Beginning/Art Portion
In the very beginning, I had absolutely no clue about what I was going to do for my project. I had ideas here and there, but nothing that I was passionate about felt a need to do. Fortunately for me, that problem was quickly eraticated when I had my weekly tutor session with a 4th grader named Rafael. We had finished work early, so he decided he wanted to do some art. I was very quickly taken aback by his imagination as he asked me to help him with a drawing of aliens invading Earth. I did what I could to help put his vision into paper. After I was done, he told me how impressed he was with my ability and how he wish he could draw better. I told him with a little practice and a lot of creativity, that goal is within reach. Overjoyed with his enthiusism with my art, I offered to make him a painting. Just as I did with the drawing, I asked him to describe his imagination. What he proceeded to tell me was nothing short of impressive.
His "Vision" included:
- An appocolyptic Brooklyn setting next to water, where the sky is blacked out with smoke due to the buildings being on fire. When I asked Rafael to clarify, he said it looked "Like 9/11".
-Venompool (Venom fused with Deadpool) hatches from an egg, and then proceeds to fight Godzilla, who came from Outer Space.
-There is a giant octopus in the water.
-Dolphines are flying in the air
-Jesus comes down from the guy to save everyone from the impending doom
His "Vision" included:
- An appocolyptic Brooklyn setting next to water, where the sky is blacked out with smoke due to the buildings being on fire. When I asked Rafael to clarify, he said it looked "Like 9/11".
-Venompool (Venom fused with Deadpool) hatches from an egg, and then proceeds to fight Godzilla, who came from Outer Space.
-There is a giant octopus in the water.
-Dolphines are flying in the air
-Jesus comes down from the guy to save everyone from the impending doom
While I am not done, this will be my final project that I will gift to Rafael. Below is my planning process.
Standards
Choose from a range of materials and methods of traditional and contemporary artistic practices to plan works of art and design.
For this aspect of the project, I took time to practice and plan for my final painting. While some of the work I created I did not reference, like the Spider-Man drawing above, I relied heavily on my sketches I created as an outline for my work. Throughout the process, I used varying materials such as pen, marker, pencil, and paint. The style I used ranged from comic book-like inking to my own personal style of more traditional painting. This was also the first painting in which I used narrative techniques to show different events from different times in one picture.
Through experimentation, practice, and persistence, demonstrate acquisition of skills and knowledge in a chosen art form.
Like I stated above, practice and experimentation with a style played a large role in the final product, even though it was not a style used. For example, my Spider-Man drawing served the purpose of both shaking the rust off and helping to understand lighting and shadow as that is very important to convey properly when creating a sketch. Also, through my practice I learned not to give up, but more specifically to have faith in my abilities as an artist.
Document the process of developing ideas from early stages to fully elaborated ideas.
I used my sketchbook to plan my painting before I did it, showing not only the forethought involved, but the changes I made when I was translating the sketch to paper.
Analyze how one’s understanding of the world is affected by experiencing visual imagery.
Rafael, the boy who inspired this piece is largely influenced by media. This includes video games, comics, movies, and even religion. This shapes his perception and imagination, as another child of his age would have dreams very different from his if they were not interested in the same things. This is why I chose to represent his imagination through a painting, as he is so heavily impacted by the visual imagery of Pop Culture.
Choose from a range of materials and methods of traditional and contemporary artistic practices to plan works of art and design.
For this aspect of the project, I took time to practice and plan for my final painting. While some of the work I created I did not reference, like the Spider-Man drawing above, I relied heavily on my sketches I created as an outline for my work. Throughout the process, I used varying materials such as pen, marker, pencil, and paint. The style I used ranged from comic book-like inking to my own personal style of more traditional painting. This was also the first painting in which I used narrative techniques to show different events from different times in one picture.
Through experimentation, practice, and persistence, demonstrate acquisition of skills and knowledge in a chosen art form.
Like I stated above, practice and experimentation with a style played a large role in the final product, even though it was not a style used. For example, my Spider-Man drawing served the purpose of both shaking the rust off and helping to understand lighting and shadow as that is very important to convey properly when creating a sketch. Also, through my practice I learned not to give up, but more specifically to have faith in my abilities as an artist.
Document the process of developing ideas from early stages to fully elaborated ideas.
I used my sketchbook to plan my painting before I did it, showing not only the forethought involved, but the changes I made when I was translating the sketch to paper.
Analyze how one’s understanding of the world is affected by experiencing visual imagery.
Rafael, the boy who inspired this piece is largely influenced by media. This includes video games, comics, movies, and even religion. This shapes his perception and imagination, as another child of his age would have dreams very different from his if they were not interested in the same things. This is why I chose to represent his imagination through a painting, as he is so heavily impacted by the visual imagery of Pop Culture.
