My Creative Process
Techniques
I used a mix of watercolors and found objects from around campus. I had originally made lists of materials I thought would be best suited for each portrait, but eventually abandoned the idea and used any litter I came across. Sadly, collecting trash from around campus was easy. Most of the objects I found on walks to class or dinner. I wish the rest of the artistic process was quick and easy.
As someone who does not identify as a visual artist, this project was particularly challenging. My initial sketches were a little rough. I went down a rabbit hole of watercolor tutorials on YouTube and spent a few weeks frustrated with my artistic abilities. I often spent hours staring at blank canvas thinking, "How the heck am I gonna get this done?" Eventually, I had to force myself
I think we can all agree that this semester has been a doozy. I had originally planned on making this project bigger but needed to adjust my project to work with our current situation. There were definitely some rough patches and a lot of late nights, but I did it. I hope you all enjoy.
Inspiration
Through my research, I have found several artists who focus heavily on the environment in their work. These two stuck with me the most:
In 2018, Xavier Cortada started the “Underwater HOA” project in Pinecrest, Florida in response to South Florida’s vulnerability to rising sea levels. Each house was given a yard sign with a number from zero to seventeen indicating how many feet sea levels would have to rise to completely submerge the house. The paintings used as a backdrop for these signs were made from water from the glaciers that are melting, threatening to drown them (Lescaze, 2018).
Thomas Hirschhorn is a Swiss multi-media artist who is involved in Footing the Bill: Art and Our Ecological Footprint project by Art Works for Change. In his Too Too-Much Much exhibition, he creates surreal and overwhelming landscapes using artifacts of consumption. While most of us have the luxury of simply “throwing away” things once we are done with them, he takes these objects and creates an environment in which we have no choice but to be confronted with the big appetite and in turn big waste we have as a society. (Change, 2019).
References
“Basic Watercolor Techniques.” Arteza, arteza.com/blog/basic-watercolor-techniques.
Change, Art Works for. “Art Works for Change.” Art Works for Change, Art Works for Change Https://Www.artworksforchange.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/2015/11/A_Rockman_NewtownCreek_file-1024x643.Jpg, 18 Mar. 2019, https://www.artworksforchange.org/footing-the-bill/.
Dufour, Fred. “A Whopping 91% of Plastic Isn't Recycled.” National Geographic, 20 Dec. 2018, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/07/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/.
“Green Turtle.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/species/green-turtle.
Gringer, Bonnie. “The Trash One Person Produces in One Year.” TitleMax, 15 Oct. 2018, https://www.titlemax.com/discovery-center/lifestyle/trash-one-person-produces-year/.
Lescaze, Zoë. “12 Artists On: Climate Change.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 Aug. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/t-magazine/climate-change-art.html.
Noaa. “Blue Whale.” NOAA, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/blue-whale.
“Pangolin.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/species/pangolin.
“Species List.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?sort=extinction_status&direction=desc.
“Sunda Tiger.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/species/sunda-tiger.