been a very long time since I have seen that species. In recent years, the blue-spotted salamander is much more common in central Minnesota. I also found an armyworm. They are pests and are over populated in this area, while destroying the plants and trees. I find it important to pay attention to the trends and fall-outs of certain species in the area. These changes occur very often and there are new creatures to be seen every year - some good, some bad. These particular instances are very telling about the ecosystem at large.

golden retriever versus chipmunk

2011-06-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

At least a couple times per week, I like to walk around my yard and take photos of the little creatures and things that are ordinarily abundant, but often unnoticed. When I photograph them, it allows me to alter the ordinary into something extraordinary. I highly value the living things that inhabit my surroundings and would like to help others realize how much beauty and purpose nature has to offer. I also believe that it is important to be conscious of how irreplaceable and fragile it is.

Speaking of fragility, to my horror, my golden retriever, who appears harmless, caught and ate a chipmunk before my very eyes while I was taking photos. I assume that there will be laughter upon reading this, and I do understand the humor in it. I mean, seriously. Picture a fluffy family dog happily chowing a chippy like a chew toy. But it is also stunning and terrible and real. Death is just...death. It happens and it can come so quickly and unexpectedly. Even if it is just a rodent. The circulation of life and death is unwavering and brutal. Time stops for the victim when death consumes, but keeps eerily going on for the rest of us, whether we can recover quickly or not. This incident just really resonated with me personally, as well as the thematic content for my artwork. It is important to me to preserve life and nature to the best of my ability and I think this is usually evident in my art. Yep. I got all of that from my dog eating a chipmunk. And, no, I did not take pictures of this particular incident. I was too horrified and there was too much blood involved. Anyways, here are the pictures:

Menomonie WI Pics

2011-06-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago, I visited my friend/former roomie Britney. I took lots of pictures as we explored parts of Menomonie that we were unfortunately unable to during winter months while we were so terribly caught up in school. It is amazing how much can be missed by residing indoors for long durations of time. Menomonie is really a beautiful place when one ventures off campus - especially in the summer. Most of these pictures aren't anything special, but here they are.

The awesome Buddha was a birthday present from Britney :)

We actually ate some of the clover :) It is edible, you know.

Albinism in foliage? Interesting...

The nasty algae bloom actually made for an interesting vivid green color in the water. Good for my pictures, bad for the environment.

Painted Turtle

2011-06-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend, Jason, found a baby painted turtle yesterday at work doing beach clean-up. He brought it to me thinking that I might want to raise it. Although I would love to keep it, I think it would have a better chance in its natural habitat. I kept it for one night and took some photos of it in the morning. The pond in our back yard is now its new home. Maybe I will see it around. Oh, and I named it Francis.

Evergreen Cemetery Photos

2011-06-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

Evergreen Cemetery
Menomonie, WI

The first few photos of summer

2011-06-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hummingbird perched in a tree

Hummingbird at the feeder

Tree frog on my chair while I was making jewelry

A strange little bug I found

Stink Bug

Tree frog under a glass table

Porcupine chewing on scrap wood

Chipmunk up a tree

North Carolina Photography

2011-05-18T00:09:00.001-07:00

A March road trip to North Carolina resulted in some rococo inspired photography...

Art Education Exhibition - Raw Deal

2011-05-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

These photos are from an exhibition at the Raw Deal way back in February. The work displayed was a culmination of pieces made by art education majors. I chose to display three intaglio prints pictured below...Coneflower
Handful of Blue-Spotted Salamanders
Hillside on Barton Avenue

No Compromise Exhibition

2011-05-17T16:59:00.000-07:00

Exhibition: No Compromise
Gallery 209
Closing Reception: May 17, 2011

My Drawing:
Curiosity killed the toads.
Charcoal and ink on paper
30" x 44"

My life in just one post...

2011-05-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

Closing Reception of Carbon

2011-05-10T12:35:00.001-07:00

Jillian Alberg

Artist Statement

The condition and state of the Earth’s natural resources are very telling about the human condition. The relationship between nature and humanity are a balancing act, since each party is impactful on the other. Nature drives and controls the planet, while humanity attempts to control and manipulate forces of nature to sustain domesticated life and a stable lifestyle. At times, this manipulation can be unsuccessful in an attempt to create stability and can cause more harm than good. A stasis between humans and the natural world surrounding them is an ultimate goal for a better Earth. This stasis is attempted by conservation organizations, such as the Department of Natural Resources, which plays a significant role in my research. The need for these types of organizations and the necessity for humans to utilize and manipulate plants, animals, and our planet to suit their own needs is a noteworthy facet to the human condition. In this body of work, I am exploring the fragility of natural resources and the impact that humanity can have on them.

As the conceptual dialogue of these works are naturalistic, I am portraying the ideals through organic media. Burnt wood comments on the detrimental impact that humanity can have on resources, while allowing for organic line work to occur in mark making. Structure offered in the grid is telling about the need for humanity to create balance and stasis. The structure and mathematical qualities to maps are also commenting on the need for stability, while interjecting organic line work to interrupt the balance. These aspects result in a confliction between nature versus humanity, and organic versus graphic.

Artists (left to right): Sam McKenzie, Carly Frederick, Karli Heintz, Jillian Alberg
Artists and Artist Statements
My Artist Statement
Front Display
Britney Plunkett and I
Family in front of my work
Family in front of my work
Left: Vulnerable, Right: Invasive, Jillian Alberg
Vulnerable, Jillian Alberg
Group Work
Group Work
Group Work
Group Work
Vulnerable
Artist Statements and Comment Sheets
Left: Vulnerable, Right: Invasive
Invasive

Senior Show

2011-05-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

Gallery 209 Senior Exhibition Closing Reception
May 6th 6PM - 8PM

Here is a preview of what my work looks like in the gallery.

Additions to place project

2011-04-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

Place Project

2011-04-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

The central Minnesota area has been a significant inspiration to my artwork in general. Within this location, there is an abundance of lakes and woodlands with flourishing ecosystems. A wealth of plants, animals, and other organisms thrive, from which I gain most of the subject matter for my work. These natural surroundings and an appreciation for wildlife have always been a value in my family; so much to the point that within the yards of my family members, there is an imitation of these organisms. Kitsch garden décor overtakes the yards of most of the homes in the area. It is a cultural norm for people to decorate their gardens and yards with an abundance of mass-produced garden paraphernalia. Frogs, bees, flowers, birds, deer, rabbits, and many other appreciated organisms are imitated in the form of cheap, plastic junk that serves no functioning purpose other than to supposedly be “cute.” There seems to be a natural desire to make yards “pretty” or appealing, which is understandable by my standards. What I do not understand is why the culture in central Minnesota finds these distasteful items to be appealing when placed out in nature where they do not translate.

