Painting workshop day 4.
I created a video, since those expressionist animations were very inspiring!
A little bit of background, but not much (I wrote some reflections in the video description also).
A lot of people (including me, hahaha....) forgot their art supplies for today's workshop, so Luke decided to take a break from portraits and we did expressionist art instead. It turns out that I knew a bit about expressionism since I saw an animation of this expressionist on PBS (Luke showed us the animation, and I recognized it)! Luke also showed us some work of one of his friends...I love watching animations like these...
I'm sad I didn't get a chance to take a picture of Sarah's finished work though... I think I got everyone else's in there though. (I went into the STAC room and took a picture of whatever paintings were in there).
If you didn't want your art to be on youtube, tell me, and I'll take it out of the video.
I didn't really think about what to do with this. Maybe once or twice, I got an idea (the sun, the beach, leaves on a lake) but past that, I did what looked interesting/felt right/felt nice... It was fun using a lot of different mediums also!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
-46-
Last day of acting workshop. I was wondering when the last day was going to come, and it snuck up on us! There were interesting improvs today
-I noticed that when we improved, we've used a lot of sibling situations, and most of the situations seemed to turn into arguments...I wonder what this means, and if this says anything about the group....hm...
I think one part I'll miss about the workshop was in the beginning when we settled down and did some meditations. After doing that, I've felt calm and refreshed (especially today).
I learned a lot about using your current feelings to make acting more natural. Also, sometimes if you use your "mask" (what feelings you show to the world) while you're improving, sometimes the situation can change what you feel at the beginning to something different by the end...
-I noticed that when we improved, we've used a lot of sibling situations, and most of the situations seemed to turn into arguments...I wonder what this means, and if this says anything about the group....hm...
I think one part I'll miss about the workshop was in the beginning when we settled down and did some meditations. After doing that, I've felt calm and refreshed (especially today).
I learned a lot about using your current feelings to make acting more natural. Also, sometimes if you use your "mask" (what feelings you show to the world) while you're improving, sometimes the situation can change what you feel at the beginning to something different by the end...
Monday, April 25, 2011
-45-
This month, I've had a lot of experiences with art/film. I took a figure drawing class and
During vacation I've seemed to be watching unusual films. In the past three days, I've watched a show about a Times photographer and a japanese silent film.
I've also eaten excellent ramen from a ramen bar sort-of place in the village. (no, not that village you prisoner fans)
---
I had the figure drawing class a few weeks ago. There was a live model (not nude, but she only had her underwear and bra on) and we worked in charcoal. The teacher there talked a little about the type of poses that we would be drawing and gave us tips on how to draw (ex. a standing person is usually 8 heads tall while a sitting person is 6 heads tall). After that, he let us practice drawing the model in a series of 2 minute poses and 5 minute poses.
We went over four major poses (standing, sitting, crouching and laying down) and started a little on how to draw clothed figures. He gave us more tips, like drawing the figure first, then the clothes over the figure and that there are 7 types of folds: spiral, c fold, radiating, pipe, zigzag, crushed and inert). The model changed into a dress, and we did another series of 2 and 5 minute poses (they were going to do a 15 minute pose, but I had to leave to go somewhere else.
I liked getting more experience of drawing people, and learning a bit on how to draw clothes (since that gives me trouble a lot of the time when I draw people). I'll put up a few pictures after I take a cleaning break, or tomorrow.
The movie about the photographer I saw was a documentary called "Bill Cunningham New York". It was about this times photographer (who is now about...80?), Bill Cunningham, and his unique lifestyle. He takes photos for fashion spreads in the times.
From what I got, Mr. Cunningham seems to be dedicated to his job (a couple of times in the documentary, he nearly got run over) and his job seems to be his hobby...and his life!
I also thought that it seems like a hard thing to do to film a documentary about something current. You can't re-take a scene...the only footage you have available is the footage you have to use...
The japanese silent film is called "Naked Island" (translated name anyways). It wasn't what I expected of a silent film since, well, it wasn't completely silent (You could hear footsteps and the water.) It was silent in that there wasn't much talking.
The movie was about a family living on a barren island. They had a day-to-day repetitive lifestyle which consisted of bringing water from the mainland to the island in order to water the plants (with meals and sleeping in between). The film is slow-paced and gives off a calm, but monotonous, feeling. I admit, I dozed off in the first ten minutes of it, since the sounds of the water reminded me of being on the beach...and I had a late night's sleep.
It follows a year of their life, from the time they plant their crops to the time that they harvest them. The biggest event in the movie was when one of their sons die...! However, they have to recover in order to carry out their daily tasks and keep on living.
I also went and saw an exhibit on young artists at the Japan Society in NYC. The theme of the exhibit was that not all japanese art was "kawaii" (coughcoughIthinkweallknowwhatI'mtalkingaboutcoughcough). It had some graphic pictures (like a mountain of office worker corpses that, interestingly, looked like a traditional asian painting from afar), but it also had beautiful art, like this triptych (I think it could be called a triptych) of samurai riding on armored animals, and a giant screen of paper cutting art that you could walk around...
