Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened

The last two years of art we have wanted to make lanterns but never got around to it. This year we finally did and I absolutely love mine! I didn't want it to be a typical cut out design, I wanted it to be dimensional. I started by using a drawing of a rose. At first it seemed really cool until I realized the rose wasn't connected to the paper anymore. I had to find a way to achieve the look I wanted and keep the paper together at the same time. After making 5+ paper flowers I started to work on the intricate design that added more effect when it was lit up. I made one flower for each side of the lantern and also made a flower cut design on sturdier paper as the backing/form. The cut design on the form of the lantern added even more details when the light was shone through both layers. I wasn't sure if I was going to like doing cut paper designs; especially because I was terrified of cutting my self. This experience was pleasantly surprising and I'm extremely excited to see all of the different lanterns lit up at the art show! 

Keith Haring - the energy in art never dies

   


     Keith Haring was born on May 4,1958 in Reading, PA. His father was a cartoon artist and he developed a love for drawing at a young age. After high school Haring attended the Ivy school of Professional Art in Pittsburgh. Although he participated in the local art community often he decided that  Pittsburgh was not for him. In 1978 he moved to New York City and attended the School of Visual Arts. Here Keith discovered underground art, New York City became his canvas. One day while walking in the subway Haring noticed the unused advertising panels. These panels were perfect for chalk drawings, sometimes he would do up to 40 drawing a day. Keith Haring's subway drawings became known to all the locals who often to stopped to talk to him about his art; what did it mean and why was he doing it in the subway instead of gallery? Keith liked the fact that he didn't need to show in galleries to be famous. He went directly to the people, bypassing the critics that could make or break his career.
     In 1981, Haring had his first solo show at Westbeth Painters Space but his big break came in 1982 when he made his Soho debut at Shafrazi Gallery. Haring's well known characters engulfed the entire studio and was a critical success. After this he had shows in countries all over the world including Japan and Brazil. Haring not only produced drawings but created animation for Times Square, set designs and watch designs for Swatch. Keith Haring was a founder of pop art ideals. He wanted his art to be accessible to everyone. In 1986, he opened the Pop Shop where he sold merchandise with his art on it and held workshops for children. Some of his most famous works include the "Crack is Wack" mural, and the radiant baby. In 1988 Keith Haring was diagnosed with aids and created the Keith Haring Foundation in 1989. Many of his later works create aids awareness and promote activism. On February 16, 1990 Keith Haring died of aids complications at the age of 31.

One of Haring's most recognizable characters is the "Radiant Baby" which shows up in many of his drawings. Haring went through a so called "Jesus phase" as a teenager which was later reflected in this radiant "jesus child". Some also saw this figure as the "radioactive" child created to address the idea of nuclear energy. 

I love Keith Haring's work because it has so much power to it. It's all about energy and power and movement. As humans we all possess energy but it is up to us what we decide to do with it. Haring also realized that art had much more power than he did. He saw his art as an extension of himself. He had accepted the fact that death is inevitable, that our energy will eventually die but, when we create art its energy is completely separate and can continue to impact the world after the creator is gone. 

Keith Haring knew that he had the audience to impact many social causes the he believed in. This was mostly shown in his aids related works but also in many anti-drug campaigns. 

Haring is incredibly complex artist. He had a reason behind everything that he did and he had so many thoughts to portray through his work. I could go on forever about his work but nothing gets better than reading it from him. His journal entries and explanations of his work are so beyond inspiring that you can't help but love him. Check out all of his work and journals below and see for yourself!

www.haring.com

These are my reflections

 I'm really happy with all of the work that I have produced this marking period. Being around art really does make everything better. I took the shoe drawing and collage as challenges to improve my skills and I love the way they turned out. It is also important to be creative just for fun. I love doing the middle school projects because it gets me to think outside of "project" criteria. I can take their projects and make them my own. My factory piece has turned out to be one of my favorites, it is so different and it will look awesome as a book page. I also really enjoyed the blossom tree because I didn't completely know what I was doing. I just started coloring and hoped it worked...which it usually does and in the end it was really cool.
          Looking ahead, I think the next marking period will be really interesting. I have taken art for 3 years but have yet to make a lantern. It might be a challenge but the reward will be very exciting!

They'll judge it like they know about me and you

The second project of this marking period was the "Next President" collage. I decided to take on the idea of gay rights and that although Obama said he originally opposed it but, he views were evolving. I think that is the most important point of all.. even if the congress doesn't pass gay rights now, they will when our generation takes power. The world has EVOLVED and people simply don't "care",for lack of a better word. 

My collage still needs work. I will continue to work into it and bring out more of my message. I have always had a little trouble with collage because in my mind I am very organized. I have a process and the idea of not knowing where this is going is difficult. This time I pleasantly surprised my self and I'm very happy with the way this piece is going.  

Who wears these shoes?

      This marking period we were challenged to draw piles of shoes. Each student had a different view, even those that sat in the same seats. I wasn't too worried about my final project considering I had done shoe drawings sophomore year also. I enjoyed the process and overall I'm very happy with the way it turned out. My favorite part about this project was finding my shoe drawing from 7th grade. I love seeing my progress from year to year and how I have evolved. At the start of the project I barley thought about composition, it came naturally to create something interesting. I started to realize how long ago 7th grade was...like really..that drawing is ancient. My life is so different from back then, I've walked in my shoes, I've grown into them , I've dirtied them, they have holes, they have scars...but there more ME than ever.

Our fingerprints don't fade...

       Going into my third year of creative arts, I have a more complete vision of what I want to do.I have all of the kinks worked out and I know what I have to do now to achieve my vision later. I'm super excited about working with a theme this year. It may even be cliche to call it a theme...I'd like to think of it as more of a message. My message for this year is, "Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch". We touch peoples lives everyday, whether through art or a simple act of kindness. Everything we do has an effect on others, and our environment, even if we don't realize it. In my book, I want to symbolize the effect that art and certain people have had on my life. I want this book to really showcase how much I have changed and learned since my first book in sophomore year. This is my senior year, the fingerprints I make now are going to last forever...and I want them to matter.

Over the summer...

School may have been on break, but I sure wasn't. Between a ridiculous work schedule and various family trips, I made sure to set aside some time for art! A trip to the magic garden in Philadelphia was the perfect start to my summer. The garden really is magical and always a source of inspiration. My first project was a portrait of my friend Sam. I LOVE this piece..it really displays Sam in more ways than just her face, from the blossoming roses to the simple quote "Do you suppose she's a wildflower?". Possibly the most exciting part about drawing this was that I finally decided to buy my own prismacolors...yes..I spent 120 dollars on pencils.