I do the work I do because it is what fits most with what I am thinking at the moment. I don’t think about anything else but what I want to do. I may receive certain requirements for whatever project I am working on, but I turn those requirements into my requirements. For this project, we were given the opportunity to choose whatever we wanted to do for the quarter project.

The way I chose my project was pretty simple. I was not done with the project from the last quarter and I was curious to know what it would look like if I had finished it completely. I also wanted to continue the experience of a sewing machine. It took me about four months to complete this bag whereas if I was using an electric sewing machine it would have only taken me a couple of days, one week at the most. I also chose these tools because I have never sewn anything before. I’ve always wondered how well I would do on my first time sewing something together. Using empty Capri Sun pouches, a needle, thread, a hot glue gun, and old bag handles from a different bag, I created a hand made Capri Sun tote bag.

“Art is something unique for yourself to create and not for others to judge. Art has the ability to enrich each individual.” For our second quarter project, we were assigned to create a piece of artwork of our choice. There were no limits or boundries in which you may or may not create, or more like your own inspiration.

I was inspired to create different images and artwork by using material that was around me to begin. My first piece of artwork was a drawing inspired by a friend of mine who dream of being a theater performances, and the art and theater itself. This piece of artwork is a remodel of the famous “Comedy Tragedy masks” piece. However, it was only a remodel of the comedy side of the mask, which was present with a sketch using #2 pencil and sketch paper.

Pencil and paper are not very comforting for me. Another big piece of my project was dealing with different type of paint, and using canvas to present the beauty of the artwork. This part of the picture was inspired by my dream. I was told by many people to “capture and accomplish ” my dream. In this painting, I selected an image of Ojibwe cultural dream catcher as my main object to resemble my inspiration and added textures, colors, and different details that also describe my personality and give the artwork more beauty.

By using the leftover paints from my first canvas, I decided to create my second canvas with something less inspirational and more enjoyable. I painted a picture of a flower surrounding with colors to explain the beauty of art, the beauty of life, and all of the colorful things around it. It was also one of the pleasant and relaxing projects I’ve ever worked on.

 Uyen Nguyen 

For the second quarter of our advanced art class, students were given more freedom and were told that they could create just about anything desired. At first I wasn't sure what I wanted to create. I knew I wanted it to be something interesting and intriguing, but I didn't have any ideas on what I wanted to create, the materials I wanted to use, or anything that would help with my selections. After some researching and serious consideration, I had a small idea. 

After completing numerous projects for other classes and studying for vocabulary quizzes, I knew I wanted a break from school and work. I started to think about where I wanted to go to relax and unwind. I began to picture a nice, quiet, and deserted beach. In my imagination the beach had nice white sand, cool blue water, and full green trees off at a distance. I knew this was the scenery I wanted to create for my second quarter art project. 

The next step in my creation, after finally thinking of what to do, was finding the appropriate materials. I chose to use a small white canvas and my friend and fellow classmate, Uyen Nguyen convinced me to use a simple bucket of chalk because it had the biggest variety of colors. I knew I didn't want to use just a few colors, but to mix up several colors to show somewhat of a contrast, so I knew chalk would make this easier than crayons, paint, or markers. 

When I finally started to create my getaway, I began with the ocean. I used three different shades of blue to make the water. Two were a lighter color and a darker one to show the waves. I also added a white color to try and show reflection in the water. Next I started to make the sand on the beach. In total, I used four different colors for the sand: dark brown, light brown, gold, and tan. I would say there is more sand than anything else in the picture so I didn't want all of it to be the same shade because it would get boring. 

My next step was creating the trees. I simply drew a small brown line across the top of the sand to show some of the bark. Above the bark I didn't want to put too much detail into the leaves themselves, I just wanted it to be obvious that they were trees. So I added a few different shades of green and made curves and waves to show movement in the trees due to wind. The final step was creating a clear blue sky above the trees. To create the sky, I used a dark blue, a lighter blue, and the color white to help contrast them. Then my getaway was completed with a beach, trees, and a clear blue sky.

I enjoyed creating this art project. I was able to make something simple but still insert plenty of details into it. 

to begin with, for my art project I recycled my old skateboards to make a shelf. This art project was alot fun to do but it was also difficult.  It was difficult because all  of the supplies that I had to get and just all around putting it together.

My inspiration for recycling skateboards and creating a shelf was because I really love skateboarding and i saw someone make a chair out of skateboards and I it was so cool so i decide to try to make a shelf. i still haven't finished making the shelf but i plan to continue working on it and hopefully it will come out nice.

in conclusion this was one of my favorite and funnest projects that i have ever had because it allowed me to work on something that i truly love. I hope we get more projects like this as the year goes on.

In my advanced art class we were assigned to recycle something and make something from it. To think of something that is used in everyday wasn't difficult at all. However I wanted to do something different, something that a lot of people wouldn't be quick to think of. Yet I wanted to use something that is used and should be by a lot of people. So I thought of condom wrappers and making a peace sign out of the wrappers.

Make Love Not War, was the first thing that I wanted to represent my art, but also I wanted to go a little deeper than that common phrase. So many people are caring std's and they are spreading so quickly because people are not protecting themselves. Over half a million have died of AIDS, and there are currently more than one people living with HIV and AIDS in America. It is true that not all people who have it, received it from being sexually active. However those who were sexually active that received it many of those were unprotected. Once someone has unprotected sex they are not only disturbing the peace within themselves but in their homes their loved ones suffer also.

Collecting the material for this project I would say had to be amusing. To actually get condom wrappers to recycle them was awkward, but there were some people that was able to donate to my project. I wouldn't say that this is just my art project it wouldn't be able to have it's meaning without the help of others. 

In my advanced art class, my teacher Mrs. Hull assigned a project where students had to recycle everyday materials and use them in a creative way. Our class was inspired by the artist Aurora Robson, who used bottle caps to create unique sculptures. She used her creativity not only to make something interesting and unique, but also to create something environmentally friendly. Our art class wanted to produce something that was not only imaginative, but that also did something positive for the environment.

For my first quarter art project, I decided to make a picture frame with a picture inside of it. The picture frame itself is made out of an Abercrombie and Fitch shopping bag, while the inside of the frame is made out of the tissue paper used to cover the inside of presents. People are always recycling bags, so I wanted to do something different and recycle tissue paper. The inside of the picture frame is a picture of how the earth will look if we don't recycle: empty and ruined. I constructed the globe by cutting up the bottom of several water bottles and then taping them all together, making a somewhat round figure or sphere. 

The tissue paper in the project is around the globe and is supposed to represent the space. The tissue paper is loose and colorful, and even though space is dark, I wanted it to be bright and colorful, to show a contrast between it and the darkness of the earth in a non-recycled future. Basically I switched the roles so the earth is dark and dismal, while space is colorful and vibrant. 

Overall I very much enjoyed working on this art project. I try to be as environmentally friendly as possible and creating this picture frame was a way to incorporate school work and the environment.