Metaphoric Self Portrait
(click on the image to see an enlarged view)
Statement
Much like art, music is a form of expression that has been used for thousands of years. Its messages oftentimes influence people more than parents, teachers, or any figure of authority. For some music is primarily about learning a skill, but for others it is an outlet, a way to connect and communicate with others, and a passion that is life.
When musicians join together to play much of what happens is like that of a student and teacher because each person is there not only to produce music, but to learn and listen to each other. Respect must be established between individuals as to not play over each other, but create harmony. Music is not easy. It takes practice, time, knowledge, and a willingness to learn, and is ever changing and growing.
Developing these skills gives the musician a voice and ownership of something unique and personally created. Music has a rich and varied history that can be used, like the arts to represent people, movements, time, and progress.
When musicians join together to play much of what happens is like that of a student and teacher because each person is there not only to produce music, but to learn and listen to each other. Respect must be established between individuals as to not play over each other, but create harmony. Music is not easy. It takes practice, time, knowledge, and a willingness to learn, and is ever changing and growing.
Developing these skills gives the musician a voice and ownership of something unique and personally created. Music has a rich and varied history that can be used, like the arts to represent people, movements, time, and progress.
Brainstorming
Sketches
Sketches
Posts
Adding shadows was a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of art as a "jam session" because I think that art education really is similar to music in that students are creating as well as learning. The idea of a "jam session" is really similar to the art classroom.
ReplyDeleteI must say the Metaphoric Self Portrait is outstanding. I love how it shows not just one type of music but many. Also I like how it shows the different time periods from which the music was created.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful collage! I really like the enthusiasm of your piece and the action seen in the piece. I especially like the shadows you've created and the rug under "The Old Guitarist." You've covered a great amount of art periods and styles and this helps fuel your idea of expression and individualism.
ReplyDeleteI like the integration of music and art coming together in one room. It looks like they are behind stage preparing for a musical or play.
ReplyDeleteI love this metaphoric self-portrait. It really illustrates your passion for music and art and how you would integrate the two together perfectly. You really put a lot of thought into this with all of the details. Good job!
ReplyDeleteSara Denny
(Middle School Art Teacher)
You did a wonderful job of adding musicians of different artworks together in a new piece of art. Because your picture contains images from a variety of different artworks it initially seems disjointed. To help with this problem, adding musical notes that flow from one musician to another will help tie each different element together. Music relates to the sense of hearing, which is an important aspect that needs to be added. Adding musical notes will also demonstrate that while music is a heard sense, art relates to the visual sense because when seeing the musical notes on the page you know a sound is theoretically being produced.
ReplyDeleteI like how you have so many images from art history and they all work so well together, communicating your idea. While the collage was still in process, I felt like the environment dominated the figures. This is probably because of the strong design elements like the large duct structure across the top. I think, though, by adding more figures and spreading them around the room, you have drawn more attention to the musicians. Another thing you could have done is erase some of the dominant elements of the background to further emphasize your subject.
ReplyDeleteThe musicians are there, however they are static. I think the composition would better support your statement if a feeling of energy and atmosphere was created. The passion, communication with others, and harmony that are results of playing music that you talk about in your statement should be visually represented in your portrait to make it more dynamic and to connect the musicians (as they are they seem isolated from each other).
ReplyDeleteI am from the Family and Friends group...First off, in Metaphoric Self Portrait the photoshop work is very well done. The shadows add great realism to the once flat painted characters and they fit seamlessly into their surroundings. I like the wide variety of instruments and characters in the picture because it gives the impression that all of the different styles of character and different instruments can all create harmony if played well.
ReplyDeleteI don't really find the environment distracting as mentioned in other comments. The second floor that kind of looks like duct work seems very modern as does the rest of the room. The environment seems comfortable and open, somewhere where this jam session could really occur.
The characters do seem to be in their own little worlds and outside of playing their instruments together. Unfortunately unless you did the music note idea then I don't see how else you could really make it seem like they are aware of eachother since you're working with how they look in the painting originally.
I really liked the way you integrated so many different forms of art and music. It's cool to see so many different famous pieces into one scene. I liked how they all are hanging out, it seems like a comfortable room. I think you did a great job of creating the perfect "jam session." Well done!!! :)
ReplyDeleteMetaphoric Self Portrait is a very interesting and insightful piece of work. This picture expresses the creative process of making music in an interesting way. The variety of different characters really shows how different of an art form music is to every individual. That to me is the most powerful theme in the picture, the varying characteristics of musicians.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say what category I was posting to, I am an art teacher.
ReplyDeleteI really like the fact that you used music for your metaphoric self-portrait, mainly due to the fact that I just picked up guitar about two years ago and must say it is the most rewarding investment I've made. The statement holds so many truths in it, well done.
ReplyDeleteOn a constructive note, however, I think using more shadows would have been a good idea. You have done it in a few spots, but some of the figures don't have it and appear as if they have been glued onto the page. On a similar note, I would personally like to see less opacity in some of the images, I think it would make the portrait a bit more eye-catching. However, these are all simply suggestions and every artist has their own personal preferences about what they like aesthetically in an artwork.