12 PORTRAITS– AMBERLEIGH CLARKE

12 PORTRAITS– AMBERLEIGH CLARKE

The act of drawing is an exercise of both the hand and the eye. Rather than communicating a specific conceptual idea, the following pieces display Amberleigh Clarke’s technical ability and comprehensive understanding of observational drawing.

By including both earlier and more recent pieces, we are able to observe her evolution as an artist from one who relies on schematic representations to one who is able to communicate all of the details and intricacies that lay before her eyes. Seeing how realist portraiture is associated with creating perfect photographic renderings of people, exhibiting her process not only allows the viewer to witness her growth, but also displays her confidence. The mere ability to perceive and then translate what one sees holds significant artistic merit, as it is a skill applicable to many disciplines of visual expression.

Kiel Torres

A collection of Amberleigh’s portraits will be exhibited in the Point Gallery  from Feb 21st to March5th.

Brains Aflame Part 4: Over/Under

Brains Aflame

A student experiential response to James Welling’s “Mind on Fire” exhibition at the Contemporary Art Gallery.  The Contemporary Art Gallery posted their own blog exhibition of the student's work here.

This fourth grouping of photographs explores the effects of intentionally overexposing or underexposing a photograph for compositional or dramatic effect.  It takes advantage of the mechanics of the camera to artificially manipulate lighting for dramatic purposes (the foreboding mystery of a low-light "night" shot or the bright, hopeful emotions brought forth by the "heavenly" light in an over-exposed shot).  We also challenge the question of what makes a "good" photograph by neglecting traditionally held beliefs about proper technique.

 Kevin McAllum

 Kevin Mcallum

Abstracts by LALS Art

This is a selection of work done by my wonderful special needs art class (I couldn't think of a better name for the work).  They composed their drawings by overlapping and tracing abstract cardboard shapes.  They then had free run to colour them as they saw fit as long as they followed the three rules we've established for colouring:  patience, keeping pencils sharp, and layering analogous colours.  I really try to keep this class loose and give them a lot of freedom and variety of projects as their attention span is generally pretty limited (as is mine) and they are all so dedicated to their own preferences in art making.  I want excursions out of their comfort zone to be short and sweet.  Not all of the students loved this project but a number of them really knocked it out of the park.  This class has such great instinct for colour and composition.  Look at the way they repeat colours throughout to lead the eye around the image, they balance smaller details with large areas and the way they use negative space.  Amazing.

Kitty Hsieh: Abstracted Thoughts

Kitty Hsieh: Abstracted Thoughts

None of these pieces immediately communicate a direct message or appear especially planned. However, the ability to draw in a stream of consciousness is an effective way of clearing one’s mind when stuck in a boring class, waiting around or simply relaxing. Rather than being meticulously planned out, these pieces display the result of seeing where your art will take you in the moment. Beginning by repeatedly drawing a certain shape on whichever surface is available, often a notebook, the abstract shapes are eventually developed into a captivating design. The decision to use ink exhibits a feeling of permanence, relying on a stream of creativity, instead of spending time perfecting each detail. Abstracted Thoughts came out of a state of restlessness, attempting to occupy oneself by drawing whatever comes to one’s mind.

Aly Slobodov

Mystery Paintings

These super cute little paintings appeared on my desk the other day.  No note.  No name.  Aren't they great?  I love them.  Who did them?

Gabrielle Jardine: Admiration

Gabrielle Jardine: Admiration

The act of admiration and worship we have towards famous people is the result of our great love and respect we have towards their attractive qualities that we may envy and wish we had in ourselves; or merely what we ourselves value in a person. These qualities may include what we look for in our friends and family; honesty, respect, someone we can go to for comfort and confide in.

Admiration reflects this theme of the act of praise towards people in our lives we value; through traditional portraits done in graphite and pencil. 

Cosette Bote

Brains Aflame Part 3: magnification

Brains Aflame

A student experiential response to James Welling’s “Mind on Fire” exhibition at the Contemporary Art Gallery.  The Contemporary Art Gallery posted their own blog exhibition of the student's work here.

This third grouping of photographs offers a point of view or focus that we rarely experience: that of the close-up.  By magnifying a subject and taking it out of context, we delay the reading of a photograph and therefore invite a greater investigation of the image and the methods and tools of it's creation.

                                                                                                                                                 Kiel Torres

                                                                                                                                                 Kiel Torres

                                                                                                                                                 Kiel Torres

Brains Aflame part 2: Hidden Geometries

Brains Aflame

A student experiential response to James Welling’s “Mind on Fire” exhibition at the Contemporary Art Gallery. The Contemporary Art Gallery posted a blog exhibition of the student's work here.

Our second entry on our own site exhibits the results of a strategy where students cropped their images, in effect decontextualizing them, to enhance the abstract and geometric qualities of the subject.  The results stress the sculptural beauty of everyday objects or utilitarian design and bring to mind the paintings of Richard Deibenkorn and Barnett Newman among other minimalist abstractionists.

Aly Slobadov

                                                                                     Nancy Tseng     

Nancy Tseng