User:Deairajohnson

bio
Hello my name is Deaira Johnson. I am from Bremerton, Washington where I have lived most of my life. I have two beautiful boys that are my world. I recently just started school at the Art Institute of Seattle studying graphic design. I hope to someday have my own company and do what I love for a living.

midterm
The piece I chose is called Bunyon’s Chess, named after legendary logger Paul Bunyon. The artists name is Mark di Suvero. When I first saw the sculpture at the park I was quite a bit away from it still. I remember I was looking ahead up the path and I thought to myself “Is that one of the sculptures?” When I walked up to it finally, I was amazed to find out it was. To me it just looked like something that had started being built off to the side and just fell apart. Why would someone use wooden beams that are eventually going to rot in a sculpture?

After researching di Suvero, I found I was able to change my mind about the piece. Although I don’t know if I’d say that I had to manipulate myself into doing so, or that I even really like it now. I just appreciate the piece because I respect the artist now that I’ve learned more about him. I did find a few of his sculptures online that I do like, but this one and the other sculpture he has at the park are still not some of my favorites. After doing the research though, it holds a different kind of appeal to me. It’s not so much visually appealing, but now I‘m curious about it. I found out that he likes his work to be interactive with the elements. Some are meant to interact with wind and make noise, some with rain. Also, he encourages people to climb or ride on some of them. After learning this, it makes me wonder if the wooden beams in Bunyon’s Chess are supposed to move in the wind or if the weathering of the wood is part of the sculpture. The more I think about all the thought he put in to making it, the more interesting it is to me. There were other things that stood out to me later also. Such as, the great deal of labor and skill involved in making it. You don’t immediately think of things like welding it all together, lifting those huge pieces, and how much time it took to make. Some of his sculpture took years. And a lot are inspired by different specific things, such as a piece he did for Mozart’s music, the shapes in it are supposed to represent the patterns in his music.

So I guess what I found out after all the research is, that I still don’t care for the way his sculpture looks, but I can appreciate it now and it’s more interesting since I know something about him. Also, it feels good that I know I know what I like and I can respect different things even if I don’t personally care for them.

final
By the end of the quarter, I want to: learn how to paint with acrylics.

The research component of this goal is to: Find different artists and their paintings. Find out what methods they used to make the paintings and what worked for them.

Week 2: Research beginners painting classes in my area. Buy Paints and supplies that I need.

Week 3: Decide on some things I'd like to paint. Experiment with different brushes, strokes, colors..

Week 4: Start my first painting. Begin researching artists and their work. Have completed beginners class

Week 5: Complete first painting. Have choosen a couple artists and began research on them.

Week 6: Start another painting.

Week 7: Continue research. Continue painting.

Week 8: Have completed at least two paintings that Im happy with and have researched at least two artists and the differences in their work.

reflective assessment
I feel like I learned a lot from my time in this class and school, both from the instructor and on my own. I’ve attended two colleges before this one and have not been successful at either. I believe that this was because of my previous lack of interest and direction when just going for a basic AA. After this quarter, I feel more confidence in myself and my ability to “get things done” and I feel a sense of purpose here. I’ve learned that having more focus is exactly what I needed.

I really like this class because the assignments open your mind a little to how other people think, how your own mind works and what some of your own strengths and weaknesses are. Which are important things for everyone to learn in life. I learned to be more comfortable stating my own opinions and I learned what I need to do and change about myself to get things done. I also learned a lot about manipulation. What I don’t like and wont do most importantly. I think one of the best things I learned is how much easier class is when you get to know people there with you. To have even a little support gives you so much more confidence and makes the world of difference when it comes to school.

I think Steven Arntson is a wonderful and interesting teacher. I enjoyed all the unique assignments and in class discussions. I also think having the Wiki there is an awesome idea.