Henry Wise Wood Student Work Gallery
In my exhibition, I want transparency between me and the viewers. Almost all of my artworks have some sort of connection to me, showing my personality, style, feelings, inspirations and experiences, and I want the viewers to be aware of that. I do not express my thoughts often, even less so for a crowd, and this exhibition is a medium for me to do that. Even if the audience only looks at my work for a few minutes, I want them to be able to learn something about me and the work I’ve done. In Scene of the Nighthawk, they’re able to learn about my feelings of the future; the mixed emotions shown through colour. My focusing concept is how I am my own person; my personality shown through many different forms. One’s actions and dialogue are not the only ways to learn about someone, and I want to express my emotions and experiences through the arts, such as “Music in Another Light” symbolizing one of my passions and all the experiences I’ve had. We are all complex human beings each with different lives, feelings and beliefs. Through art, we can prove this is so.
Throughout my grade 12 year, I have become more adventurous in my artwork. I’ve always been more privy to 2D pieces, as that is what I grew up with. I had confidence, control and techniques under my belt with traditional art, but as the year went on, I gained interest in 3D works. Just as this exhibition is to showcase my personality and person, it is also there to visualize my growth as an artist. My mediums evolved into a variety of choices, such as acrylics, watercolour, wood, wires, clay and digital media, pushing my limits and average skills as a problem-solver and to show my flexibility. This is shown through my “Conversion” project, where I created the same subject in three different styles. I had to redo the sculpture, as I miscalculated the physics the first time making it. To get the desired effect in a piece, I had to think before I acted. In each project, I encountered new obstacles, trying new techniques to complete them. In “Raven in the Rain”, I had to find a way to create minute water droplets along the raven’s body, which involved letting drops of white paint dry halfway, only to take away the still-wet paint, leaving rings of white. I learned the technique of layers in my “Familial”, to properly paint each object. During each piece, I learned something new to use later. Each work has a connection back to an experience or emotion I have had, and it runs throughout the exhibition in each artwork’s own unique way. I had a few works based on inspiration from others, such as “Wire Garden” basing off of flora paintings made by Jan Brueghel the Elder. I have made works branched off of prior experiences; “Scene of the Nighthawk” as an example of a sentimental memory. I was able to practice animal anatomy multiple times, learning and growing from the experience of making my own artwork.
I would set up my exhibition in an almost completed circle. All of my 2D pieces would be set up as the walls of the circle, with one noticeable gap between the paintings that is bigger than the others acting as the entrance and exit. All of the gaps between the paintings are big enough for the audience to walk through, as to let them start and stop looking whenever they want, hence the feeling of transparency. If one were to walk through the “entrance”, they would first see “Raven in the Rain” in the back, as my first work. I would have my 3D pieces set up in a triangle shape, each one at each vertex.The viewers are able to circle my 3D works, as all three are meant to be seen from all angles. I do not want the atmosphere to be suffocating, only having it surround the audience to the point of immersion.
Throughout my grade 12 year, I have become more adventurous in my artwork. I’ve always been more privy to 2D pieces, as that is what I grew up with. I had confidence, control and techniques under my belt with traditional art, but as the year went on, I gained interest in 3D works. Just as this exhibition is to showcase my personality and person, it is also there to visualize my growth as an artist. My mediums evolved into a variety of choices, such as acrylics, watercolour, wood, wires, clay and digital media, pushing my limits and average skills as a problem-solver and to show my flexibility. This is shown through my “Conversion” project, where I created the same subject in three different styles. I had to redo the sculpture, as I miscalculated the physics the first time making it. To get the desired effect in a piece, I had to think before I acted. In each project, I encountered new obstacles, trying new techniques to complete them. In “Raven in the Rain”, I had to find a way to create minute water droplets along the raven’s body, which involved letting drops of white paint dry halfway, only to take away the still-wet paint, leaving rings of white. I learned the technique of layers in my “Familial”, to properly paint each object. During each piece, I learned something new to use later. Each work has a connection back to an experience or emotion I have had, and it runs throughout the exhibition in each artwork’s own unique way. I had a few works based on inspiration from others, such as “Wire Garden” basing off of flora paintings made by Jan Brueghel the Elder. I have made works branched off of prior experiences; “Scene of the Nighthawk” as an example of a sentimental memory. I was able to practice animal anatomy multiple times, learning and growing from the experience of making my own artwork.
