Shell; the Big One

This was an interesting and challenging assignment. The Large paper by comparison was different and odd to work with at first. It took a little warming up to via practice strokes, but after getting used to the scale I started to enjoy the experience. Once the edge was discovered the shape of the form fell into place. I feel that overworking the problem has become an obstacle. Finding a good starting point, and really comiting the form to my mind after studying the shell would prove a good practice to fall into for positive habit to form with my regular drawing practice. Taking the time to explore any form is really looking at the assignment as art, rather that work, or at least enjoying the work placed before you in order to do it at an excellent level. So, in essence, patience for practice with a subtle change in mind set would produce a superior product, as well as heighten the pleasure factor. I think I could control which lines I bring out better, as well as simplifying the line work to make the finished product more elegant. Also by paying more attention to the object I feel that I could pay more justice to the product. Line quality, proportion, and the sense of horror vaccui would all cease to be obstacles. I think, also, that the integrity of the assignment would be maintained more closely in the end. One last thing that I noticed about my work is that finding the correct media is of vital importance. Using pencil for the under drawing, then charcoal to find the forms, and finally building up to the conte' for detailing work is the route to take. I won't feel like I am jumping into the assignment blind, and balancing out confidence with patience is, with any luck, the way to make the next piece more successful than the last. (side note*also a few gesture studies of the shell itself would be in the plans for the next piece.) In conclusion, I feel that the overall piece was a success but could be greatly improved upon, and that the change in scale of the end work is a positive learning experience, for confidence building, visual criticism, and artistic integrity (one still has the feel of making a finished product as opposed to simply doing homework). It gave me the ability to see my strengths and weaknesses laid bare, without the strain of scale getting in the way of the eye.