JenFredSams Sketchbook

As you leave our protected work zone behind, please incubate on these questions and provide answers to me by July 31.

1. What was your most rewarding surprise?

I enjoyed the course. This revelation of course had no bearing on you Patrick as I did not know you, I just rarely do art outside of photography. Photography is my comfort zone and I can see photographs long before I take them, when I do not have a camera with me, and frustratingly so better than what I am able to get my camera to take. Fear of my lack of drawing and painting skill allowed me the leeway to dread this course. You were exceedingly patient and excellent in guiding both fine artists who were capable of drawing and those not used to drawing in discovery of new information about their creativity, art, and self.

2. What was your biggest creative stretch?

All of it was a creative stretch for me. I love hiding behind my camera. I am outgoing and forward - except with my art. My camera gives me a particular position in the art world to hide behind where people either do not notice me or where all they are concerned with is that they look good to the lens.... not me. I am great with that relationship with viewers. I do get judged but generally from a distance and after the fact.

Drawing was very hard for me. I was about to cry toward the middle of the week - partially from exhaustion and mostly from having to draw but finally I just said *&($ !+ and let go and then it was so much better.

3. What was a frustrating creative sticking point? Did you get past it, or does it still create an obstacle?

See question #2 as these answers are one and the same.

4. What aspects of our prompt/collection method left the most significant impression?

Contour drawing and blind contour drawing was so profound as it allowed me to be a mess.... It freed me to just be "bad" which freed me to explore. I learned to let go and just "be". Which knowing what a goof and dork I am personality wise doesn't seem like a stretch but those who know me academically know I am driven to perfection so this is huge for me.

5. Did anything about the space or format inhibit consistent strides?

I would say if anything the space and format enhanced my strides! The fast pace wore me down a little which broke me down just enough to kick in those walls of defense just enough to let go. Too much wall kicking would make for different defenses and much more stride would lead to exhaustion beyond what I may be able to bear but as Goldy Locks said "it was just right".

6. How was your stamina? Were you able to maximize evening open studios?

My stamina was great - during the day. I got there most days at 7-7:15am and left by 5-5:15pm. I was toast creatively till I got back, got a shower, ate, and was able to just veg out till about 7:30-8pm and work in my p.j.'s away from UF and in a different environment. I did my "library and research" time before I came to UF, at night, and now after UF. I do understand the need for time "in class" but it for me had to be this way - the 'blood from a turnip' and all..... During the day, my productivity was full on, but when I am spent, I am done.

7. Were you able to distribute your work amongst the projects?

I am quite good at running many projects at once so yes. If someone is not good at either multitasking and/or running several projects at once, this is an excellent way to "throw them in the middle of the pool and show them that they can swim. They may need encouragement, but the other classmates are amazing as resources. It is imperative that students learn to utilize their resources including their professors AND other peers. This course by way of necessity does this with great effect. I learned so much by watching, listening, and flat out asking. My learning was primarily pertaining to creativity, thought process, and medium.

8. Please pick one classmate's project that made an impression on you regarding their invention and creative process.

One? Yeah, I cannot pick one. They all were so different and unique. I have never been in any classroom or studio where one person has not influenced the work of another with significant impact. This group is so diverse in their end product it is monumental. Briefly:

Kim's use of color theory and texture in her dog book spoke to me in volumes. Kim's memory map! OMG is all I can say about that memory map!
Hilary's struggle with past decisions lept out on the pages in her altered book of Little Red Riding Hood in her strong female presence
Ashley not only tolerated me moving around during drawings but had such a gorgeous work with her doughnut renderings that was truly inspiring
Beth blew me out of the water with her altered book by addressing her fears of "destroying" the book and just tearing (literally) into the book and making this amazing art piece of paint, pattern, and emotion
Jennifer not only was impressive with the beadwork on her altered book but her Emoticon book was out of the park with the Lucielle Ball book. WOW that was impressive and quite personal. That was one of the emoticon books I paid close attention to more than most of the emoticon books
Joe was impressive with his rate of work; however I did notice a change about mid-week. About mid-week his speed did not decrease but his work seemed to contain more "Joeness" as it were.... Joe seemed to be truly getting past the hurriedness of what is probably a result of the education systems and got into HIS art, and his art is amazing.
Hoolie for me was raw and passionate about the work and in a museum it seems that gets curated and educated right out of artists so I miss that so much. I loved the work across the board but the flag book deviated in content and was just on topic as a favorite although the post it note was so much fun and I loved it so much.
Keenan is so full of ideas about art and students I find refreshing. She explained her intention about the post it notes and how it by accident evolved and she truly rolled with the evolution. Not all people are able to do that and that is such a wonderful quality.
Lacey was a quiet worker. She is by no means a quiet soul - which I love btw but working she has this work ethic that is rarely matched. On the last day she was talking about her emoticon book of Jackie Kennedy and I understand her frustration with this book but WOW it turned out just off the charts wonderful. I passed Lacey's desk many times just to see her work because it has true emotion and talent.
Lydia – The use of so many senses in the altered book was nothing short of genius. I am actually old enough to recall working in an office using shorthand and those infernal smokers (I was one – WAS) inside the building. The altered book cig threw me back with the smell and art should jolt us! Excellent….. I felt the book, saw great work, heard the pages, could even taste some of the “smells” and smelled many things including that cig…… brilliant!
Trish - the altered book progress of lace, paint thru lace, dark emotional figures on tape transfer.... WOW just WOW - I loved the book progress and I cannot wait to see the end piece!
Veronica - I knew Veronica was phenomenal and creative but that altered book with the mask on the front and back was crazy sick but when she put a meticulously cut 'diorama' for lack of a better term inside of the half mask I was just astounded. I love Veronica uses earth tones, creates a message with the use of line, color, texture, tone, symbolism...... everything....
Miranda was so helpful and inspiring for me. Miranda is the one who suggested and helped show me how to use the glossy gel medium on my printouts to make stretchy transparencies and made me laugh on breaks. Miranda's altered fairytales book was dark in content because it wasn't the Disney effect books so her altered book was dark in color and torn along with amazing images and well placed wording! I would buy that work of art is 2 seconds today!!!! She is truly an amazing person and artist.

9. What surprises impacted them, and in turn, made an impact on your future efforts?

I have been trying to sketch for a long time but finally made it past these mental blocks to improve without a serious "goal" or agenda and now I am not in agonizing fear of my upcoming art courses.

10. What take-away from their experiment do you want to expand upon further in your personal studio?

I want to continue a sketchbook and when I take drawing remember to use a pen and commit; stop stressing the small stuff, remember it is not precious unless it is a gold ring that a Hobbit has; and help students in other fields realize these things too....

I met the nicest man at Lowe's yesterday (Tuesday)... 86 and loved art and music but couldn't pursue it even for fun (he thought) during his lifetime so he just started classes at 86! Yeah! He says he can't draw.... I told him that we all can draw we just have it educated out of us and told him the story of the professor's daughter asking what he does all day at college.... "Teach students to draw." "You mean they forgot??" (she gasps) - paraphrased.... (; and the Ken Robinson story about the little girl drawing away when the teacher comes over to ask what she is drawing? She replies, "God". The teacher says, " No one knows what God looks like." The girl says, "They will in a minute!" - He laughed so hard and then so did I.... ((:

fred