This motif of garden décor is all too familiar, as I grew up seeing these items on a daily basis, which brought about positive and negative connotations. They do provide nostalgia for me personally, as they remind me of my grandmother and mother. As a child, I appreciated these decorations since they were toy-like representations. This may be a reason why I do have a positive response to them in my memories. There are also negative connotations with these decorations being seen as unnecessary and overbearing, especially in my eyes today. Looking beyond the human-made aspects of a yard, there are blatantly beautiful life forms that need no justification in their aesthetic appeal and purpose. Nature already provides a landscape full of many distinct organic forms and colors. What I am addressing and exploring through this project is the reason why people feel the need to distastefully imitate the already beautiful place in which they reside.

My grandmother’s yard is especially littered with sporadic garden décor. I have very fond memories of spending time with her and my grandfather at their cabin. This nostalgia includes mental imagery associated with their gardens at the cabin and the items in them. Their yard contains items of pastiche including plastic and wooden imitations of ducks, bees, frogs, rabbits, butterflies, birds, geese, loons, and many other native animals that are all too commonly found on their property in reality. There is an underlying reason for my grandmother’s enjoyment in imitating these common organisms, which I am exploring through the photograph of the bee. This photograph of an artificial, whimsical bee was taken at her cabin. I edited the photo by inserting an image of a real bumblebee to emphasize the irrational existence of the artificial one. The redundancies of the images I have produced add to this. Through this ridiculous and silly context, I am attempting to help others realize the unnecessary, but common motif of the culture.

My mother’s yard entails a unifying theme of garden décor. She enjoys the parody of frogs in her gardens with many figurines placed about in an excessive manor. There also must be some meaningful approach to this imitation, similar to that of my grandmothers. I explore this frog themed décor through the image I have produced. Just as the photograph of the bee, this frog is an artificial, whimsical representation of the realistic version. It is so excessive that it is even wearing a crown. The redundancy and positioning of the realistic frog with the artificial one emphasizes the ridiculousness of the artifice, again. In addition to the redundant theme in these two works, I plan to create a series. This will push even further the idea of redundancy.

In documentation of the garden décor, I have taken pictures to examine the themes and motives behind their existence. In my own satire, I have assembled collages via Photoshop to express redundancy on a deeper level than just the artificial version in gardens. Repetition, redundancy, and the concept of place are all evident in the collages of Suzi Gablik. In studying her work, I enjoyed the color and whimsical representation of the places portrayed in her collages.

Through my exploration and documentation, I have learned that there is a primal need for humans to imitate “beauty,” or what they may personally find beautiful. This concept is often a derivative of the values in a given culture. There is enjoyment in dwelling on what one may find beautiful or enjoyable, in the sense that it creates a longer-lived existence. The people in central Minnesota know that there are deer in the surrounding area, although they may not see them all of the time. Artifice and imitation provides the longer-lived existence. In the images I have created, I am providing a permanent existence to the redundancy in which humans find essential to well being.

Vulnerable

2011-04-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

This is a series of 16 wood burnings on cedar titled Vulnerable. They will be featured in my senior show on May 2nd - 6th.

Invasive

2011-04-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

This series of ink drawings began with the mapping project. I have continued to develop these into a series of ten titled Invasive, which will be featured in my senior show on May 2-6th.

Protest Project Paper

2011-04-17T21:33:00.001-07:00

For the protest project, I am essentially protesting protest. While many of my classmates are politically protesting against Scott Walker, the budget bill, or some effect it has had on Wisconsin, I have taken my piece in a different direction. The piece I have created does not necessarily project my politics on the matter as much as it does project morals. The events that have taken place as a result of the governor’s, as well as voters’, decisions have caused chaos and resulted in unfortunate actions of many people. I am protesting these unfortunate actions and the negative effects they are having on the public, specifically students.

In all of the excitement as a result of Governor Walker’s actions, many teachers are overcome with the idea of losing their rights. As a result, it has become popularized to walk out of schools in protest. These walkouts have happened in schools all over Wisconsin. Teachers have been walking out to represent solidarity in their union, while either being unaware or carefree of the impact this specific action is having on their students. With these educators being caught up in the moment, they are leaving their students behind when they walk out of schools. Some teachers have had their students participate in the walkouts. This is including them in a political agenda, in which they may not agree with, or may not be mature enough to understand what they are partaking in. It is unclear to me why these educators think that walking out on innocent students is the best solution in the given situation. By walking out, teachers are targeting the wrong audience. The largest impact of these walkouts is on the students, as it directly affects them. There are many other constructive ways to prove a point, while still practicing what you preach.

Just as walkouts are negatively impacting Wisconsin’s students, the general attitude of their teachers negatively impact them as well. As an art education major, I am constantly in and out of schools for field experience. I have observed some very shocking attitudes and actions over the past few years, but there was specifically a recent occasion that caught my attention in accordance to this project. This incident happened in an eighth grade classroom, where I am currently completing pre-student teaching hours. There had been a lot going on with news on the budget bill, the risk of layoffs, and walkouts. This caused tensions to be high. The teacher told the students that she wasn't having a very good day and that, “Today is a bad day for teachers!” One of the students replied, "What do you mean? It's a great day!" I really appreciated his optimism. This interaction between student and teacher was very powerful to me. The negativity of the teacher completely interfered with the students' learning that day. The power that the teacher had in bringing her entire classroom down just amazed me. But, the impact that particular pure and innocent student made was beyond his years. He has no idea how impactful his statement was.

On this particular day, the students were making origami lilies. The juxtaposition of the lilies and the negativity in the classroom was very contradicting. The lily symbolizes devotion, innocence, purity, and youth. A teacher should be devoted to his/her students. I thought that this occurrence had a lot to do with the meaning behind walkouts. A teacher could be symbolized as a lily, in the sense that they are devoted, maternal figures, but this concept is completely backward when teachers decide to walk out. While the educator may be corrupt, the student remains pure and innocent. They remain devoted to learning while they are in school.

