Project by: Jane Olsen (11th Grade)
Project Advisor: James French
Student(s)’s Advisor(s): Catherine Zhong

I carried this project out over the three trimesters. I first took photos that explored the personality of each subject through color and setting included, and then researched and planned how I found it best fitting to layer on top of the photos and change them. Through the work that I have done leading up to this point, I have decided to work on one final piece for the last trimester where I will bring together all of the work I have done. It will be a large scale painting where I take aspects from many of the drawings and tracings I have done, paying attention to colors and patterns. I hope to learn how to convey the ideas I have come up with within a larger painting, and also transfer meaningful work from one medium of art to another.

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Trimester 1 Update:

Artist Statement:

The work I completed in the first trimester is a part of an honors project that I am working on across two trimesters, focused on creating multi-media art pieces. At this point, I have completed the first portion of my project. This series of photos focuses on seven individuals. Through the project, I hope to capture their personality. This is seen through the first portion of the project in the color theme throughout the photos, in that I discussed with each subject a color that I thought most represented them. In the second portion of this project, I hope to add to the representation of each individual’s unique personality through collage and painting on top of each photo. While I plan to include only six of the subjects in the next portion of my project, because of their focus on female identity, I wanted to include my seventh subject as a representation of the work I had completed this trimester. Furthermore, I chose to include the seventh subject as a representation of my goal in the future of my photography to capture a more diverse range of subjects. Overall, I am very proud of my work and excited for the second portion.

 

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Trimester 2 Update:

This portion of the honors project was spent researching and developing ideas for expanding my photos through a different medium. Originally I had many photos I planned on altering but I will now be only focusing on one of them. To get to this point I researched many different artists and styles that I thought related to my work and thought about how what I would add would contribute to the photo in a new way.

Through drawing on top of photos with colored pencils, pens, sharpies.. working with negative space, collaging with tissue paper, tracing with pencils on tracing paper and more, I was able to come up with an idea for my final result. I have also explored the use of color and composition and how this plays a role in the way the photo is changed. Through the research and various exercises I have done, I have decided to create a larger painting, where I will draw attention to the colors and prominent features of the face, that I hope will bring a new light to the painting. My goal will be to convey this portrait in a way that is new but also conveys the same sense of personality I hoped to capture in my original photos.

 

 

 

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Trimester 3 Update:

This portion of the project tied together the other two trimesters of work. I finished a painting that was inspired by a photo I took in the first trimester, and enhanced by the brainstorming I did in the second trimester. I learned how to paint skintone, and add shadow to a face. This was the first portrait that I have ever done so it was a big learning experience for me in the world of painting and studio art. I also learned how to work with gouache paint which is something I had not had the chance to practice in class. Through using new materials and painting in a new style I took a risk and learn how I approach a challenge. I learned a lot about the composition of a painting and how to make small fixes. The photos below were captured throughout the process of my painting.

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TRIMESTER 3 PROPOSAL

Please write a description of the project you are proposing. Why do you want to take this on, and what do you hope to learn?

This project will be a continuation of the work that I have done for the past two trimesters. I first took photos that explored the personality of each subject through color and setting included, and then researched and planned how I found it best fitting to layer on top of the photos and change them. Through the work that I have done leading up to this point, I have decided to work on one final piece for the last trimester where I will bring together all of the work I have done. It will be a large scale painting where I take aspects from many of the drawings and tracings I have done, paying attention to colors and patterns. I hope to learn how to convey the ideas I have come up with within a larger painting, and also transfer meaningful work from one medium of art to another.

Critical thinking, creativity, citizenship and courage are essential LREI learning values. Explain how you’ll draw on at least one of these values to complete your proposed project?

I will draw on creativity in this project. In this past trimester, I recently learned how to better paint in my studio art class. With these skills and the knowledge, I have of photography I hope to bring my creativity into it to figure out how I can combine both mediums. I think it will take a lot of creativity to be able to evoke the same personality and tone from one picture in the painting I have chosen to pursue.

What is your proposed outcome? How will you be able to demonstrate successful completion of this Project? How do you plan to share your learnings with the larger LREI community (e.g., exhibit of work, poster of learnings, performance, etc.)?

