5/16/21 Week One Reflection

           This week of doing my senior project has taught me a lot about doing art and about myself as an artist. Monday was probably the most difficult day for me because I was just getting into the swing of things, and my body was not quite used to doing art for so many hours. By Monday night my body and brain hurt a bit and I was kind of dreading having to do art for two and a half weeks. Now that it is Sunday and I have completed about twenty five and a half hours, I feel much better about finishing this project. I also have been realizing lately that I use a fairly wide range of art styles – my water bottle is colorful, abstract, and detail oriented compared to the portrait that I am working on which is supposed to be as realistic as I can make it while also using a fairly limited color palette of browns and blacks. Also, the painting that I am going to work on for Annie Mackenzie is probably going to be similar to a commission that I completed in the winter which was less realistic, very colorful, and more impressionistic. 

            As I get further and further along with my senior project, I get more and more excited and happy about what I am doing. I have been getting into a rhythm, and am working on multiple pieces which is allowing my brain to diversify. At this point, because I have multiple art projects and still need to work on my website, I am expecting myself to exceed fifty five hours so that I am able to accomplish everything. 

I have always known that art takes a bit of a physical toll on my body but I did not quite expect in what ways it would affect me during this senior project. It is interesting that the back pain is mostly in my neck, and I am happy that my eyes have not been as affected as I thought they would be (normally many hours of art crosses them because I am more farsighted). 

All of the progress that I have made this week has given me a solid foundation for next week. I have set myself up nicely with the portrait as well as the painting for Annie. I also have a website in the works as well as another blank canvas that is already stretched and ready for me to paint on. All of the hours of painting I have done so far is helping me achieve my goals because it is making me a better painter, it is building my portfolio, and giving me a foundation for setting up a professional website where I can hopefully start selling my work over the summer.