J.Lee's Senior Artwork

Artist Statement

2010-05-03T05:37:00.000-07:00

The one motto that has been consistent throughout all my artwork is the ideas of “use what you have.” In most educational institution in the United States, students have access to the typical pencils, pens, paper, and the all of the Crayola collection. Through these everyday materials, I wanted to transform what is thought to be “mundane” items to something that can be valued and purposeful in art. The usefulness of these everyday tools gradually developed my technique in observational still-life drawings. The practice of drawing observationally has strengthened and given value to my artwork that is not realistic. By focusing on the details of the still-life for an observational drawing, I have strengthen my craftsmanship and pay attention to how my materials convey my ideas in art pieces that are unrealistic. Throughout my student career the idea of transforming the use of materials and the materials themselves into both real and fantasy is prominent in my artwork.

Education has both provided foundations for my future and connections to issues and events; this has continuously shaped my artwork. In addition to the technical aspect of art education, I have developed my purpose to continue making art. My attachment to environmental and health issues has given me the motivation to address issues through art such as recycling items and transforming devalued items into a work of art. I have grown to be an engaged artist and scholar in my community and this passion to benefit others has given purpose to my artwork.

My purpose for art making has given me deep appreciation for famous artists such as Makoto Aida. As a Japanese contemporary artist who has experienced the motto “use what you have,” Makoto Aida has transformed many mundane materials and trash into beautiful works of art with the influences of Japanese cartoon and traditional paintings. In the future, I hope I can avoid getting yelled for collecting recycled items and bring value to everyday items as well as bringing and educating the public of environmental and health issues.

Installations

2009-12-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

"Superflat"
Mixed media (acrylic, fabric, cotton, canvas, blankets, bed) in installation
13' x 8', 2009
Superflat (detail 1)
Superflat (detail 2)
"Gate (side view)"
Mixed media (plaster, pipes, foam core, acrylic, canvas, newspaper, tape) in installion
5' x 6' x 6', 2009
Gate (front view)

Oxbow 2-D Experience

2009-12-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

"Leftover Series #5"
Acrylic on paper
26" x 40", 2009

"Abstract Oil"
Oil on tar paper
22" x 30", 2009

"Bayard Rustin"
Mixed media (magazine and acrylic) on cardboard
17.5" x 21", 2009

"Janet"
Inkjet (Holga film manipulated in Photoshop) on paper
24" x 27", 2009
Photographed from life

"Fizz'
Acrylic on cardboard
9" x 12", 2009

Monotype

2009-12-24T13:18:00.001-08:00

"Lee"
Monotype on paper
11" x 15", 2009

"Abstract Ink"
Monotype on paper
9" x 12", 2009

Studio Art

2009-12-24T13:08:00.000-08:00

"Sino - Japanese War"
Mixed media (acrylic, string, clay) on canvas
17' x 30", 2009

"Walnut Series"
Mixed media (watercolor, pencil, pen) on paper
30" x 10", 2009
Drawn from life

"Metal Drawing"
Pencil on paper
18" x 24", 2009
Drawn from life

"Fresh Food Art"
Food on paper
22" x 23", 2009

Memento

2009-12-24T13:06:00.000-08:00

"iTouch"
Acrylic on paper
9" x 12", 2009
Painted from life

"Abstract iTouch"
Acrylic on paper
20" x 26", 2009

Figure Drawing

2009-12-24T12:47:00.000-08:00

"Figure Drawing 2"
Mixed media (watercolor, pastels) on paper
15.5" x 22", 2009.
Drawn from life

"Figure Drawing 3"
Mixed media (pencil and charcoal) on paper
18" x 24", 2009.
Drawn from life
"Figure Drawing 1"
Mixed media (watercolor, pastels) on paper,
14" x 22", 2009.
Drawn from life

Food Still - Life

2009-11-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

In the last critique, my art class and I agree on the fact that my experiementation and use of color blur the lines between in progress and finished art pieces. For my art piece, I am using this observation acrylic painting to challenge me in producing finished art piece and mixing colors to protray the still-life of the squashes.

Reflection of Critque

2009-10-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

The critique included the walnut series piece, metal drwaing, independent art piece, and 2 figure drawing. The senior visual artist agree that many of my art pieces evoke expression of movement and how the object showed energy. However, I agree that I still need to work on the experimentation part of art and try to control the use of color.

Fresh Food Art!

2009-10-16T11:18:00.001-07:00

For my independent art project, I am working around the theme of foods and relating this project to my senior grant. My senior grant proposes a program that provides information about organic foods to 8 Boston Public high school student. One of the visual arts activities that the group will participate in is called Food Art. In the Food Art activity, the group will experiment with using organic produce as a medium for art making. In this project, I am applying this activity to my art project and experimenting with different produce such as coffee, tea, hibiscus flowers, turmeric, beets, and spinach. With the produce, I am changing its form in liquid to experiment in 18" x 24"painting. This project and the senior grant are ways that I am addressing environmental and health issues to a community of students who live in Boston.

Metal Drawing

2009-10-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

The content and composition of my drawing is very successful because of the different scale of positions of the object, but in my drawing the objects duplicates too much that the details of the metal does not show as clearly.

Recent Artwork

2009-10-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

These art pieces are recent artwork of different assignments which all relate to the theme of food.

Figure Drawing

2009-09-27T15:22:00.001-07:00

Figure Drawing using black paper and color pastels with a palette of warm colors.

Walnut Series

2009-09-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

Walnut Piece 1 :
Experimenting with negative space and using only pencil to draw the details of half a walnut.

2009-09-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

Walnut Piece 2 :
The symmetry of the walnuts are positioned in different areas, drawn with detail, and beginning to explore color.

2009-09-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

Walnut Piece 3 :
The last of the series shows loose marks of the walnuts compared to the other two pieces.

2009-09-16T05:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my senior artwork blog!
In this blog, this will show my most recent finished and work in progress art pieces.
Please enjoy!