For the protest project, I wanted to create something that would represent this interaction between the student and teacher. I decided that there should be two origami lilies - one representing the teacher and one for the student. The teacher’s lily is folded from a newspaper article about walkouts to represent bringing corruption into the classroom. The student’s lily is made of pure white paper to express purity and innocence. I decided to photograph the lilies so that I could permanently capture the teacher’s lily in an ominous, looming manor, and the student’s lily in a small, innocent manor. I also wanted the compositions to appear as if the lilies are separated, but interacting with one another. To aid the interaction, I have included dialogue from the student and teacher with paint on the photo surfaces.

One artist I can identify with is An-My Le. She is interested in the experiences she must go through in order to take her photographs. What she experiences at military sites is very significant in the conceptual aspect of her work (2). I feel the same way with the protest project I have made. It was essential that I experienced what was really happening in the classrooms to decipher how I would make the concept at hand function as an art form. In general, I can also identify my work with hers in the sense that she is interested in the way that humans and nature interact. The soldiers she has conversed with claim that combat is really an interaction with nature. She speaks of this interaction as a “communion,” which I can relate to my own work (3).

Sam Durant is an artist that I can identify with in terms of the visual aspects of my project. Much of Sam Durant’s imagery involves haphazardly transcribed text (1). This chaotic way of making a statement seemed to be appropriate when layered with the photography I have done for my piece. The text I have added creates a dialogue within the diptych in a disordered way, which is reminiscent of the issue at hand.

Sources:

Sam Durant

1. http://www.blumandpoe.com/current.html

An-My Le

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofhqYzW5cxg&feature=player_embedded

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bThyPXhzSOE

Final Protest Project

2011-04-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

I have printed an image of each lily and painted quotes on top. I am not sure if it has translated well. During critique, some classmates were saying that poster size images of these would be more appropriate (as they are only 9"x 6" now). I preferred that the conversation of these two pieces stay small and intimate, since the conversation actually happened in small-town classroom. Some classmates were saying that they liked the origami in its 3-D form. I think I have come to agree with this. I wanted to achieve some permanence and stability to the work, which is why I chose to photograph the origami in the first place. Then I realized that this is not necessary in its presentation. It actually makes the conversation seem more realistic by having the origami pieces exist as objects, as they would in the actual classroom. If put in a gallery, I would display the origami pieces on a pedestal, facing each other as if they were conversing. The titles would be the quotes, which would be an adequate amount of information to get the point across.

Final Ideation for Protest Project

2011-03-23T15:20:00.001-07:00

I considered doing a drawing of the scene from the day at the middle school, but I found the actual origami objects to be much more meaningful. I have decided to photograph a lily made of a newspaper article about walkouts. This lily will represent the teacher. I will paint over the photograph the quote in which the teacher announced: "Today is a bad day for teachers." I will photograph a small, pure, and white lily to represent the student. I will paint, "What do you mean? It's a great day!" over the top of the photograph. These two pieces will create a diptych. The two lilies will appear as if they are interacting with one another through dialogue and the way in which they will be positioned in the photographs.

Further Ideation for Protest Project

2011-03-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

I am currently doing my pre-student teaching hours at a middle school nearby. I had an extremely valuable experience the other day while I was assisting. That particular day, there had been a lot going on with news on the budget bill, the risk of layoffs, and walkouts. The events that took place in the classroom that day will be the basis of my protest project. I keep a teaching blog, as well as an art blog, and below I have pasted a section I wrote that particular day: There was a lot of tension in the classroom today. The teacher told the students that she wasn't having the best day, and that it was a bad day for teachers. One of the students replied, "What do you mean? It's a great day!" I really appreciated his optimism. This interaction between the student and the teacher was very powerful to me. The negativity of the teacher completely interfered with the students' learning that day. The power that the teacher had in bringing her entire classroom down just amazed me. But, the impact that particular pure and innocent student made was beyond his years. He has no idea how impactful his statement was. On this day, the students were making origami lilies. The juxtaposition of the lilies and the negativity in the classroom was very contradicting. The lily symbolizes devotion, innocence, purity, and youth. A teacher should be devoted to his/her students. I thought that this occurrence had a lot to do with the meaning behind walkouts. A teacher could be symbolized as a lily, in the sense that they are devoted, maternal figures, but this concept is completely backwards when teachers decide to walk out. While the educator may be corrupt, the student remains pure and innocent. They remain devoted to learning while they are in school.

Protest Project Beginnings

2011-03-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

For the protest project, there is a particular problem I have with the way in which educators are reacting against Walker. It has been popularized to walk-out of schools in protest of the budget bill. In my opinion, this is completely unacceptable. Teachers walking out on their students. What a thought. If they are such strong advocates for education, what makes them think that it would be at all appropriate for them to abandon what they stand for? This concept is just completely backwards to me. I understand that people are angry and feel that they deserve their rights. I do not understand how they think that walking out on innocent students will solve anything. By walking out, teachers are targeting the wrong group of people. These walk-outs have an extremely negative impact on students. There are many other constructive ways to prove a point.

I have heard stories of teachers walking out, but bringing their students with. This is also so very wrong, in my opinion. If they are younger students, they do not understand what they are taking part in. These students are left without a choice, but to follow their teacher's directions. I can only imagine how furious some parents must be. In schools that have older students attending, they may feel pressured to partake in the walk-outs. It is possible that these students are also being fed very biased information. This is an abuse of power.

The inappropriate actions of educators will be the driving force behind my project.

Invasive: A Series of Ink Drawings

2011-02-21T21:20:00.000-08:00

The series I have created for the mapping project includes various themes, which are based on conflict. Nature versus humanity, familiar versus foreign, and organic versus graphic are all conflicting themes in this series. Through these concepts, I have achieved an overall theme of mapping with the utilization of Photoshop alterations in maps created by the Department of Natural Resources. I have altered the maps with physical mark making to suggest a transformed physical form. I have altered the outline, shape, and form of these lakes to represent the physical characteristics of exotic species that are taking over Minnesota waters, as a result of the detrimental forces of humanity. My intent was to take the existing lake maps, which are utilized by fishermen, and change them into what they are figuratively becoming - exotic. Since the ecosystem is changing as a result of invasive species, the entireties of lakes are changing.

