Reflection Essay

This past year in Art III, I have tried many mediums and techniques that are completely new to me. The class has changed my mindset towards art, and learning how to take different approaches towards my art has taught me many things. I've noticed improvement across many fields, and am excited to tackle even more approaches to art and really hammer down the areas I want to improve on the most. During the past year, I've learned that there are many different approaches to art, and this has helped me grow and figure out in what areas I need to improve.

In Art III, I've learned that art takes many shapes and forms, and that there is not one single way that someone is supposed to make art. I've learned this through the many types of painting we have tried and how they differ, such as realism with oil paints versus abstract expressionism with acrylic paints. I've noticed that although the visual aesthetics of different kinds of art vary greatly, they still communicate and speak to the viewer no matter the medium or technique. At first, I wasn't a fan of abstract expressionism, but after researching and delving into the technique in class, I've earned a newfound appreciation for it. This has inspired me to try out new things and step more out of my comfort zone. What I have learned has also encouraged me to embrace my own, personal brand of art, and I really want to continue doing so in order to develop a complete, personal style. This past year, I've seen the greatest growth not only in my actual technical advancements, but also my comfort in exploring my own kind of art which may not appeal to everyone. I've really grown in my open-mindedness towards art, and realize that not everyone has the same tastes and that there is not a single, "good" art style. I feel like this growth in my own mindset will help me expand and nail down my current style into something unique and specifically "me."

The area that I feel I need to improve the most in is to focus my commitment and effort towards my pieces. This past year, despite the fact I've grown in my mindset and technical skill, I've noticed that I can't bring myself to devote myself to work on one large piece, and rather have been pushing out many smaller pieces, a few hours spent at the most. Even though I've improved greatly, I've never had a piece that really left me fulfilled and proud of myself due to the fact I've never spent a long time working on one, large, and complete piece. I believe that if I find the motivation and commitment to put all my effort towards one large piece at a time, I will find myself prouder of my work, and it'll make me feel better to have tangible evidence of my growth and artistic ability.

Next year, I will use what I have learned and want to improve on to really start developing a portfolio to exemplify my career as an artist. Instead of making small pieces and pushing out half-effort school projects, I want to show my art in large, time-consuming efforts that really display my personal style and the emotions and messages I want to convey with my work. My goal for next year is to really develop my own brand of art, and I want to show it through large, effortful pieces I will be truly proud of because the time and commitment I put towards them. In conclusion, I want to sophisticate my portfolio with complete, fulfilling works that speak to who I am and what I want to express with my work.

This past year in Art III, my mindset has expanded in regards to art, and I have grown in my ability to personally express and convey emotions in my own style, which has developed over the course of the year. I've successfully found what I want to explore further and perfect. I recognize that I still need to improve on my time and devotion to pieces in order to make something I'm truly proud of, and I plan to do this by expanding my portfolio next year with works that I put my all towards and express who I truly am. I'm so excited for Art IV!