vanessa lemen
December 8th, 2006, 10:07 PM
Hi! I am posting here to give a bit of a peek at what I do, send out some things to think about for the workshop, and to say hello! I haven't posted here much. Especially paintings. I've posted in the photography section under the user name 'bfly' but haven't been there in a while either. I hope to add a few more hours to the day and be here more often in the future. heh..
I noticed that Ron mentioned in his recent post, that I would be posting an itinerary for the workshop. Rather than an itinerary per se, I thought I’d post a list of phrases and questions that I have posed to my students on different occasions to help me to better understand them and what they are trying to achieve, especially when they are looking to me for answers. It helps me to help them. The phrases and questions are intended to be answered by the individual for the individual, not by the individual to please the instructor. Art does not work that way, and it does show in the work. I encourage you to take the time to copy this list and fill in your own answers, whether you are coming to the workshop or not, but especially if you are. These questions may help you to gain a better understanding of yourself as an artist, and to assess what it is that you would like to gain from the instructors and the workshop overall, and in future endeavors as well hopefully. There will be a huge line-up of amazing instructors there for you in SF. It’s up to you to assimilate everything you take in and make it work for you.
The common denominator in everything around you is you.
Be aware. Be focused. Experiment. Have fun (as if I need to remind you).
And most of all…Be in more than one place at one time. heheh..
Here’s the list. It starts off with more technical aspects, and then delves into more conceptual aspects. Also be aware as to how you answer them, and what you apply them to. Not that I want to tell you how to answer these, but you may find that your answers may not always be art-related or pertain to art necessarily. However, if the answers aren’t related to art directly, it can help your work significantly if you are aware of these things about yourself.
In regards to traditional art (but most can cross over into digital as well), how familiar are you with:
Surfaces
Brushes
Paint, mineral spirits, mediums
Composition
Shapes and abstractions
Value
Color
Application of paint
Edges
Write down other subjects that you may like to know more about (such as, but not limited to):
Likeness
Mood
Style
Technique
Name 3 painters that inspire you and briefly why
Write down your comments on/feelings about:
The word “good” as it applies to creating
Your opinion vs. others’ opinions
The importance of skill/technique
The importance of expression/voice
The importance of foundation as it applies to creativity
What is the #1 most often thing you talk about and briefly what about it?
Define the word “abstract” as it applies to painting or drawing
What does “to see” mean to you?
What do you believe are your 3 strongest and 3 weakest attributes?
What do you see when you blur your vision while looking at something?
In a few words, what is your definition of “beauty” or “beautiful”?
Who are your 3 biggest influences and briefly why?
How would you define the word “success” or “successful”?
Here are a couple portraits with a detail of each (some with better quality than others, just got a new SLR, bear with me, I plan on having amazing quality photos of my work from here on out..in time)...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/Friedel.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/FriedelDetail.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/RonPortrait.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/RonDetail.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/Self.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/SelfDetailEyes.jpg
.
.
I noticed that Ron mentioned in his recent post, that I would be posting an itinerary for the workshop. Rather than an itinerary per se, I thought I’d post a list of phrases and questions that I have posed to my students on different occasions to help me to better understand them and what they are trying to achieve, especially when they are looking to me for answers. It helps me to help them. The phrases and questions are intended to be answered by the individual for the individual, not by the individual to please the instructor. Art does not work that way, and it does show in the work. I encourage you to take the time to copy this list and fill in your own answers, whether you are coming to the workshop or not, but especially if you are. These questions may help you to gain a better understanding of yourself as an artist, and to assess what it is that you would like to gain from the instructors and the workshop overall, and in future endeavors as well hopefully. There will be a huge line-up of amazing instructors there for you in SF. It’s up to you to assimilate everything you take in and make it work for you.
The common denominator in everything around you is you.
Be aware. Be focused. Experiment. Have fun (as if I need to remind you).
And most of all…Be in more than one place at one time. heheh..
Here’s the list. It starts off with more technical aspects, and then delves into more conceptual aspects. Also be aware as to how you answer them, and what you apply them to. Not that I want to tell you how to answer these, but you may find that your answers may not always be art-related or pertain to art necessarily. However, if the answers aren’t related to art directly, it can help your work significantly if you are aware of these things about yourself.
In regards to traditional art (but most can cross over into digital as well), how familiar are you with:
Surfaces
Brushes
Paint, mineral spirits, mediums
Composition
Shapes and abstractions
Value
Color
Application of paint
Edges
Write down other subjects that you may like to know more about (such as, but not limited to):
Likeness
Mood
Style
Technique
Name 3 painters that inspire you and briefly why
Write down your comments on/feelings about:
The word “good” as it applies to creating
Your opinion vs. others’ opinions
The importance of skill/technique
The importance of expression/voice
The importance of foundation as it applies to creativity
What is the #1 most often thing you talk about and briefly what about it?
Define the word “abstract” as it applies to painting or drawing
What does “to see” mean to you?
What do you believe are your 3 strongest and 3 weakest attributes?
What do you see when you blur your vision while looking at something?
In a few words, what is your definition of “beauty” or “beautiful”?
Who are your 3 biggest influences and briefly why?
How would you define the word “success” or “successful”?
Here are a couple portraits with a detail of each (some with better quality than others, just got a new SLR, bear with me, I plan on having amazing quality photos of my work from here on out..in time)...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/Friedel.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/FriedelDetail.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/RonPortrait.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/RonDetail.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/Self.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/vanessalemen/SelfDetailEyes.jpg
.
.