The concept of nature versus humanity is present in the sense that these drawings represent natural bodies of surface water, while the outlines of the lake maps are taking on the shape of their new exotic inhabitants. These exotic species represented are a current problem in the bodies of water in Minnesota, The Land of 10,000 Lakes. Humanity is to blame for the introduction of these invasive species, as they are often transported by boat. Invasive species may also be introduced as a result of domestic purposes, such as aquariums and gardens. Exotic species can sometimes be introduced with intent of fishing purposes for private parties. Regardless of whether the species were introduced purposefully or accidentally, this is a serious problem. Exotic species affect the ecosystem by preying on food that the native species would otherwise. This can result in scarcity of food, and be detrimental to the population of species in which they may prey on. Breeding becomes a problem when exotic species alter the native gene pool. Exotic parasites can be introduced when invasive species arrive in foreign waters.

The familiar versus the foreign is conceptualized through the idea of exotic wildlife within recognizable, well-known bodies of water. This is where the art becomes personal. The lake maps in which I have altered are all representations of lakes that are invaluable to my life and my childhood. These particular lakes may be at risk of exotic inhabitants, if they are not already, which may be detrimental to the ecosystem. When the ecosystem changes, the lakes may become unrecognizable and foreign to the previous occurrences of the ecosystem. The exotic species may essentially take over the lake that they newly inhabit, which is literally portrayed in this series. The lakes that nature and humanity once knew and cherished may become a foreign and unfamiliar territory. Luckily, the Department of Natural Resources plays a big role in conservation and preservation of Minnesota lakes. They make humanity aware of the threats of contamination via the transportation boats and trailers. There are sings and postings available to educate the public, as well as brochures and websites in their efforts to conserve these natural resources.

Graphic and organic are some physical characteristics that feed off of one another within these compositions. Lakes and surface water are fluid, free-forming shapes on the earth’s surface. They are, by nature, organic. When the Department of Natural Resources documented and mapped Minnesotan lakes, they took on a graphic quality. The lakes were drawn out onto grids and became very structured and geometric on paper, including the updated version on the Internet for the public to see. These maps were created in a graphic way for the utilization of the Department of Natural Resources’ records and for fishery. This graphic, simplified quality made the concept simple for humanity to detect, recognize, and follow directions. The changes I have made to these maps have returned them to their organic state. The additional mark making with ink and alterations of color have softened their rigidity and turned the subject matter into organic life forms. Though the subject matter itself has become organic and soft, there is still the underlying portrayal of a structured armature, or the original state of the map. The original state of the map is comparable to the original state and well being of the lakes. The alterations represent the changes that the ecosystem can go through when an exotic species is introduced and takes over.

Part of developing a voice as a contemporary drawer involves educating oneself about the subject matter and concepts in which one portrays, as well as educating oneself about fellow contemporary drawers who are successful in their endeavors. Jeremy Wood and Julie Mehretu are two contemporary drawers that utilize mapping, in which I can relate to with this project. I can relate to Wood in the sense that he has physically been at the location in which his art was made from. The GPS tracks his locations and keeps track of the lines and marks he makes through his travels. I feel as if the lake maps that I have incorporated in my own work are similar to this mindset. Physically, I have been in contact with the lakes that are depicted in the maps. They track where I have gone swimming, fishing, boating, etc. Each lake has significance to my own location within the world. Julie Mehretu is another contemporary artist in which my work can relate to. Her pieces involve blurring the distinction between fact and fiction and between past and present. This holds true with the relationship between the factual, graphic information given in the lake maps I have represented and the fictitious information given in the added mark making to create the forms of the exotic species that overwhelm the forms of the lakes. Although the overwhelming growth in the population of exotic species may hold true, the grand scale of the physical overtaking of an organism that the drawings depict is fictitious and is an exaggeration, although in the future, it may hold true. The past, present, and future are blurred within the alterations of the maps, the transformation of the lakes, and when these occurred.

I am satisfied with the result of this series. The mark making is pleasing to my personal style, as well as the hues and media I have chosen. The concept is significant to my entire body of work, which shares the same concepts and themes. I plan to further develop this concept and possibly create more pieces for this series. These will also appear in my senior show, as I feel that they are quite successful. The mixture of graphic and organic line, as well as the variation between thick and thin line work makes for an interesting composition. The preliminary versions of these pieces were drawn with charcoal, which was problematic when paired with the ink-printed map. I feel that I have remedied this problem in using ink throughout the entire composition.

Mapping: The Final Product

2011-02-21T20:51:00.000-08:00

The series I have created for the mapping project is called Invasive. They are Photoshop altered lake maps printed on paper and drawn on with ink pens. Pictured is the final product...

Beginnings of Mapping Project

2011-02-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

These were originally supposed to be the final copies of the project, however, the translation between the printed ink and the charcoal line drawings were lost. It was brought to my attentions that a more delicate line in the alteration from lake to animal would be beneficial to the compositions. Ink pens would also help to translate this idea. Thus, these became preliminary ideation for the final product. Also, I have decided to add on a fifth composition to the series.

Here is a list of the lakes with their corresponding species in which they will transform into:

Lake - Invasive Species

Winnibigoshish - Sea Lamprey

Washburn - Spiny Water Flea

Clearwater - Rusty Crayfish

Pleasant - Zebra Mussel

Eagle - Faucet Snail

Mapping

2011-02-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

In the movies we watched during class this week, Julie Mehretu talked about how the elements of your surroundings influence your work. Architecture and urban areas seem to influence her work, along with the people she surrounds herself with. I can relate to this in my own work and process. I too, am highly influenced by my surroundings, which are rural. I have a concern for nature and its resources. Nature and humanity are both resourceful to one another, but there can also be harm caused in this distribution. Through domestication, both sides of the fence can benefit (sometimes). I am interested in paying attention to the give and take between man and nature.

These common themes in my work led me to think about lakes, which are a huge part of my surroundings. There is a constant give and take between the resources in which the lake offers man and what man offers the lake. Humans fish. The Department of Natural Resources makes sure that there is a limit on fishing and that permits are distributed. Fish populations are recorded and monitored, so that when specific species dwindle, the DNR may replenish the population. I am interested in the conversation between humans and the natural world. This leads me to mapping...

I found some old lake maps that belong to the DNR, and I am interested in how these lakes have changed over time. I also found information about specie populations in each lake and data on the upkeep of the resources. Through researching these lakes, I plan to involve the lake maps in my project. There are four lakes that are personally important to me. I either need to choose one, or make more than one piece, eventually. As of now, I plan to print out a black and white map and draw on it with charcoal, while incorporating an ink wash.

