Overview
My creative process is unlike many. I have a tendency to start working without planning anything. That means I like to jump into my work, thinking of ideas and working with them as I go. Visible through Problems #1-12, you can tell that I am not sure where to go or what to do. I try to fit all of the problem limits while expressing creativity. I soon realize that, sometimes, limits are needed in order to hone the creative process.
Problems #13-20 are really where I started to feel comfortable. It was also where I started to work in my own medium that I knew I would like. Having to use the chisel tipped markers made me feel restricted creatively. I could not do much shading unlike spray-painting.
I hope you enjoy looking through my Logbook, realizing the journey I have made in order to come to a final solution: Problem #20, my pride; my joy.
Signed,
Penh Alicandro
Problems #13-20 are really where I started to feel comfortable. It was also where I started to work in my own medium that I knew I would like. Having to use the chisel tipped markers made me feel restricted creatively. I could not do much shading unlike spray-painting.
I hope you enjoy looking through my Logbook, realizing the journey I have made in order to come to a final solution: Problem #20, my pride; my joy.
Signed,
Penh Alicandro
Set Problems #1-12
Problem One - Creating an Image Pool
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The Assignment:
1. Make 50 face symbols, each on a 5” x 5” unlined card. Use exactly 15 lines (line only) for each face symbol. Count them! 2. All lines must be arcs or straight. 3. Use a black chisel point felt marking pen, on unlined 5” x 5” card stock. My Response: When I first started this problem, I did not realize that full circles or hemi-spheres were allowed. This is why the faces are encapsulated with straight lines, rather than rounded shapes. |
Problem Two - Line
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The Assignment:
1. Use your 5 superior-images from Problem #1 as parent images for Problem #2. Make 3 variations of each image (15 total). 2. The number of lines is unlimited but they must remain lines, not colored in shapes. 3. Lines must touch at least two edges of the 5" x 5 card. 4. Use black markers on white cards only. My Response: I liked how we were forced to make the parent image variations touch at least two sides. It challenged me to push the image in a direction I was not expecting. |
Problem Three - Shape
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The Assignment:
1. Select 3 images from Problem #2 as parent images. 2. Extend your marker lines with pencil to create new shape-images (follow a line and touch an edge). 3. Clone the 3 new shape-images 5 times by tracing, copying, or scanning. No new lines may be added after cloning. 4. Transform each identical image (clone) into an individual image by filling shapes with black marker, while leaving remaining shapes white on white. 5. Bring the Problem #2 altered pencil-parent and colored-in clones to class. My Response: I did not like this problem too much, mainly because filling in certain parts felt like it strayed from the original too much. Most of the variations lost the feeling of the 'face.' |
Problem Four - Expanding the Image Pool
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The Assignment:
1. Use black marker to make 15 new images on 5" x 5" cards. You may use any image from your image pool as a parent image or create unique, one of a kind new images. 2. Extend your marker lines, as in Problem 3, to create shape-images (follow a line and touch an edge). Fill some shapes with black marker, while leaving remaining shapes white. 3. The image does not need to be a face. Have fun with this...don't overthink it. My Response: I liked being able to open up my creativity more in this problem. It allowed me to create a new set of problems that were not limited to faces although I did keep a few in. |
Problem Five - Scale
Middle Image is the Parent Image
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The Assignment:
1. Select an image from Problem 3 or 4. 2. Reduce it to half-scale, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2". 3. Now make a double-scale, 10" x 10". Make one additional copy of your original image and each of the two new images. My Response: This problem was time consuming. Having to draw a scaled grid and then copy everything to a smaller shape and then larger was a lot, but in the end it was rewarding. |
Problem Six - Composite Images
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1. Move one set of your three Problem 5 images around, one on top of the other, to connect black and white lines and shapes. Feel free to use, or not use, any parts of the three parent images. It's your choice.
2. You may make a frame, with white paper, to create a 5 x 8 window over the three images. This will help you see a rectangular format. Mark the layers where they lay. 3. Rework your proof image with marker and white out, to create a seamless join between shapes. Now copy or hand draw one final clean image. Bring 5 x 5 parent with your composite. DO NOT CUT UP ANY IMAGES! My Response: This problem was fun. I had to move around said 'frame' in order to create a new problem. |
Problem Seven - Fragments
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The Assignment:
1. Find 8 fragments from the largest image of Problem 5 and/or Problem 6 that work as self-contained images. The face must now be gone in your fragments. 2. Reduce or enlarge each image to 5" x 5" format using. You may create the fragment images by tracing, scanning or copier. My Response: Creating new images from an older problem was interesting. I didn't realize where this problem could go, so I tried to keep an open mind. |
Problem Eight - Collage
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1. Make two collages 10" x 10", one on black background and one on white background. (Use black and white poster board). Cut ONE set of Problem #5 (21/2” x 21/2”, 5”x5”, 10”x10”) to provide shapes for each collage. Use all or some of the shapes.