I also saw the musical "Memphis" yesterday. It was pretty good since it caught my attention, but I felt that the music wasn't that memorable...
...I've also re-energized (is that the appropriate word...?) my love of the works of Shaun Tan by re-watching his short film (here is the link: [link] if you'd like to check it out).
During vacation I've seemed to be watching unusual films. In the past three days, I've watched a show about a Times photographer and a japanese silent film.
I've also eaten excellent ramen from a ramen bar sort-of place in the village. (no, not that village you prisoner fans)
---
I had the figure drawing class a few weeks ago. There was a live model (not nude, but she only had her underwear and bra on) and we worked in charcoal. The teacher there talked a little about the type of poses that we would be drawing and gave us tips on how to draw (ex. a standing person is usually 8 heads tall while a sitting person is 6 heads tall). After that, he let us practice drawing the model in a series of 2 minute poses and 5 minute poses.
We went over four major poses (standing, sitting, crouching and laying down) and started a little on how to draw clothed figures. He gave us more tips, like drawing the figure first, then the clothes over the figure and that there are 7 types of folds: spiral, c fold, radiating, pipe, zigzag, crushed and inert). The model changed into a dress, and we did another series of 2 and 5 minute poses (they were going to do a 15 minute pose, but I had to leave to go somewhere else.
I liked getting more experience of drawing people, and learning a bit on how to draw clothes (since that gives me trouble a lot of the time when I draw people). I'll put up a few pictures after I take a cleaning break, or tomorrow.
The movie about the photographer I saw was a documentary called "Bill Cunningham New York". It was about this times photographer (who is now about...80?), Bill Cunningham, and his unique lifestyle. He takes photos for fashion spreads in the times.
From what I got, Mr. Cunningham seems to be dedicated to his job (a couple of times in the documentary, he nearly got run over) and his job seems to be his hobby...and his life!
I also thought that it seems like a hard thing to do to film a documentary about something current. You can't re-take a scene...the only footage you have available is the footage you have to use...
Miscellaneous thoughts about the movie Bill Cunningham NY:
-liked the moment when he took a picture of someone and it showed the actual picture in the paper
-liked a transition in sound (I'm not sure if it was intentional or not) when there was applause and it turned into the sound of cars passing by on the street
-I found it interesting how he noticed a general trend in the fashion each...week (I believe it was a week)
-I liked seeing places in the film that I've been to and were familiar with
-The movie made me wonder if he ever rode by while we were walking in the city. Before I saw this movie, I think I wouldn't have noticed him (while I was in NYC during the break, I looked around once or twice, but he wasn't in the area.)
The movie was about a family living on a barren island. They had a day-to-day repetitive lifestyle which consisted of bringing water from the mainland to the island in order to water the plants (with meals and sleeping in between). The film is slow-paced and gives off a calm, but monotonous, feeling. I admit, I dozed off in the first ten minutes of it, since the sounds of the water reminded me of being on the beach...and I had a late night's sleep.
It follows a year of their life, from the time they plant their crops to the time that they harvest them. The biggest event in the movie was when one of their sons die...! However, they have to recover in order to carry out their daily tasks and keep on living.
I also went and saw an exhibit on young artists at the Japan Society in NYC. The theme of the exhibit was that not all japanese art was "kawaii" (coughcoughIthinkweallknowwhatI'mtalkingaboutcoughcough). It had some graphic pictures (like a mountain of office worker corpses that, interestingly, looked like a traditional asian painting from afar), but it also had beautiful art, like this triptych (I think it could be called a triptych) of samurai riding on armored animals, and a giant screen of paper cutting art that you could walk around...
I also saw the musical "Memphis" yesterday. It was pretty good since it caught my attention, but I felt that the music wasn't that memorable...
...I've also re-energized (is that the appropriate word...?) my love of the works of Shaun Tan by re-watching his short film (here is the link: [link] if you'd like to check it out).
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
-43-
Painting workshop day 3 *the other day wasn't official workshop day*.
Today I learned a way that you can bring out what you want people to see in your painting. You darken the lines around the area you want the eye to be drawn to.
Today I first started with the picture from the packet from the Charlie Chaplin movie, since I was playing around after the movie and drew the shapes of the image of the tramp and the flower girl. I liked the result, but I tried doing the same thing on the painting, and was having a harder time...
I used another reference of Charlie Chaplin, and I did better. I was having trouble getting the eyes down, but Luke showed me how to whip it out.
When I got to the point of playing around it the colors and thickness of the paint, I had a little trouble. I usually like painting smoothly instead of globbing it on, but it's another way of doing things, so I might as well try it out.
-random bullet: ...The paint feels neat. I was trying to take some off (it was blending too much in a spot I wanted white) and it was squishy~
Today I learned a way that you can bring out what you want people to see in your painting. You darken the lines around the area you want the eye to be drawn to.
Today I first started with the picture from the packet from the Charlie Chaplin movie, since I was playing around after the movie and drew the shapes of the image of the tramp and the flower girl. I liked the result, but I tried doing the same thing on the painting, and was having a harder time...