I am unsure of the subject matter in which I will draw into the map and how I will incorporate the two images. I have some photography of bait minnows in bags, which would be significant to the lakes as well as humans. I am also considering the possibility of drawing invasive species over the maps. Invasive species are carried and transported by humans when they are stuck on boats and lifts, which later are exposed to other lakes. This is a big problem for surface water and the ecosystem of these habitats.

Drawing III, Spring 2011

2011-01-25T20:22:00.000-08:00

My name is Jill Alberg and I am from Monticello, Minnesota. I grew up in a rural environment, which highly influences my work. To me, it is important to know what surrounds us outside of the buildings we hide in. Nature is something I obviously enjoy, which is one of the reasons why I choose my subject matter, but it goes deeper than that. I also value the importance of nature and the preservation of it, since it is where we obtain our resources. I am interested in the give and take between nature and humanity, including the concept of domestication.

Research and reflection on the relations between nature and humanity are the driving force behind my inspiration. My process involves scientific research including the subjects of species and anatomy. With this knowledge, I typically write or make lists, which develop into the framework for a drawing. Along with writing, I take a lot of photographs. I often revisit the rural area in which I grew up for inspiration. There is an abundance of plants and animals in which I study and photograph. Some examples of the wildlife that I photograph are pictured here. In this rural area, you can simply look out the window and see a flock of turkeys or maybe a family of deer. If you take the time to look a little closer, there is an abundance of smaller creatures, including amphibians, reptiles, and insects. During my research, I observe my surroundings and want to know what every animal is called and what it does for the ecosystem. I value this natural curiosity and am disappointed when others do not. I would like my work to emulate and/or represent the natural world surrounding us, in an attempt to inspire care and curiosity in others.

Some common themes and comparisons I utilize in art making:

and

Urban vs. Rural

Graphic vs. Organic

Man vs. Nature

Birth/Life vs. Death

Femininity vs. Masculinity

Anatomy

Domestic vs. Feral

This semester, I plan to prepare for my senior show in May. I do consider myself to be a contemporary drawer, and my senior show will consist of drawings. Typically, in the past, I have been very traditional with my materials. I prefer drawing large scale on Stonehenge paper with charcoal. Over these drawings, I enjoy utilizing ink washes. Fluidity has been important in my work, as the ink has the purpose of giving new life to a tight, stiff drawing. The haphazard result in which washes give my drawings are pleasing to me (Photos of drawings in previous posts). I hope to make more drawings like this, however, I have tried something new recently...

Over winter break, I rediscovered a media my father has always used, and I used at a younger age. Wood burning is something I grew up with, as my father made many signs, as well as art pieces. I rediscovered the tools as I was rummaging through some things at home, and decided to test it out. I got carried away, and before I knew it, I created five pieces that I plan to use in my senior show. Throughout the semester, I hope to further develop this series (although I am not sure where it would be allowable to burn wood in this building). Representing these creatures at an unusual angle is my intent. My research involves photography of animals in vulnerable positions, as vulnerability has become a new theme in my work.

When I am not drawing, I make jewelry. I mostly use wire, found objects, and polymer clay. Pictured are a few of my recent pieces.

Last Two Drawings

2010-05-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

Series: Relatives
Top: Roots
Middle: Rapacious
Bottom:Retiring

For the last two pieces assigned, I wanted to create something that was based on my previous piece titled Roots. I really enjoyed using charcoal and an ink wash on paper, so I thought it would be a good idea to carry this process over to two other drawings. I am also captivated by topics involving evolution versus creation, in which each of these pieces talk about. With the two additions to this series, I wanted to bring in another aspect to the concept, which involves the give and take between humanity and nature.

When I began researching for these two drawings, I was interested in primates and hominids in relation to homosapiens. Many primates have DNA that is from 96 to 99% similar to the DNA of humans. I find this to be very significant. Humanity overpowers any other species in existence on the planet and this power is abused more often than not. The resources in which the earth provides us are abused and many species are endangered. One of these species that captivates me is the gorilla, which resides in Africa. The gorilla is seen as a monstrous beast, but in reality, they are the most docile ape in existence. They are poached often and their population is dwindling quickly. It amazes me that an ape which shares 97% of its DNA with ours, is being so neglected. It is unbelievably similar to our own species, but people still take advantage of them. This greed saddens me.

Another aspect to these drawings is the willow branches. They represent the African Bush Willow, which provides a substance called Combretastatin, which aids in the tumor-cell killing power of radiation therapy as much as 500 times. This is tested on laboratory animals. Humanity is abusing animals for test and research facilities for the benefit of our own species. If this African Bush Willow becomes vastly used for medical purposes, it could be on its way out as a species as well.

For the first drawing, I drew one gorilla, which symbolizes the dwindling population. It has willow branches protruding from its fur because the gorilla also represents the earth and its resources available to humanity. The earth/gorilla/African Bush Willow is giving humanity resources that benefit our species, and this could be abused.

In the second drawing, I drew human hands, which represent greed. These hands are being given Combretastin by the willow branches, which are injecting it as though an IV would.

Emulation Project

2010-04-11T15:59:00.001-07:00

I emulated Susie Wright for the Emulation Project. She does a lot of drawing and typically turns her drawings into prints. Her drawings start out as pencil on paper, and then she traces over the pencil with black ink. All of her pieces come out looking very graphic, which aids in the printmaking process. Sometimes she goes back into a black and white piece and adds a splash of color, such as red, blue, purple, or pink. Her subject matter comes from her own photography and sketches. She is interested in her Scottish heritage and natural history.

Since I am interested in natural history and where I grew up, I would like to think that I have some commonality with Wright. I also like to work from my own photography, as does she. I found it interesting that she devotes so much time and detail to one subject, which appears to be floating in space. Her pieces are very striking and bold in their contrast from flat black to stark white, which appeals to me. Her style is very clean in comparison to mine, and I thought that emulating this style would be a learning experience for me. The finished product turned out well, but it is not one of my best pieces. I learned that being clean, careful, and precise with ink is not my forte, but it is something different and I enjoyed this experience.

Hen = Susie Wright
Frog = Jillian Alberg

Influences Paper

2010-03-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

For my Influences and Sources paper, I wrote about the following topics.

