Visual Arts 20 (Lesson 1.1)

About
My name is Rachael Lao. I was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada when I was six years old. My family and I have been living in Canada for more than a decade now, though we still complain about the cold weather. During my spare time, I enjoy doing art, reading, playing music, baking, and taking care of plants. It amazes me how much I love art because I know it can take a lot of creativity, time, and practice to produce such works. I guess it is the emotions I would feel that motivate me. Painting, for example, makes me feel relaxed and free to express ideas that I cannot describe through words. It reveals the unknown parts of my creativity, in which my brain would say, “Wow, I didn’t know I could that.” I like having these moments.

As for my inspiration, my father is a major influence. He was the one who introduced me to different forms of art, such as drawing, painting, block printing, and photography. He is the first person I would ask for advice in terms of anything art related. Another great inspiration is nature. I often reference it for many of my works because of its diversity, complexity, and beauty. The emotions I sometimes feel when I see a breathtaking landscape or a majestic animal are what I want to express through my art. I want others to experience what I experience, however, doing that is not always easy. I have tried multiple times to create such art, but they rarely ended up like I envisioned. Then, I realized that I am still learning and my skills still need improving, which is why I took Visual Arts. I want to gain more knowledge, experience, etc. so I can become a better artist.

My Work
In the spring of 2022, I participated in a juried art show for highschoolers at the Mann Art Gallery in Prince Albert. For my submission, I created my first 24 x 20 inch painting, which I named “The Chase.” I first primed the canvas with gesso, a white paint mixture, to prepare and protect the surface of the canvas. Then, I sketched the foundation of the painting using a graphite pencil. And lastly, I applied multiple layers of acrylic paint by blocking in the main colours before adding the details.

I chose this painting because it is not the best of my works. It represents my need for improvement as it contains many mistakes and flaws. I would like this to be a reminder for me to keep learning, even if or when I feel stuck. Even though I was not entirely proud of it, my painting still received an award and was featured in a news article: Awards night shines spotlight on young artists | paNOW

Stop and Think
Come up with a list of pros and cons for artists who use the internet to share their work. You should have at least three different ideas for each. Then, summarize your thinking in a couple of short sentences defending your stance on this statement: The internet is a good tool for artists.

Pros:
1. More people see your art: the internet allows artists to share their work with people all over the world
2. Easy and cheap: artists do not need to spend much money to share their work online
3. Meet other artists: using the internet, artists can connect with other artists and people who like their art

Cons:
1. Lots of competition: there are many artists who share their work on the internet, so it can be difficult to be noticed by others
2. Plagiarism: people can copy and use your work without asking permission
3. Algorithms: the number of people who see your work can depend on social media rules, which might not always favor your work

I think the internet is a good tool for artists because it helps them to reach more people, share their work easily, and connect with others. However, it is still important for artists to practice caution when sharing their work, as well as doing their own research before deciding to use the internet.

Sources:
– Do You Really Need Social Media As An Artist? — Serena Archetti
– Don’t Make Art for Likes: Social Media Pros and Cons – Might Could Studios

Artist Connection
Choose an artist whose website you have explored and answer these questions in a paragraph:
1. What has attracted you to this artist’s website/work? Explain.
2. How has this artist effectively created a website to share their work?
3. What would you suggest to this artist to improve their website?

I chose Glen Scrimshaw’s website. His website caught my eye because of his beautiful paintings that showcase nature and wildlife. Scrimshaw does a really great job of capturing thunderstorms, the Northern Lights, and sunsets. His website is also easy to use, with different sections for his gallery, online store, and contact information. He even puts up a “Name The Image” contest whenever he has an untitled painting. Anyone can enter their name suggestions, and if their name is selected, they will win a copy of the painting. To help improve Scrimshaw’s website, he could simplify the homepage, as I find it slightly overwhelming and cluttered with too much information. He could also present all his work in chronological order, as I enjoy seeing how an artist’s work develops over time. Overall, I found Glen Scrimshaw’s website to be very interesting and engaging.

Source: Glen Scrimshaw – Canadian Artist