History Portion
For my history portion of this project, I decided to take a look at creativity from my perspective, and how I can improve upon it daily. I also did some research into the psychology of a child's imagination to allow me to get a better understanding of the process as a whole and how creativity begins and caries over into adulthood. Below, I have pictured images that I tried to do as often as I could to train my creative ability and put it to the test. I used a website to randomly give me a word of the day, and then I would draw what first came to mind. While I do not think my ability improved that much, I did feel like I was becoming quicker at my art. However, I wish I had more time to do more of these drawings so I would have a better chance at seeing improvement over time. Also, when I could, I tried to include perspective in my art by having a certain person or things being the focus of my work to exemplify their feelings.
AlchemyAlchemy n. 1. A power or process of transforming something common into something special. 2. An inexplicable or mysterious process by which paradoxical results are achieved with no obvious rational explanation.
VitriolVitriol; Vitriolic n. Cruel, bitter, scathing criticism; Abusive feeling or expression. “A vitriolic tone of voice.”
CapaciousCapacious adj. Having a lot of space inside; roomy. “A capacious closet.”
PredaciousPredacious adj. Predatory; Given to victimizing, plundering, or destroying for one’s own gain. “A victim of predacious behavior.”
SardonicSardonic adj. Grimly mocking or cynical. “His sardonic smile.”
LabyrinthLabyrinth n. A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze. “Exploring the labyrinth of waterways.” An intricate and confusing arrangement.
Standards
Integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an idea or event.
I will be researching and taking notes on the science of creativity and more specifically how it relates to children as I am interested in that aspect of psychology. This will give me a more scientific perspective as to how the mind works at this age to allow such a thought process. By understanding the facts thoroughly, I can maybe hypothesis how we can extend creativity later in life or even better my own creativity.
Determine how culture shapes personal experiences.
Rafael's imagination is based on culture and religion, and most of what he saw in his imagination relates to comics or media. For example, his culture as a kid growing up American exposed him to popular figures such as Deadpool and Venom as comics as superheroes/villains are popular here. Other media such as movies and video games exposed him to subzero and Godzilla. However, his Mexican Culture shapes his spirituality, as he perceives Jesus as the hero in his own story of the everyday fight between good and evil. His family taught values also allows him to see the "good guys" and "bad guys" in the narrative.
Determine how one deals with the conflict between reason and emotion.
As creativity is heavily influenced by emotion, I discovered with this project how children use their imagination to reason with their emotions and feelings as well as make sense of the world around them and contextualize reality. Rafael is a very spiritual child, and it is easily to see the way that was translated onto the painting with his inclusion of Jesus. Also, in my research, I discuss how children his age can easily differentiate realistic events and non realistic events. While they often lean more towards reason, Rafael's vision had little reason to it at all, which to me made it all the more special.
Examine how purpose and perseverance define self in varying circumstances
I had to have a lot of perseverance for this project, as every day was a new challenge. I needed to make sure that every picture I did, it looked presentable while getting it done in a short amount of time. It was also a great challenge to balance working on the daily art while attempting to finish my painting. Also, I needed to trust my heart in creating an idea for my pictures, as some of the words take deep thought to construct an image. In conclusion, with having a heavy workload, I needed to do everything with a purpose so I did not waste valuable time. Also, I needed to work hours outside of school to make sure I could get as much done as I could.
Integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an idea or event.
I will be researching and taking notes on the science of creativity and more specifically how it relates to children as I am interested in that aspect of psychology. This will give me a more scientific perspective as to how the mind works at this age to allow such a thought process. By understanding the facts thoroughly, I can maybe hypothesis how we can extend creativity later in life or even better my own creativity.
Determine how culture shapes personal experiences.
Rafael's imagination is based on culture and religion, and most of what he saw in his imagination relates to comics or media. For example, his culture as a kid growing up American exposed him to popular figures such as Deadpool and Venom as comics as superheroes/villains are popular here. Other media such as movies and video games exposed him to subzero and Godzilla. However, his Mexican Culture shapes his spirituality, as he perceives Jesus as the hero in his own story of the everyday fight between good and evil. His family taught values also allows him to see the "good guys" and "bad guys" in the narrative.
Determine how one deals with the conflict between reason and emotion.
As creativity is heavily influenced by emotion, I discovered with this project how children use their imagination to reason with their emotions and feelings as well as make sense of the world around them and contextualize reality. Rafael is a very spiritual child, and it is easily to see the way that was translated onto the painting with his inclusion of Jesus. Also, in my research, I discuss how children his age can easily differentiate realistic events and non realistic events. While they often lean more towards reason, Rafael's vision had little reason to it at all, which to me made it all the more special.
Examine how purpose and perseverance define self in varying circumstances
I had to have a lot of perseverance for this project, as every day was a new challenge. I needed to make sure that every picture I did, it looked presentable while getting it done in a short amount of time. It was also a great challenge to balance working on the daily art while attempting to finish my painting. Also, I needed to trust my heart in creating an idea for my pictures, as some of the words take deep thought to construct an image. In conclusion, with having a heavy workload, I needed to do everything with a purpose so I did not waste valuable time. Also, I needed to work hours outside of school to make sure I could get as much done as I could.