Influences and sources from the world outside of art:
Personal Belongings
- Why people own the things they do
- Objects can say a lot about peoples lifestyles, personalities
- Objects can create time lines
- Personal belongings create portraits
Domesticity
- Domestication of plants and animals
- People find it necessary to manipulate plants and animals to suit our lifestyle needs
- Give and take between humanity and nature
Nature/Science
- Meaning and possibility of life
- Where things come from, how they evolve

Personal influences:
My Father
- My natural talent comes from my dad
- He pushes me, gives suggestions and support
My Home
- Rural, wooded location
- Rich with life
Water
- Grew up surrounded by water
- Freeing, Fluidity
- Ink washes

Artistic Influences:
Susie Wright
Sol Kjok
April Gornik

Here is the link to it:

Paper

Myers-Briggs Personality Test

2010-03-13T07:57:00.000-08:00

For the Myers-Briggs personality test, I scored INTJ.

The percentages for my score were:
Introverted 56
Intuitive 38
Thinking 12
Judging 56

This personality type is described as having little understanding for small talk and flirtation. Personal relationships are supposedly difficult for INTJs because the self-confidence that they typically have can abandon them or mislead them. They are capable of caring very deeply for a select few people in their lives and are willing to spend a lot of time and effort on a relationship. As I mentioned self-confidence earlier, INTJs are said to be very confident people and can sometimes come off as arrogant. They are very confident in what they do know, as well as being able to admit and know what they do not know. They stick to what they do know because it is familiar. INTJs are idea people and can easily visualize what might be. Anything is possible to INTJs. To reach the product of an idea, step-by-step processing is necessary for success. They have very little respect for slackers and the un-motivated people of the world.

I would say that this personality type fits me very well. I am definitely not one for small talk. I usually only speak when there is something worth saying, especially in critique settings. My usual routine for critiquing is only mentioning a select few things that I find essential for others to know. I could improve how often I do mention the things I am thinking. There are definitely times in which I think of something important, but bite my tongue. The ideas that I do mention are usually confident in reply, because it is something I do confidently know. I would say that it is usually easy for me to visualize what could be. I am always thinking of possibilities, but only mentioning these possibilities if I feel confident about it being worth saying. I usually do not come across as arrogant, but I definitely have. I try not to come across as arrogant, because it is honestly easy for me to do so. I usually only come across as arrogant when I am very comfortable with the person I am talking to. These people I would be comfortable with are a select few that I care deeply about. This personality type is said to spend a lot of effort and time on a relationship, and I think this fits me well. There are a select few people in my life that I do care deeply for. An example of this would be my boyfriend of 4 years. If that isn't a lot of time and effort, I don't know what is. I would say that I definitely stick to what I know, especially in my artwork. I realize that it is good to step outside the box, though I usually choose not to. I highly appreciate familiarity. I choose subjects that I have knowledge of and materials that I am familiar with. The past two projects I have done had subject matter that was familiar to me. The first project involved the objects in my own room. The second piece I did was familiar to me in subject matter in the sense that I took Life Drawing last semester and loved it. I am very familiar with charcoal and would use it all of the time if I could. This is partly because of my familiarity with it, as well as the fact that it is simply my favorite medium to work with. I stick to what I know, and develop what I know in a confident manor. I develop my work through step-by-step process. My processes may be incoherent and abstract to others, but they work for me. Planning is always important in my process to get a successful result. Research including photos and sketches are always necessary.

Project 2 - Ink, Family, Layers - Title = Roots

2010-03-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

The the two words I was assigned to use for the subject matter was family and layers. My first thought of family was a cheesy family portrait. I was stuck on that idea for awhile and became discouraged because I wasn't sure how I would represent family without it being cliche. After talking to Amy, she suggested that I should think about the meaning of the word family and how it can mean many things. The word family can have a meaning that involves biology and species, relationships, and familiarity. This brainstorming helped me come up with the idea to use the concept of mother and child. From this point, I thought about family trees and the circle of life, which I brought into this piece. It also talks about family roots with "Roots" being the title. As I drew this piece, I thought about the struggle of birth and survival in life.

The word layers comes into play with the layering of charcoal and ink washes. Ink was the medium I was assigned to use, so I chose an ink wash because I find them very freeing and loose in comparison to a tight, charcoal drawing.

During the critique, the class definitely had the right idea about what I was going for. People made comments about movement, motherhood, the circle of life, roots, and struggle. This is exactly what I was going for. One thing I was unsure about as I went into the critique was if I should have pushed the value more in the figure, or maybe if I should have done more with the background. I had the intention of making this piece soft in color and shading because life is fragile. This is also a very feminine piece and I was hoping to keep the colors light and soft for this reason. Now that it is finished, I wonder if it would look better if I had pushed the value a little bit further. It was mentioned by some that I should push it a little further, and some students liked it the way it was. This leaves me undecided for the time being, though I am leaning toward leaving it be since it was my original intention to keep it soft.

Project 1 - turning something ordinary into something extraordinary

2010-02-14T17:04:00.001-08:00

For this project, I tried to think of the most ordinary place that I go on a regular basis. That place is my desk. I sat down in my swirly chair and took a spin. I took photos of the things surrounding me, and came out with three photos that particularly caught my interest. I chose a photo of a bobble-head, a photo of the dial on my record player, and a photo of some hand written text. I think all of these items that I took pictures of say something about me. All of these things are at my desk for a reason. I am very interested in the things I own and like to analyze why I own them. Domestic and homey things around me often become subject matter in my drawings, and I think this will continue. I love still life's. Most would find them boring, but objects have so much more meaning to them than people realize. I always think about where the object came from and why someone owns it - does it have meaning to the owner? This concept has always caught my interest.

During the critique, there were a lot of mixed opinions about this piece. Some stated that it reminded them of the Cold War or something Russian in nature. This is not at all what I was going for, though it is an interesting thought and I now see how they could draw that conclusion. Some said the text should have been left out. Some said it was working. Some said that the text should have been treated differently altogether. I was told that the mark-making of the objects in the background was nice and that the writing takes away from this. Now that I look at the unfinished version with no text, I like it better. I do wish I would have left the objects alone, however, this was a good learning experience. The next time I consider adding text to a drawing, I will need to think more about the outcome and how the piece is working at its present state.

