Touch Response

 

Messengers
Digital Artwork

“Hands are the messengers of emotion.” -  A Natural History of the Senses,  Diane Ackerman, page 118

While brainstorming for this piece, I was inspired to research the bodily maps of emotions. The four figures represented here are, from left to right, happiness, anger, depression, and sadness. They are standing upon pedestals of large hands to send the message of vastly different emotions. The different colors of the bodily maps were very striking to me, and I knew I wanted to incorporate them into my work. The piece represents how our hands deliver emotions we experience to others and the world.

Self Love
Digital Artwork

“We can change its color and texture when the mood strikes us, but in time it will return to its original form, just as Nature will in time turn our precisely laid-out cities into a weed-way.” -  A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman, page 84

This quote in particular jumped out at me and reminded me of the profit the hair removal industry makes off of women who are insecure about their body hair. For some women, hair removal is harder and can feel like a futile resistance to attempt to be rid of it. For teenagers, it can be a source of insecurity and embarrassment and this can carry far into adulthood. The quote reminds me that no matter what you do to change the hair on your head or your body, Nature will return the precise grooming and styling into its natural state. 

Art21 Response

Kiki Smith: Magic and Morbidity

https://art21.org/watch/art-in-the-twenty-first-century/s2/kiki-smith-in-stories-segment/

Harbor Jacquard tapestry, Kiki Smith

http://www.artnet.com/artists/kiki-smith/harbor-jacquard-tapestry-a-ZOhZIBHFceKHmwbu4-OQ5g2

Asymmetry: This piece balances the large rock structure on the left with two birds and many stars on the right side. This adds an element of balance to the composition. 

Simulated Texture: The background of the piece looks like it has the texture of a crinkled piece of paper with blue wrinkles. Since it is not actually crinkled, this shows simulated texture. 

Organic Line/Shape: The rock structure on the left demonstrates organic shape because it is free of geometric details. It looks like something you would see in real life. 

Color Scheme or Value Range: There is a limited color scheme shown here, showing grayscale with hints of blue throughout, mostly concentrated at the bottom. 

Light Trail, Kiki Smith

http://www.artnet.com/artists/kiki-smith/light-trail-12-works-2012-_3Sth_QN-WZVUSt-VWgT_A2

Focal Point: The eyes seem to be the focal point in this piece because they are much darker and have more realism than the lines above them. This creates emphasis on the object with the dark color. 

Organic Line/Shape: The lines in blue, yellow, and red seem to be stitched in. They seem to follow an organic pattern rather than a geometric and calculated one. 

Color Scheme or Value Range: The color scheme seems very limited, being made up of mostly negative space with touches of the primary colors and four eyes made from bold, dark, grayscale colors.

Elements and Principles

Diagonal Line
Allison Davis, Student Work

Diagonal Line
Personal Photo

A Few of My Favorite Things

 

1) Pink Mangano Calcite Palm Stone: A small piece of a large crystal collection. The weight of it sits nicely in my hand and is great for grounding me to reality. The stone glows under a UV light and reminds me that there is always more to everything than meets the eye. 

2) Tarot Mucha Tarot Cards: I started delving more into tarot this past year with the help of a friend. Tarot readings are a good way to recognize there is always a light at the end of the tunnel when you are facing adversity.

3) Glittery Gold Painted Rock: I found this on vacation by a river as a child and was fully convinced it was magical. I held onto it my whole life and even when I found out it was a painted rock someone had left, intentionally or not, I treasure the memory of the wonder it filled me with. 

4) Leather-bound Sketchbook with Gemstone: This is by far my favorite sketchbook I have ever owned. So much so that I haven't kept a single page with a drawing on it since I got it. I always seem to cut them out because I want to have a perfect sketchbook when I am done. I realize this is impossible, but I keep it around for the pretty cover anyway. One day I will know what to do with it. 

5) Assassin's Creed Valhalla for Xbox One: One of my favorite ways to pass time. It always inspires me to write, draw, or simply dive into a world where I can just be a viking for a while. The detail and designs in this game never fail to amaze me, and I always find something new and unexpected in the vast landscapes.