2. Reassemble your chosen black shapes on the white background and white shapes on the black background. Use rubber cement or glue stick to carefully glue down all edges and corners. Wipe off any overflow. 3. You may make smaller shapes from big ones by cutting across existing image dimensions, but you cannot arbitrarily cut new shapes. My Response: Being able to cut the shapes out of Problem #5 was my favorite. Personally, I am a very kinesthetic person meaning I like to work with my hands. I like being able to physically move things around rather than plan them out like in Problem #5. |
Problem Nine - Mixed Color Series
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The Assignment:
1. Choose one 5”x5” image from your black and white SHAPES image pool. Pick an image that is not too detailed for ease in working the assignments to follow. 2. Copy (clone) the parent image five times by tracing, in pencil, the shape outlines onto 5” x 5” cards. Dropout the black color to have just white shape outlines. Add NO new lines after tracing. 3. Choose and use two markers only: one warm color and one cool color. Color in the shape outlines to transform five clones into individual warm/cool images (See Problem 3-Clones). 4. Color in, layer in, or leave blank, the empty shapes, but add NO new shapes. HINT: Layered in color will create interesting effects . . . try it and see! My Response: Finally! Color! I was happy to see that we were finally able to add color into our images. |
Problem Ten - Cool Series and Warm Series
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The Assignment:
1. Make a COOL series: Swap all warm colors and replace with your second cool color. 2. Make a WARM series: Swap all cool colors and replace with your second warm color. 3. Overlap same, keep white the same. Bring Problem 9, 10 and B/W parent to class. My Response: Having to switch from a color balanced set of work to more separated color schemes was interesting to see play out. |
Problem Eleven - Formats
Parent Image
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The Assignment:
1. Choose one parent image from Problem 9 or 10 and recast it into three different formats. Manipulate the entire image so that the form describes the function...the shape of the card. 2. Use only standard geometric shapes, for example, hexagon, circle, or oval. Dimensions may be from 5 to 10 inches, none larger or smaller. 3. Pencil-trace entire parent image onto your selected three shaped cards. Manipulate, squeeze and stretch the traced image to describe the card's shape-format. Make lines touch edges. Use the same colors and the same overlap as in Problem 10. 4. Cut out your three format image cards so they become the actual shapes. My Response: Being able to cut things again was so much fun to see. Again, I like being able to physically manipulate my work. Warping the Parent Image to fit in a pre-designed shape was difficult but overall rewarding. |
Problem Twelve - Color Composite
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The Assignment:
1. Use all or some of your original 4 colored markers and the white space. The format for this new image is a 5 x 8 rectangle. Black and white may be used and colors may overlap. NOTE: Remember color "push-pull" and color intensity...color relationships! 2. Bring parent #6 to class with #12. 3. Shoot a picture of this problem and save the jpg for your Logbook. And on the back of your card write your phone #. My Response: Turning Problem #6 into a new colored work was hard. Since there was a single contrast between the black and white, I didn't know how to incorporate color. In the end, I was pretty happy with the gradation of colors that were once occupied by the white shapes. |
Self-Set Problems #13-20
Problem Thirteen - Appropriate and Transform
Parent Image by Evan Hodgson
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The Assignment:
1. Use all or some of your original 4 colored markers and the white space. The format for this new image is a 5 x 8 rectangle. Black and white may be used and colors may overlap. NOTE: Remember color "push-pull" and color intensity...color relationships! 2. Bring parent #6 to class with #12. 3. Shoot a picture of this problem and save the jpg for your Logbook. And on the back of your card write your phone #. My Response: This was my first problem working with spray paint. I didn't like this image because it dripped so much. From here, I will learn what to do and what not to do when spray painting. |
Problem Fourteen - Appropriation
Parent Image by Emma Neal Heery
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The Assignment:
1. Make a copy of, and then return the borrowed image and your version to the artist. When you receive the modified version of your image, use it as your new parent and do the “next thing”. Limits are the same as #13. Please show parent with your work. 2. Create a new work, (2-D or 3-D) which has a demonstrable relationship to the parent. Set your own limits; none are assigned. Think formal elements. Use tools and techniques, you’ve learned. Materials and format are unlimited! Paint, clay, graphite, or whatever...Explore! My Response: Since I was just starting out with spray-paint as a medium, this is not a work I am most fond of. It was hard to replicate such an intricate piece with such a large spray nozzle. |
Problem Fifteen - Extension One
Parent Image
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The Assignment:
1. Take the next appropriate step toward a defensible variation of Problem #14. Or use any image from your image pool as parent image and extend it. 2. You can base your work on many things, such as subject matter, technique, materials, a group of visual elements, or a compositional format. My Response: Since the previous problem was so hard to spray for intricate details, I used stencils to try and refine those details. It did not come out exactly as I had intended, but the idea was there. Practice can only make better. Note: These two images are on separate pieces of paper. |
Problem Sixteen - Logbook Proposal
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Logbook Proposal:
For my logbook, I plan to make google slides to showcase my work. I wish I were able to do a more physical rendition, but I have work that would be too large to put into a book or shoe. I will be using my main photography camera to photograph my problems so that they are of the highest quality presentable possible. The reason I want to do this project electronically is mainly for ease of viewing. This way, I can send and share the final version more easily. In addition, it can be kept for any amount of time without taking up space or accidentally getting thrown away. Overall, I work mostly digitally (photography, film, web design) so this means I will be able to create something digital from physical content pretty well. Updated: As you can see, the original plan was for a Google Slides, but I wanted to switch it up and use a platform I was familiar with. This is the third and final iteration of logbooks. My second trial was using Adobe Portfolio, but I found that some features were not available for me to use. |
The Assignment:
Write a proposal for your plan to create a digital (or hardcopy) Logbook. Include your selected platform and steps to create it. Show layout example images. Choose your favorite platform. PowerPoint, Wix, Google slides, or whatever will best achieve the goal, a professional, informative and unified display of your work. |
Problem Seventeen - Extension Number Two
Parent Image
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The Assignment:
1. You are now your own gamemaster. Each extension is an evolution of the last and must be a fully developed piece in your process of exploration. 2. Utilize the progression of "tools" you learned in problem #1-14 for your final works. Think refine rather than bold leaps. 3. Make yourself a show-- eclectic mix, installation, series, performance. Can we see the common thread from one Problem to the next? Will the face reappear? My Response: At this point, I realized that working with spray-paint in such a small environment would not work, I sprung for a larger 'canvas.' I was browsing what I could use at Walmart and out jumped a 22"x28" foam core board. I thought this was perfect so I used this to better recreate the previous problems. At this point, the arch was a prominent subject in my work which was ignited by Emma's iteration. |
Problem Eighteen - Extension Number Three
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The Assignment:
Continue to develop ideas and refine art that builds on previous work. My Response: As you can see, the arch-shape has disappeared but one may see that it has turned into a palm tree. For this problem, I wanted to represent where one of my favorite places was. In addition to this, I moved away from the pink, black, and blue spray color combination in order to make it more beach-themed. |
Problem Nineteen - Extension Number Four
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The Assignment:
Continue to develop ideas and refine art that builds on previous work. My Response: For this problem, I wanted to reach bigger, and maybe even higher. I included the green palm frond in the bottom of this problem because I was thinking I could do something along the lines of a tetrad for my final problem. This way, Problem #18 and Problem #19 could be combined. |
Problem Twenty -Final Project and Artist Statement
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Penh Alicandro
The Final Tetrad Spray Paint on 22"x28" Foam Core NFS |
Problem Twenty Statement
For Problem #20, my big idea was to literally go big. There are four 22"x28" white foam core boards that have been spray-painted in accordance with each problem. Problem #18 was the bottom left image, Problem #19 was the top left image, and Problem #20 added the top right and bottom right images to become a whole tetrad. I am super happy with the way Problem #20 came together. Throughout making Problems #18-#19, I had to figure out how to fit the two together while leaving space to add two more right-hand panels. The top two panels highlight an outer space theme, with multiple planets and even a UFO (as suggested by a peer). I was not sure how to add details to the sky and then I realized I could reach higher than the sky. I was inspired for the space theme by one of my close friends, Sam Randall. He taught my roommate and me how to make planets using spray-paint. I am only a novice at this, but I learned something from him and used that knowledge to inspire my works. The bottom two panels represent the place that I am currently residing in. A beach or more specifically, Eckerd College. As mentioned in Problem #18, I am in love with the beach. There is always so much to do there, so naturally, I wanted to incorporate that into my work somehow.
In presentation, each panel should be flush with one another.
In presentation, each panel should be flush with one another.
So you've reached the end. What now? You could close out of this tab and never come back, or you could jump back to the top and explore some of my other work to see what I do outside of class. Anyway, thanks for making it this far!