Post on Preface and Ch. 1-3

2010-01-31T19:08:00.000-08:00

Through the reading assignment, I found some similarities between Haynes thinking and my own. In the preface, Haynes talks about creation versus evolution. She talks about her interest in reading about Darwin's theory. I found this interesting because it is something I have always been interested in as well. In my own life, the debate between creation versus evolution has been significant. On page 9, Haynes tells us that books and nature are primary inspirations for her. I am also very inspired by nature. In chapter 3, she talks about teaching an 8th grade class (18). I really wish she would have shared more information in regards to this since I am going into teaching. She added that it wasn't exactly a successful point in her life because she felt overwhelmed by the structure she was expected to uphold. At this point in the Art Education program, I have been in the schools. I enjoy the structure that schools offer and am curious as to why this was not for her.

There was some text that I found inspirational throughout the reading. When she talks about the idea that art is symbolic for expressing cultural and personal ideas, I completely agree (XIV). I also like the part where Haynes explains that making and looking at art is a space in our lives for solitude, silence, and being in the present, when everything else in our world is noisy and information saturated (XVII). Haynes emphasized the importance of writing for self-discovery. She claims that writing helps you to understand who you are and what you believe (10). This really inspired me to include more writing in my research for future projects.

Something I highly disagree with was the statement, "I believe, like Beuys, that artists are not born with special talents, though certainly some people have inherent gifts and proclivities that would seem to make their learning easier." I personally think that the truly successful artists of this world were absolutely born with special talents. There are plenty of artists that are not as blessed as others, who learn as much as possible to become successful, however, this is nothing compared to natural talent. Some people have to work at being artistic. For others, it's like breathing. Either way is fine, but I have much more intrigue for people who are naturally talented.

First Post For Drawing 3

2010-01-31T18:41:00.001-08:00

My name is Jill Alberg. I am an Art Education major and a junior. I have already taken life drawing, as you can see in previous posts. I am taking drawing III because my focus area is drawing. I have always loved to draw and believe that as an artist, if you can draw, you can do just about anything in the arts. As a future teacher, I find it important to be able to draw successfully, which is the main reason I am taking this class. I am primarily interested in nature and animals, which ends up being the subject of most of my work. I also make Jewelry on a regular basis. I mostly work with wire and polymer clay. The posted pictures are some examples of my work. Pictured here are some of my clay beads and and jewelry made with wire, string, and findings.

Final Post

2009-12-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/albergjillian/
-Photos located in the set titled, "Second Half"

Since midterm, I have learned about the skull and have learned more about cross contour line drawings. In terms of cross contour drawings, I am grasping a better understanding of showing different planes of a form. I had never thought about lines wrapping around forms before this class. It is a very simple concept, but it takes time to get used to. In previous drawing courses, we were trained to pump out drawings using shading and value to describe a form. It was a challenge to switch gears, but a good challenge since my abilities have significantly improved. In terms of drawing the skull, I was surprised how well I did. I have never really drawn a skull before. I had mostly avoided it previously because I didn’t know I was capable of drawing one. When looking through my drawings before I knew how to describe the skull, the head looks odd on each one. It always bothered me that I was capable of drawing a decent body, but there was the head looking blank and awkward. Now that I can draw the skull, it is much easier to describe the form of a human head when drawing a figure. Once I had the bone structure of the head figured out, the features came more easily, since they all have their specific place in the skull.

The main reason I took this course was to be able to confidently draw the human form. In paintings and drawings in the past, I had always avoided subjects that include people, since I was afraid that I would not be able to pull it off. I am an Art Education major and as a teacher I should be able to draw just about anything, including human beings. This course has made me confident in my drawings and I feel better qualified to teach in a high school setting. If a student asks me how to draw the facial features, I will be able to answer that question and draw an example.

Last full week of classes

2009-12-12T16:45:00.001-08:00

It was really beneficial learning how to draw the face. I have never been instructed on how to do so, and it made a huge difference for me. I have always had trouble with ears and noses, but the lecture about facial features really helped me. My first classmate drawing did not turn out very good, but the second one was much better. Devoting a day to practice drawing hands was very helpful. I definitely needed some practice with it. I definitely improved with each hand I drew on Thursday.

Big Shell Drawings

2009-11-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

My line weight has drastically changed in this drawing. I usually draw much darker, but I was careful with my line weight in this piece. I am slowly beginning to understand what the direction of line does to a form. There is not a whole lot of depth, which is something I could improve on. It gets a little better with each shell drawing. I enjoyed working on a larger scale. It forced me to think about composition and the better quality of the paper made me take this drawing more seriously. I liked the thickness of the paper. I erase a lot and this time I didn't end up with any holes in the paper!

The group I was in was very helpful. They explained that if I had an extra plane to show the underside or lip of the shell, it would give the shell more depth. Something that would also help the depth of my shell would be to add extreme lights and darks to my line weight. This would be especially helpful where the shell sinks in. Overall, my group said that I had a good composition and that I used my entire paper well.

To help my group, I drew a diagram to show a way of mapping out bumps on the shell. I also explained that if you have tight curves toward the edge of an object, it will appear to be round. One of the shells was really well done. All it needed was to be lightened up with an eraser in a few areas.

Bodies Exhibit

2009-11-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

*The first 5 drawings = in class drawings
*Last 4 drawings = field trip drawings

I really liked our field trip to the Bodies Exhibit on Tuesday. It was so interesting to see what the muscles actually look like under the skin. I think this experience will really help me in my future drawings. I will always have that experience to look back on and be able to pinpoint where each muscle is and what it looks like under the skin. Not only was it beneficial to my drawings, but I honestly learned quite a bit about diseases and the organs. It was all so interesting.

I did enjoy the MIA, though I have been there many times. I always seem to find something new that I never saw the time before.

2009-11-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

My cross contour drawings are slowly improving. I am starting to understand line weight and how to use it in terms of atmospheric perspective. The direction of my lines are improving and do not look like a grid anymore.

With the first couple feet drawings, I would say I did okay. I am having a little trouble understanding the bone structure of them still, but I get closer with each drawing I complete.

Movement

2009-11-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

I feel like my gesture drawings were taking on a sense of movement this past week.

My mannequin is looking alot better since I have redone the thigh muscles. I have also gone through and smoothed the clay out to make it look a little nicer.

Something I need to work on is my line quality. The long pose we did has a very heavy use of line and there is hardly any variation. I have always struggled with this and will need to figure out how to remedy it.