I used another reference of Charlie Chaplin, and I did better. I was having trouble getting the eyes down, but Luke showed me how to whip it out.
When I got to the point of playing around it the colors and thickness of the paint, I had a little trouble. I usually like painting smoothly instead of globbing it on, but it's another way of doing things, so I might as well try it out.
-random bullet: ...The paint feels neat. I was trying to take some off (it was blending too much in a spot I wanted white) and it was squishy~
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
-42-
Acting workshop day 4. Today we did more of visualizing than last time (I like calling them meditations). We learned that there's a mask (what you show to the world), a lower self (the bad side of you), and a higher self (why you're here). We also learned that verbs lead to feelings. I found it a coincidence that he mentioned masks since at the poetry celebration on Monday, my poem was about masks (and also a coincidence, Sarah's was too)!
I think I'm opening up a little, but I still need to be more relaxed in order to improv. (and act) better...
-I'm putting this into my response, but in the beginning of the Charlie Chaplin movie I was reminded of the workshop when there was just noises instead of actual dialouge since we were doing that in some of our improvs also...!
I think I'm opening up a little, but I still need to be more relaxed in order to improv. (and act) better...
-I'm putting this into my response, but in the beginning of the Charlie Chaplin movie I was reminded of the workshop when there was just noises instead of actual dialouge since we were doing that in some of our improvs also...!
Friday, April 8, 2011
-41-
I suppose the last blog could be related to this one, but today was painting workshop day...three I think?
Today's workshop was a little shorter since it took a while to get the commercial done.
Today I learned how you can measure the reference you're trying to paint. I hadn't really done anything like that before (I mostly eyeball) but it is a handy trick to use!
I think I'm still in the "picture perfect" way of painting, but I like the idea of giving yourself a time limit to do a painting...that way you have to focus on getting the impression down first before concentrating on the details.
-I wonder how a painter could take years to finish a painting...? Is it because they wanted it "picture perfect"?
Today's workshop was a little shorter since it took a while to get the commercial done.
Today I learned how you can measure the reference you're trying to paint. I hadn't really done anything like that before (I mostly eyeball) but it is a handy trick to use!
I think I'm still in the "picture perfect" way of painting, but I like the idea of giving yourself a time limit to do a painting...that way you have to focus on getting the impression down first before concentrating on the details.
-I wonder how a painter could take years to finish a painting...? Is it because they wanted it "picture perfect"?
Thursday, April 7, 2011
-40-
I was thinking...and I realized this: painting with shapes reminds me of cell shading.
I was on an oekaki (drawing board online) and I saw this picture, which is a good example I think
link to example
the shading here you can see the shapes...
-random tidbit end-
I was on an oekaki (drawing board online) and I saw this picture, which is a good example I think
link to example
the shading here you can see the shapes...
-random tidbit end-
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
-39-
Acting workshop day 3! I felt that I didn't do as well on the improv.... or else I did all right since people who are backup to a leader don't say much...? (in the scene, Gigi and I were part of a gang. It was a little hard trying to say anything or react since I couldn't really find a place to say anything in).
-I liked the lyrics of the song that we heard. Especially the first two lines:
"you've got such a pretty smile
It's a shame the things you hide behind it"
---
I did another painting today, but on newsprint. The reason for newsprint? Well, the canvas I was using, I painted on it and the paint wouldn't come off (I thought that you could wash off the paint even if you left it for a day or two...I was wrong!)...
-I liked the lyrics of the song that we heard. Especially the first two lines:
"you've got such a pretty smile
It's a shame the things you hide behind it"
---
I did another painting today, but on newsprint. The reason for newsprint? Well, the canvas I was using, I painted on it and the paint wouldn't come off (I thought that you could wash off the paint even if you left it for a day or two...I was wrong!)...
 |
| this is the back of the newsprint I painted on. I thought it looked interesting, so I decided to post it up |
Sunday, April 3, 2011
-38-+ -38.5-
I wasn't sure if we were supposed to put up our daily painting (for the painting workshop), but here's two that I've done so far:
<-I was having a hard time with this one, and ended up not finishing it
-will edit later about more things about this week-
---
The movie on Friday, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" didn't really impress me. I felt really detached from the movie. All of the characters were lying, or not themselves (since they were all drunk), so all of the events that happened aren't "real". The only part that was of interest was when it was revealed that the child was a figment of the couple's imagination (at first I thought this, but then I thought that the husband killed the kid since it's suggested that the husband killed his parents).
"Urinetown"...at first, I was turned off by the title (at first, I actually thought the title was "Your in Town" since I only heard people talking about it), but if you keep in mind that it's a parody, then it's an enjoyable show. The music was really challenging but since we practiced a lot, by the last show, I was really comfortable with the songs so I could even play the high notes like high B flat! I'm glad it's over since there aren't any late night rehearsals (plus homework after that) but I'm also sad since the music was fun and I got to know the people in the pit better.
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