I would set up my exhibition in an almost completed circle. All of my 2D pieces would be set up as the walls of the circle, with one noticeable gap between the paintings that is bigger than the others acting as the entrance and exit. All of the gaps between the paintings are big enough for the audience to walk through, as to let them start and stop looking whenever they want, hence the feeling of transparency. If one were to walk through the “entrance”, they would first see “Raven in the Rain” in the back, as my first work. I would have my 3D pieces set up in a triangle shape, each one at each vertex.The viewers are able to circle my 3D works, as all three are meant to be seen from all angles. I do not want the atmosphere to be suffocating, only having it surround the audience to the point of immersion.
Raven in the Rain (September, 2019)
Media: Acrylic paint on stretched canvas
This piece is about the ever changing moments of life. As my life is flowing, so is the rain in the piece. The wings are painted to show them flapping downwards to add the illusion of constant change. In addition, the contrasting colours of this work end up symbolizing the personal experiences we have in life. The dark raven as the centerpiece shows viewers that, usually subconsciously, we emphasize bad moments while the good ones are pushed aside; hardly brought up by our own doing.
Media: Acrylic paint on stretched canvas
This piece is about the ever changing moments of life. As my life is flowing, so is the rain in the piece. The wings are painted to show them flapping downwards to add the illusion of constant change. In addition, the contrasting colours of this work end up symbolizing the personal experiences we have in life. The dark raven as the centerpiece shows viewers that, usually subconsciously, we emphasize bad moments while the good ones are pushed aside; hardly brought up by our own doing.
Music in Another Light (October, 2019)
Media: Pan watercolours on rough textured watercolour paper
My main purpose of this work is to express my relationship with music in a different way other than audio. I have a variety of emotions that come along with music, ranging from calm to stressed. Music can be hard and serious, like in band, but can also be a lifeline for times of needed focus. The range of colours (emotions) are endless and all melding together to form one art piece. The work is focused on the clarinet silhouette and music notes for a more personalized feel to me as a musician.
Media: Pan watercolours on rough textured watercolour paper
My main purpose of this work is to express my relationship with music in a different way other than audio. I have a variety of emotions that come along with music, ranging from calm to stressed. Music can be hard and serious, like in band, but can also be a lifeline for times of needed focus. The range of colours (emotions) are endless and all melding together to form one art piece. The work is focused on the clarinet silhouette and music notes for a more personalized feel to me as a musician.
Familial (January, 2020)
Media: Acrylic paint on stretched canvas
I have put what I feel a parent and child relationship should be, including my experiences. The parent should nurture and encourage their child, shown through the roots forming into hands. However, kids must meet them halfway, and at least take heed of their parent’s words. It is the child's job to love their parent too. The big tree symbolizes the parent, while the child is the smaller tree growing off of it. The roots are interconnected, as values and ideologies mix together. The kid’s roots are thin, as to show their small growth, and also their ability to break away and be their own person.
Media: Acrylic paint on stretched canvas
I have put what I feel a parent and child relationship should be, including my experiences. The parent should nurture and encourage their child, shown through the roots forming into hands. However, kids must meet them halfway, and at least take heed of their parent’s words. It is the child's job to love their parent too. The big tree symbolizes the parent, while the child is the smaller tree growing off of it. The roots are interconnected, as values and ideologies mix together. The kid’s roots are thin, as to show their small growth, and also their ability to break away and be their own person.
Scene of the Nighthawk (July, 2019)
Media: Pan watercolours on smooth watercolour paper
This work was inspired by a memory. In the past, I saw my family often. Now that we are growing up, it is harder to visit. This piece expresses my thoughts on adulthood. The bird was the last thing I saw before leaving the last family reunion I will attend in a while, and the realization of my age and what the future holds appeared in my head. The bird has many colours. Light and happy hues symbolize my hopes for the future, while dark-toned corners lead towards the fears that I do not often express. The nighthawk taking flight symbolizes my childhood leaving, leaving me to fly to new unknowns.
Media: Pan watercolours on smooth watercolour paper
This work was inspired by a memory. In the past, I saw my family often. Now that we are growing up, it is harder to visit. This piece expresses my thoughts on adulthood. The bird was the last thing I saw before leaving the last family reunion I will attend in a while, and the realization of my age and what the future holds appeared in my head. The bird has many colours. Light and happy hues symbolize my hopes for the future, while dark-toned corners lead towards the fears that I do not often express. The nighthawk taking flight symbolizes my childhood leaving, leaving me to fly to new unknowns.