Midterm Portfolio

2009-10-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/albergjillian/

Summary:

This class has been very beneficial to all of my artwork in general. I now understand the value of looking deeper in order to get a better understanding of a structure. This enables me to portray a form to the best of my ability. It is easy to see which drawings are the beginners, since they consist mainly of outline (gesture drawings 4, 5/ large drawing 8). As the drawings progress, there is more bone structure depicted, as well as some muscles (muscles especially shown in large drawing 1).

The gesture drawings have been helpful as research to my larger drawings. Practicing drawing muscles and bones in different positions has really helped me understand how parts of the body move and in what direction. I think the most helpful thing that I have learned is how to draw the spine, rib cage and pelvis. In the past, when drawing a person, I had no idea where to start. It is very helpful starting with the four curves of the spinal column (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral). It maps out where everything else on the body will be placed.

Through the three contour drawings, I have learned how the skin moves over the muscles and bones. At first, this way of drawing was foreign to me. I had never really attempted to draw with this technique, but I am slowly improving (starting with homework drawing 1, then large drawing 7, then large drawing 3).

I have found the mannequins extremely helpful in understanding what is in the body. While I do drawings during class, I find myself thinking back to what I built on my mannequin as a reference to what I am drawing. It is helpful to hear lectures and watch demonstrations about where the muscles and bones are located, but it is helpful on a whole other level to experience building the muscles on my own. I am a hands-on learner and tactile experiences greatly help me.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

In terms of my drawings, I would say a weakness would be my line quality. I typically draw very dark and it would benefit my drawings to vary my line weight. A very obvious problem I have is planning out my composition. Almost all of my drawings go off the page in odd places. I have a bad habit of jumping in without thought. I also have a long way to go before I really understand how the muscles look under the skin. I need to improve my ability to understand how the muscles connect and where they connect to one another. This goes for my mannequin as well. Some other weaknesses in my mannequin is I am a little unsure as to how the sizes of each muscle relate to one another. There are areas of my mannequin that look a little off and I think it is because the size of the muscle is incorrect. It is difficult for me to see how big one muscle is compared to others surrounding it. A way of solving this is going online and searching pictures to get other examples.

Some strengths of my drawings would be that most of my proportions are working for me recently. I feel like large drawings 4, 5, and 6 are especially successful in terms of proportion. In these drawings I periodically drew diagonal lines to make sure all of my angles were matching up. I believe that this is why they ended up so successful. I am finally getting the hang of how the rib cage and pelvis relate to one another and this is also a strength of my recent drawings. Strengths of my mannequin would be craftsmanship. I feel like I did a pretty good job of keeping the clay clean looking and in the correct areas.

Improvements:

I would like to improve my knowledge of how the muscles attach and look together. I also need to improve the aesthetic quality of my drawings. Right now, they look very structured and rigid, but I would like them to look more pleasing to the eye at some point. I will need to improve the appearance of my mannequin by looking up examples of muscles on the internet to get other points of view rather than just from our books.

Advisement Day Week

2009-10-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

I feel like the clay building really helped me this past week. I have a much better understanding of how the muscles should look under skin and I think it is apparent in my hour long drawing from last Thursday.

Yep.

2009-10-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

So, I feel like I was doing better last week. I don't know what changed, but I feel like my drawings got worse. Hopefully this next week will be better. I almost feel as if I am concentrating too hard on getting the rib cage and the pelvis aligned correctly. I haven't been paying much attention to the figure itself, and my drawings end up looking like crap. For example, my figures are going off the page because I get so involved in just getting the bones correct. Oh well, I guess maybe I have to get worse before I can get better.

Feeling some success

2009-10-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

I can honestly say that I had no idea what I was capable of when it comes to drawing the human figure. In the past when I have drawn people, they looked like there was no bone structure and almost looked cartoon-ish. I can happily say that I no longer have this problem. I am very excited to see how much I have grown in my drawing ability in just a few weeks. I've learned that with the right instruction, drawing humans is not such a mystery to me anymore.

First Clay Assignment

2009-09-30T21:03:00.000-07:00

With the first additions to the mannequins we were assigned, I definitely have a better understanding of the human form and what makes it work. By understanding where certain muscles are located along the spinal column, it is easier to see how and why we move the way we do. I will be able to relate what I have learned through the clay forms to drawing models in class. Through my own experience with forming these muscles, I have a better understanding of the four curves in the spinal column (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral) and where the muscles should attach. I have a feeling that in my drawings to come, the figures will be a lot more proportionate and a lot less distorted.

At the same time, I feel like I might be jumping to conclusions on assuming that I have an understanding of all this. I am wondering if my clay forms are even correct. Hopefully I can understand my mistakes when I attend class and get it right for the next assignment.

Bones, Muscles, Shells

2009-09-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

This past week I have significantly learned more about muscles and bone structure. Before this class, I never realized how much anatomy matters when it comes to drawing. My drawings are becoming much more successful with the knowledge of the bone and muscular structures. I am excited to start working with the mannequins and really get a feel for muscles and the best way to draw them. In the past, I mostly focused on the surface of what I was drawing. I now know that if you can understand what lies under the surface of the form, it is much easier to comprehend proportions and angles.

In the critique for my shell drawing, I learned that I went a little too far with the cross contours. If I kept my lines moving one direction through the whole object and then came back with only a few lines going the opposite direction, the drawing would have been more successful. The way it appears now is too dark and busy. If I had some variations in my line weight, this would have also helped. In my next drawings I will be more conscious of atmospheric perspective. One more thing I should have considered, is drawing a different angle of the shell. If the shell was positioned at more of an angle, the drawing would have been much more dynamic in appearance.

The First Full Week

2009-09-20T22:01:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have significantly grown in just the two days of class this past week. My first gesture drawings were pretty rough, since I had not done any in quite a while. When I page through my newsprint pad, there is a huge change from one page to the next. My lines started out looking very rushed and sketchy. As I continued, the line quality became more confident in appearance. Slowly my understanding of proportion starts to come together. On the second day of gesture drawings, one can see the beginning of an understanding of axis lines through the bodies. With the start of contour drawings, it seems to be a bit challenging, but I am sure I will improve.

The First Post

2009-09-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

A little about me:
My name is Jillian Alberg.
I am from Monticello, MN.
My major is Art Education.
I absolutely love to draw.
I like to water-ski, downhill ski, and cross country ski.
I like to figure skate.
I make jewelry.

Pictured here are some earrings I have made and a little sketch of a frog.

Since I have always loved to draw, I approach this class with excitement and am eager to draw the human form for a change (I typically draw animals).