Language Arts Portion
This part of my project tied in with my history, as both were artistic representations of the daily words I used and related to each other. In the poems, I tried my best to employ perspective within the words. Below are examples of the works I created along with how I used perspective in each.
Alchemy
Seething swirling fumes The hatred bubbles over I read the ink -- its words excite me It tells of glorious dooms In my ears, the laughter still rings But they know not of my power So on their giggles they will choke Air replaced by water, their lungs will soak And I will never know a more beautiful thing. |
AlchemyAlchemy n. 1. A power or process of transforming something common into something special. 2. An inexplicable or mysterious process by which paradoxical results are achieved with no obvious rational explanation.
This poem is from the perspective of a boy who was bullied for being strange, who eventually has enough and retaliates. He uses his power of dark magic and Alchemy to create a potion that kills all of his students who once made fun of him. |
Vitriol Words; the bitter words Leave a bad taste in the mouth It turns the teeth to fangs And the spit to venom Spewing like a spring |
VitriolVitriol; Vitriolic n. Cruel, bitter, scathing criticism; Abusive feeling or expression. “A vitriolic tone of voice.”
This poem is from a person transforming into a monster as they are overcome by rage. |
Capacious
Artificial man Vacant -- plastic flesh and bones With nobody home |
CapaciousCapacious adj. Having a lot of space inside; roomy. “A capacious closet.”
This poem is from the perspective of a depressed person. Many times, they feel as if they are a hollow shell of the person they once were. |
Predacious A paralyzing voice rings Crawling under my skin And makes home in the hollowness of my chest Eggs laid in my brain like a nest Pulled by invisible strings Tugged back to reality A tick that latches on and sucks me dry A constant reminder of my own mortality Until I am a shell of a body It once was mine ---no longer A strangler fig on a host tree |
PredaciousPredacious adj. Predatory; Given to victimizing, plundering, or destroying for one’s own gain. “A victim of predacious behavior.”
This poem is from the first person point of view of a victim of sexual harassment. In this case, the harasser is in a position of power that leaves the victim hopeless to their control. I use the motif of a parasite to represent how |
Sardonic
I can tell no longer-- What is real? What are illusions? My turbid mind-- savage by delusions Manic laughter rips at my brain tissue I look into blood red eyes-- every day I see you At my successes, they leer At my failures, they jeer Till on replay, the sound of my death is the only thing I hear A choir of voices slices deeper and deeper Not a man, not a devil, but a reaper |
SardonicSardonic adj. Grimly mocking or cynical. “His sardonic smile.”
In this poem, the person talking is about their experiences with schizophrenia. The grimly mocking or cynical voice is their own thoughts who the person sees as a completely separate entity from theirselves that is just there to torment them. |
Labyrinth Etched into the mind My endless walls twist and turn Imprisoned inside |
LabyrinthLabyrinth n. A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze. “Exploring the labyrinth of waterways.” An intricate and confusing arrangement.
This poem is from the point of view of the brain, which is endless in its intricacies which makes the brain's host hopeless to understand them. |
Standards
Write with an awareness of the stylistic aspects of composition.
In my poems, I tried to make sure that I used metaphor often to add to the style of my poem and to capture the tone and deep emotions of the people who's perspective I am taking. I also sometimes use rhyme to add to the flow of my work.
Demonstrate a grade appropriate command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
I will try my best to make sure the conventions are correct by meeting with Mr. Ward to see if my poems follow the rules of English and Poetry. I will also update when I can to make sure my grammar and punctuation is correct as it can often be different in poetry and go against the norms of usual conventions.
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events.
I will combine both real and imagined aspects of life to add an aspect of surrealism to my work to blur the lines of reality, much like children do. An example of this would be my Sardonic poem, where I tell a story of an imagined monster that does not exist.
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of purposes and audiences.
I will push myself creatively by writing no matter how inspired I feel in the moment. Every poem, my perspective is different which challenges me to imagine myself in the shoes of the people from whose point of view I am writing. This way people can see themselves in these words as many people can relate to the pain these people feel.
In my poems, I tried to make sure that I used metaphor often to add to the style of my poem and to capture the tone and deep emotions of the people who's perspective I am taking. I also sometimes use rhyme to add to the flow of my work.
Demonstrate a grade appropriate command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
I will try my best to make sure the conventions are correct by meeting with Mr. Ward to see if my poems follow the rules of English and Poetry. I will also update when I can to make sure my grammar and punctuation is correct as it can often be different in poetry and go against the norms of usual conventions.
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events.
I will combine both real and imagined aspects of life to add an aspect of surrealism to my work to blur the lines of reality, much like children do. An example of this would be my Sardonic poem, where I tell a story of an imagined monster that does not exist.
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of purposes and audiences.
I will push myself creatively by writing no matter how inspired I feel in the moment. Every poem, my perspective is different which challenges me to imagine myself in the shoes of the people from whose point of view I am writing. This way people can see themselves in these words as many people can relate to the pain these people feel.