Pumpkins and Artist Statement

Artist Statement:

• My goals were to learn how to shade dramatically and realistically and use charcoal appropriately.
• I accomplished these goals by editing my pictures and getting many extreme darks and lights and experimenting with the different charcoals.
• What surprised me most about my experience doing this drawing was how much cast shadows and dark details can complement a drawing.
• The most difficult challenge I had to face was bringing out the brightest whites; it was hard to do with an eraser and the white chalk pastels weren't the easiest to work with.
• I met that challenge by erasing what I could and not getting frustrated when the white chalk pastel didn't do what I wanted to.
• I experienced the shift to the right/artistic side of the brain when I was focusing on details and began to do my best work pretty quickly.
• My drawing really works during the halloween season because pumpkins are associated with halloween and they look ominous coming out of the shadows
• Some things I have learned that I can bring into my next drawing include how to work with charcoal and not to be afraid of using the dark compressed charcoal.
• Two other artists in the class that I learned from were McKenna and Grace. They had two very different art styles that they stuck to throughout the entire drawing which I have a little trouble with. Both art styles, though unique and different, looked great and fit the project.
• If I had a do-over I would add a dramatic shadow to the bottom right pumpkin, maybe the crow, since it looks a little bland and flat there.
• I believe the best thing about my work is the dramatic darks, merges, and shadows.