“Every art expression is rooted fundamentally in the personality and temperament of the artist” – Hans Hofman
Over the past couple weeks our students have been working hard to open their imagination: to make bold choices, to experiment with different patterns, and to create something uniquely their own. Despite all the students being given the same instructions, each crafted a distinct piece guided by their own personality. Although some students found this to be an easy task, others have had to let go of their conventional ways and go beyond their limits.
Each piece showcases an immense amount of detail through the various strokes and patterns that the artist chose. Engraved in the form is the communication of emotion, the lines from each stroke an expression of a language spoken by few but understood by many. Students were encouraged to develop their own dialect, to find a personal way of representing the world, many identifying themselves with animals.
Because the pieces were done with sharpie, students found that they had to really push their limits under the circumstances of having to make permanent, unerasable choices. This exercise took them out of their comfort zone and made them think unconventionally. Compared to the rest of their pieces, the students took a step back from still life and realism and ventured into the world of surrealism.
Here they were to create a piece that jolted the viewer out of their comforting assumptions by being free of precision, control, reason and convention.
Author: Sandra Cervantes; Assistant Art Instructor