A Year in Reflection

This year I have learned a lot, but the thing that I most improved on was my ability to draw figures somewhat realistically. Early in the year, I learned to do gesture drawings to build a base/skeleton for the figure. I have always struggled with getting proportions close to realistically, but gestural drawing has helped me balance figures. A similar thing has happened with faces. I can use gesture lines and basic shapes to make head and face shapes that look more realistic. I also learned that I enjoy using basic mediums like marker. I like using blocky shapes, blending colors together, and marks that are easily seen, which I learned from the play pages. After this year, I am closer to my goal drawing more realistically.

I need to improve my ability to use color. In the abstract work, I didn't choose colors that look good together. I just use any color without being able to tell if it works or not. I need to practice using color theory. Being able to understand color theory more would likely help resolve the issue I am currently having with my work. I also want to improve my use of shadows in my oil paintings. I loved oil painting and the deep colors I could get, but I created a work that felt flat. I need to work on recognizing shadows and replicating colors, which means I need to get better at observing my subjects. Composition is also something I want to improve on since every piece I have done, including my final four projects, I couldn't tell what was interesting or not despite knowing the basics of composition.

After learning all that I have, I realize that I want to continue with mediums that border realistic and unrealistic. I loved using marker and the blocky colors I could get on my Final Four projects and want to continue to refine this. Continuing with marker will also give the opportunity to practice with colors. When they blend together, I can physically see why certain color combinations don't work and why others do. I also want to continue to improve with my use of proportion to make my figure drawings and even still lives and landscapes work better. I can use what I learned as a starting off point for my work. It will be a steppingstone to expand my knowledge of the concepts I struggle with and practice what I do well at, so I can make work look more finished.