ALLY CHRISTIAN
Junior HL
Curatorial Rationale
Attention to Detail
For my exhibition, I have incorporated pieces that reflect some of the aspects of my life that I find most important. Music is the primary element that inspires my artwork. Along with being a visual artist, I am also a musician. The instruments I play and the songs that I write and listen to often correspond with the artwork I create; whether it be drawings of my guitars or portraits of my favorite musicians.
My favorite medium to work with is colored pencil. I like the control and precision that the pencils allow, as well as the amount of detail they are capable of achieving. I enjoy being able to layer the colors and add the intricate details that are an essential part in creating realistic drawings. When working with colored pencils, portraits are my favorite type of drawing to create.
Along with colored pencils, I also enjoy working with pen and using a stippling technique. Thousands of tiny dots on a page that make up a picture is a form of art that fascinates me. I love the dramatic drawings that I am able to create with black ink while working with pens. Stippling artwork involves tremendous attention to detail which fuels my interest and expands my creativity.
As an artist, I am constantly in competition with myself, and I work extremely hard to improve my drawing ability. Because I enjoy drawing realistically, I am always striving to make my drawings more detailed and accurate. With each piece I create, I am planning and discovering how I can make my next piece even more advanced than the previous one. I rely heavily on self-reflection and personal critique as a means to perfect my craft. It is that passion and desire to improve that continues to motivate me to explore innovative ways to create artwork.
The pieces I have selected for my exhibit all have a story and a purpose for which they were created. Sometimes there is an emotional connection, however other times the end result is simply the product of exploration. As I advance as an artist, I would like to focus on the small details that make up a drawing because I believe that is the most important element in realistic artwork.
ALLY CHRISTIAN
click images to enlarge - artist statements below - leave comments at bottom
ARTIST STATEMENTS
“6675”
Colored pencil
11in x 14 in
For my piece “6675” I drew a family members house to give them for their birthday. I used Prismacolor premier colored pencils and Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils on Strathmore toned gray paper. My main focus for this was attention to detail because it was for a relative who has lived in the house for forty-two years. I chose to draw a fall tree because fall is their favorite season. I decided to draw the house for them because it truly is their home and they have a strong connection to the house. I believe all of the shading and color choices turned out well, and I am happy with the results.
“Self Titled”
Colored pencil, pen, graphite, marker
For my piece “Self Titled” I drew the body of an acoustic guitar with many different elements that personally describe me coming off of it. I used Prismacolor Premier Colored pencils, graphite pencils, Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens, Prismacolor Premier Markers, and various white gel pens. The body of the guitar as well as the pick guard are done in colored pencil. I drew the neck of the guitar as a piano, and I used graphite pencils and pens for this. The microphone resting on the guitar is also done in graphite and pen. I chose to draw these things because I am a singer who plays guitar and piano. The engravings towards the top of the guitar are different logos for movies, brands, and bands I enjoy. I chose to draw a purple paint splatter on the guitar because purple is my favorite color and I enjoy painting. That is also why I chose to draw different writing utensils as the strings of the guitar. For the background of this piece I chose to draw a piece of lined paper with an original song I wrote on it, because songwriting is another part of who I am. Overall, this piece visually displays my character and interests.
“Almost Over”
Colored Pencil
6in x 8in
For my piece “Almost Over” I drew Tyler Joseph because I want to become a better portrait artist and he is one of my favorite musicians. I was testing out a new brand of pencils so I used Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils on Strathmore colored pencil paper. My main goal for this piece was achieving a realistic looking drawing that looked like the person it was supposed to. It was my first time working with these particular colored pencils, so I was also learning how to properly shade and blend with them. Overall, I believe this piece turned out well, given it was my first attempt with the materials.
“Untitled”
Colored pencils
6x8in
For this piece I drew a portrait of Josh Dun because I was testing out new colored pencils and he is one of my favorite musicians. I used Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils on Strathmore colored pencil paper. My goal for this piece was to get a better understanding of how to draw realistic skin tones with the new colored pencils, and overall, I believe I was able to accomplish that.
“Inside Out”
Pen
7in x 10in
For my piece “Inside Out” I chose to use a very geometric approach. I used Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens on white Strathmore paper. I created this drawing a few days after I went to a Twenty One Pilots concert, and it is a reflection of my experience. I took inspiration from the visuals at the concert as well as the songs to create this piece. I chose to use a skeleton as the main character and use a microphone to create a spotlight. The brains floating above the skeletons head were visuals I created from the feeling of some of the songs. Overall, I really enjoy the composition of this piece and how it is visually appealing.
“The Beginning”
Pen/ Digital
For my piece “The Beginning” I drew a sun with different visuals filling it that represent me. I do not have exact measurements because it is a digital piece and I was unable to have it printed due to Covid-19. I chose to draw various instruments in the sun rays because I am a musician. I also chose to also draw different art materials and notebooks because I am an artist and songwriter. I chose to draw arrows facing away from the sun because I felt as if it would create another meaning of moving forward. For the background I chose to use variations of blue and green because those are two of my favorite colors. Overall, this is a piece that represents me as and artist, and I am happy with how it turned out.
“The Ghost of You”
Pen
6.5in x 8in
For my piece “The Ghost of You” I drew the top portion of a skull. I used Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens on white Strathmore paper. I used a stippling technique for this project because it is my favorite technique to use when working with pens, and I thought it would work well with the creepy element of the drawing. I chose to draw the skull without a bottom jaw because I felt as if it would leave the drawing more open ended. That is also why I chose not to include a background. In this piece I am trying to convey the message that there is a skeleton in everyone which will eventually turn into a ghost. I drew the skull with a front view to better show a reflection of the viewer, as if they are looking in a mirror and realizing that they cannot escape death. I chose to do this so it does not matter where the viewer looks at the drawing; the skull is always staring directly at them, which causes the viewer the inability to look away from the empty eye sockets.
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