I hope to finish the painting. The idea from this is already planned out, as I have done this work for the last two trimesters. Successful completion will be demonstrated in the final painting itself, as I believe it will exemplify how I will be able to bring two mediums of art together in a meaningful way. An exhibition of this painting or just sharing it, in general, will be enough for me to share it with the larger community.

Please provide a general outline that indicates your work plan for the trimester? What are some of the key project benchmarks (i.e., goals that will help to ensure that you finish the project)?

I have already established the idea for the painting, with general sketches and an outline. Going into the third trimester, I hope to plan out how to do a larger scale painting. I will discuss with James the proper steps for the painting itself but make sure that I am prepared with my reference photo, how to I hope to alter it, and what I hope to convey within the piece. Benchmarks would be to finish planning, begin painting, and lastly finish my painting.

When do you plan on meeting?
Monday X Block

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TRIMESTER 2 PROPOSAL

Project by: Jane Olsen (11th Grade)
Project Advisor: James French
Student(s)’s Advisor(s): Catherine Zhong

Please write a description of the project you are proposing. Why do you want to take this on, and what do you hope to learn?

This project is a continuation of my first-trimester honors project. In the first trimester, I took portraits of six subjects, with the emphasis on their personality. One of the ways I drew attention to this personality was through the use of a different color for each subject that we agreed specifically represented them. I hope to build off of this in the second-trimester project through layering on top of the photos through either collaging or painting. I believe this will enhance the personality captured in the photos, as well as help me learn more about studio art and how to use different mediums of art in my work.

Critical thinking, creativity, citizenship and courage are essential LREI learning values. Explain how you’ll draw on at least one of these values to complete your proposed project?

Through this honors project, I will develop my creativity. While I have been able to build a good foundation of creativity and skill within photography, the second portion of the honors project will help me strengthen my skills and broaden my creativity in the field of studio art.

What is your proposed outcome? How will you be able to demonstrate successful completion of this Project? How do you plan to share your learnings with the larger LREI community (e.g., exhibit of work, poster of learnings, performance, etc.)?

My proposed outcome is to add two the prints of each of my six subjects by layering on top of them whether this is through collaging or painting. I would demonstrate successful completion of this project by exhibiting my final work, whether it is within the school or somewhere else (that would also be how I shared my work with the community). This work would be accompanied by an artist statement for the entire piece, and perhaps one for each of the subjects.

Please provide a general outline that indicates your work plan for the trimester? What are some of the key project benchmarks (i.e., goals that will help to ensure that you finish the project)?

I will first want to brainstorm which form of studio art I would like to add onto my photographs, whether it is painting or something else. I then would like to interview each of my subjects to further develop an understanding of who they are so I can capture their personality in the best and most accurate way possible. I will then complete the collaging/painting. Then I will prepare the work for exhibition and write my final artist statements.

When do you plan on meeting?
Monday during X Block

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TRIMESTER 1 PROPOSAL:

Please write a description of the project you are proposing. Why do you want to take this on, and what do you hope to learn?

This project would be a Multi-Media project, combining photography and studio art. I discovered the topic of this project by researching photographers for a project in my photography class, coming across the work of Duane Michals. His combination of photography and painting was very interesting to me. The first part of this project would be to take portraits and afterward I would paint over them in different designs and styles to enhance the photos. Because I have more experience with photography I would hope to expand my skills, after completing these photos I would provide a strong foundation for the second part of my project. I will explore multiple photo genres such as portraits and collage. I would also explore different paper surfaces, such as glossy, matte and fiber print, seeing if these materials are absorbent/what their qualities are. I envision this specific honors project as taking photos, however, I envision that the second trimester (a separate honors project) I would focus entirely on my studio art skills, using the photos I have taken in this project. Because I have not taken as many studio art classes this would give me an opportunity to learn about painting while also exploring creative opportunities.

What is your proposed outcome? How will you be able to demonstrate successful completion of this Project?

My vision for the trajectory of this project would be to focus on photography this trimester. I would measure my completion of this project by enlarging out the final photos in a way that is preparatory for what I envision as a second honors project next trimester. The photos would need to be properly developed, framed, and cut and have good technical skills. I would need to have a sufficient amount of photos that have quality in themselves but also would be interesting with the addition of layering as a continuation project.

When do you plan on meeting?
Monday during X block