Simplicity (March, 2020)
Media: Acrylic paints on stretched canvas’ with fairy lights
I made this to physically represent how my mind works. I wanted to break down and paint the steps my mind goes through to create simple doodles of things that are originally detailed. I began with a picture of a cat, and worked my way down through 4 steps to a simpler style. The steps make up the 4 walls of my work; a box often a metaphor for the mind. I added fairy lights inside the box to represent my brain cells hard at work. The lights only turn on for 8 hours a day, just like how I need a break from thinking. There are only two openings in the box to show the lights, as it’s hard to see through all of one’s mind.
Media: Acrylic paints on stretched canvas’ with fairy lights
I made this to physically represent how my mind works. I wanted to break down and paint the steps my mind goes through to create simple doodles of things that are originally detailed. I began with a picture of a cat, and worked my way down through 4 steps to a simpler style. The steps make up the 4 walls of my work; a box often a metaphor for the mind. I added fairy lights inside the box to represent my brain cells hard at work. The lights only turn on for 8 hours a day, just like how I need a break from thinking. There are only two openings in the box to show the lights, as it’s hard to see through all of one’s mind.
Winter (February, 2020)
Media: Acrylic paint on smooth wood block
I collaborated with three other artists to each create a work that shows what one specific season means to us. While winter seems to be the most miserable, I appreciate it most, living in it for almost my whole life. I have good association with winter days, giving it a nostalgic mood. I painted a whimsical landscape, with smooth, pastel clouds and mountains made to be appealing, not unlike how winter is to me. The mountains are similarly coloured like a Dr. Seuss book, to show my feelings of nostalgia and comfort. The sun is intensely red to show drawbacks to winter, such as days too cold to handle.
Media: Acrylic paint on smooth wood block
I collaborated with three other artists to each create a work that shows what one specific season means to us. While winter seems to be the most miserable, I appreciate it most, living in it for almost my whole life. I have good association with winter days, giving it a nostalgic mood. I painted a whimsical landscape, with smooth, pastel clouds and mountains made to be appealing, not unlike how winter is to me. The mountains are similarly coloured like a Dr. Seuss book, to show my feelings of nostalgia and comfort. The sun is intensely red to show drawbacks to winter, such as days too cold to handle.
Wire Garden (April, 2020)
Media: Wires and pebbles in a glass vase
In this work, each of my friends and family represent a flower in this arrangement, the type of flower being their favourite. I kept all colours monochromatic, to symbolize no judgements. My ideal scenario when meeting anyone is staying non-judgemental. Half of the vase is filled with dark pebbles for the sake of privacy. There is a balance of this when it comes to different relationships. I took inspiration from Brueghel the Elder’s flora work, using my own contextual meaning instead. The arrangement isn’t meant to be perfect in colour or shape, as not all connections you make work together.
Media: Wires and pebbles in a glass vase
In this work, each of my friends and family represent a flower in this arrangement, the type of flower being their favourite. I kept all colours monochromatic, to symbolize no judgements. My ideal scenario when meeting anyone is staying non-judgemental. Half of the vase is filled with dark pebbles for the sake of privacy. There is a balance of this when it comes to different relationships. I took inspiration from Brueghel the Elder’s flora work, using my own contextual meaning instead. The arrangement isn’t meant to be perfect in colour or shape, as not all connections you make work together.
Conversion (April, 2020)
Media: watercolour on smooth watercolour paper - tablet with a drawing app - acrylic paints on clay
This work has a mix of media, with traditional, digital and 3D combined into one piece. I challenged myself to take one watercolour piece and turn it into different styles, choosing a watercolour dragon painting, Throughout the experience, I was able to find out how one piece can be drastically different from another in terms of product and process. While I had relatively the same endpoint of all three works, the steps I took to get there were very contrasting, and the end results were all slightly different. There were interesting hurdles to get past, each new style bringing new techniques.
Media: watercolour on smooth watercolour paper - tablet with a drawing app - acrylic paints on clay
This work has a mix of media, with traditional, digital and 3D combined into one piece. I challenged myself to take one watercolour piece and turn it into different styles, choosing a watercolour dragon painting, Throughout the experience, I was able to find out how one piece can be drastically different from another in terms of product and process. While I had relatively the same endpoint of all three works, the steps I took to get there were very contrasting, and the end results were all slightly different. There were interesting hurdles to get past, each new style bringing new techniques.