A portfolio is a compilation of completed work. For your Art II B portfolio, you will demonstrate what you learned in the course through your best work and your evaluation of that work. There are four parts to this portfolio assignment. You must complete and submit all four parts for grading.

Question

Considering a Career in Art: Write two paragraphs about careers in art. Discuss one or two careers that may interest you, and explain why you may or may not want to pursue an art career.

Presenting Your Best Drawings: Select three of your best drawings to include in the portfolio, with a brief statement explaining why you chose it for the portfolio.

Demonstrating What You?ve Learned: Create a final drawing of any subject you choose which demonstrates what you?ve learned in this course.

Evaluating Your Work: Evaluate your final drawing (mentioned in #3) as an art critic would, describing, analyzing, interpreting, and judging. Explain the artistic choices you made. Use specific details from the feedback you have received. Justify your decisions using examples of skills and elements of art from the course.

Answer 1

Considering a Career in Art

Pursuing a career in art can be both exciting and challenging, as the creative field offers a wide range of opportunities. One career that particularly interests me is that of an illustrator, especially in the realm of children’s books. Illustrators have the unique ability to tell stories visually, making them a vital part of the reading experience for young children. I am drawn to this career because it allows for a blend of creativity and storytelling, which I find fulfilling. Additionally, the rising demand for digital illustrations in media and marketing presents numerous opportunities for growth and collaboration. However, I am also aware that a career in art can be unpredictable and competitive. The thought of relying solely on my artistic skills for income can be daunting, so I find myself weighing the pros and cons before fully committing to this path.

Another area that fascinates me is graphic design, particularly in branding and advertising. This career path combines art with strategic thinking, as graphic designers must understand client needs while creating visually appealing designs. I appreciate the technical skills required in graphic design and the way it allows artists to impact business and culture. However, I worry that the corporate nature of graphic design may stifle my creativity and personal expression. Ultimately, I am still exploring these options and considering what environment would best suit my artistic aspirations, balancing my love for art with the realities of a stable career.

Presenting Your Best Drawings

1. Drawing of a Still Life Arrangement: This piece showcases my understanding of light, shadow, and composition. I chose it for the portfolio because it represents a turning point in my ability to render objects realistically and capture their textures.

2. Figure Study: My figure drawing represents the human body’s anatomy and movement. I chose it because it demonstrates the progression I've made in understanding proportions and dynamic poses, and it also reflects my interest in capturing emotion through body language.

3. Landscape Drawing: This drawing highlights my skills in perspective and color usage. I selected it because it was a significant challenge for me, and overcoming that challenge reinforced my skills in landscape representation, showing growth in my ability to depict depth and atmosphere.

Demonstrating What You’ve Learned

For my final drawing, I chose to create a conceptual piece depicting a serene forest scene with a winding river. This subject allows me to synthesize everything I've learned throughout the course, including techniques for rendering organic forms, manipulating color values, and creating a balanced composition. The artwork transitions from dark blues and greens to warm yellows and whites, illustrating the contrast between shadows in the forest and light filtering through the trees.

Evaluating Your Work

As an art critic, I would evaluate my final drawing by examining specific elements that contribute to its effectiveness. The overall composition captures attention with a strong focal point: the river leading the viewer’s eye deeper into the forest. This choice of perspective guides the exploration of the scene. The balance of light and dark not only creates depth but also evokes a sense of tranquility, inviting contemplation.

Analyzing the colors, I used complementary shades to make the foreground elements stand out while maintaining harmony throughout the piece. Feedback from my peers highlighted my progress in color mixing and shading techniques, which is evident in the transitions from the dark shadows of the trees to the sunlight reflecting off the water.

In interpreting the piece, I aimed to express a sense of peace in nature, and I believe the viewer can feel an emotional resonance through my choice of warm colors depicting sunlight, contrasting with the cool tones of the shaded areas. Judging my work in light of the skills I have developed, I feel proud of the improvements I've made in perspective, color theory, and emotional expression, and I am eager to continue refining my artistic voice.