Becca+Massey


 * Learning Journal Questions**
 * What have I learned?**
 * Have I met my learning objective?**
 * Is there more to be done to help me fully reach my objective?**
 * What is my next objective?**
 * What do I need to do/learn to reach my next objective?**
 * Make a plan for the next 8 days to help me reach my next objective.**

Journal 5

This week I worked on drawing expressions in faces. I started with drawing simpler faces, using only oval or circular shapes. I took inspiration from the expressions that characters in Gravity Falls have. The style of that show keeps the characters expressions very realistic, and only uses extreme exaggerations. I filled up a whole journal page. I feel like I need to work on drawing faces that use the eyebrows, because they always end up looking mad. I will continue to work on facial expressions.

W hy model your drawings after Gravity Falls? What interest do you have in doing that? Is it difficult to produce characters with with realistic and extreme exaggerations. Please provide more insight into the why. Have you given any thought to what you want your end product to be? Will you integrate a little of all of what you have been learning and practicing.

2/8/16-2/17/16

Journal 1

Today, I decided to do an “album draw”, where I listen through an album and draw one thing per song. I chose to do the Self Titled album by Twenty One Pilots. I got halfway through the album, up to “Oh Ms. Believer”. Tomorrow I will finish drawing the album.

It is very interesting and challenging to try and turn these songs into art within a 3-4 minute time limit. I also drew some small things during classes.

This is also serving as a way to see how I draw now to compare to the end of this independent study. Right now, my art is, in my opinion, cartoony and simple, which is not a bad thing.

Throughout this week, I drew frequently to find out how my art looks right now. I also discovered that when I don’t have inspiration when drawing, it comes out looking worse. This is why I tend to draw things I enjoy. Throughout this semester, I would like to make my art more realistic looking, and I want to be able to draw faces better.

Next week I will be looking at different people’s art and using it to try and improve my own.

2/1/16 Becca --- Please provide further development of your thoughts and ideas. What specifically did you improve upon? What did you struggle with initially with drawing realistic bodies? What is challenging about drawing legs, heads, and faces? (explain for each) What aspects still need work (be specific)? Why music? Research that, how do drawing and music connect? Why music videos?

Journal 2

This week I focused on drawing more realistic people. I have really improved on drawing from the waist up, but I need more practice drawing legs, heads, and faces.

I don't feel like I improved as much as I could, but I will change that this week.

I have also found that I enjoy putting my music on shuffle and drawing whatever inspires me. Music videos are also good sources of inspiration.

Journal 3

This week I have been drawing more faces, especially in dynamic poses. I want to work on drawing faces because they are essential for conveying emotion in a drawing. Drawing faces is challenging because every part of the face needs to be aligned for it to look realistic and or correct. I hope to finish the year with a better understanding of facial and body anatomy. I will draw someone facing upwards, or with their head twisted to the side. This allows me to practice drawing and understanding the structure of the jawline. I also worked on the placement of the mouth, eyes, ears, and nose. I have not started expressions yet, but plan to next week. I have been drawing faces in different styles as well. Realistic faces look better when done right, but cartoony faces are easier because they are simpler and there is less need for perfection. Next week I plan to continue with faces, and start to try and draw expressions. Faces are difficult to draw because they are very complicated, and one mess up in placement could make the whole face look weird. My next goal will be to work on full body anatomy and working on drawing parts of the body I am not good at, like the torso and legs. My final goal will be to combine everything I have learned and continue to improve.

Learning Journal 4

This week I worked on not only human anatomy, but non human anatomy as well. I took inspiration from the popular podcast Welcome To Night Vale and drew the angels from it. Since the angels are never described in the podcast, other than being 'angelic', I could use my imagination and draw many variations of them. Many of them had multiple eyes, arms, and wings. It was very interesting and fun to draw. My favorite angel I drew was fixing a light bulb, like described in the podcast. I also experimented with character design using Welcome To Night Vale's protagonist, Cecil Palmer. Cecil is never described in the series, which allowed me to have some fun wile drawing him. Next week I will continue to try and improve my skills. As an artist, I take inspiration from lots of things, including how a character talks and acts if the character is not described. Cecil has been described as having a very eclectic fashion sense, in one episode he wears cat ears, a trash bag, and fuzzy yellow boots. I took this into account and had fun drawing him in crazy outfits. I found the tumblr blog 'shitcecilpalmerwouldwear' which helped give me inspiration. Next week I will work on expressions.

What characteristics did you emphasize in making the angels "angelic"? Which was your favorite angel? Why? As an artist, what inspires you? is it voice? is it description? is it the context of what was said?

How did you decide what Cecil looks like? Highlight the search you did and what you found to help you determine your drawing. What factors did you add that weren't part of your search?

Regarding Learning Journal #4 - I hope you continue to learn more signs. The "wh" gesture makes sense. Even hearing individuals use that same gesture. I hope you put some effort into researching the questions I gave you in LJ#3. Finding information from reputable sources is an important part of the self-taught process.

Regarding Learning Journal #3 - It was great to have you present some of what you are learning! It is very interesting to communicate with your hands... and what I also saw was you were communicating with facial expressions as well. I don't know if you realize you were doing that, but I believe it shows how non-verbal expression says so much more than what we say. Keep up the good work Becca! Please answer the following in LJ#4:
 * 1) How do deaf people learn sign as a child?
 * 2) What challenges do children face trying to communicate with loved ones?
 * 3) How do their loved ones help their children face these challenges?

Regarding LJ #2: Becca I need more description. Please add more. Look at the rubric on the Learning Journal Link to understanding how you are graded for your LJ. In addition, how about showing me some of what you have learned so far. I can count your demonstrations to me as part of your journal.

So sorry I deleted your discussion post when you showed it to me. You had gone into more detail in that post than you have here. Keep up the work... think about how you might use your skills as they develop. Do you know any deaf individuals with whom you can communicate in sign? I know a woman that may be willing to interact with you so you are applying these skills in real situations. I know it is too soon to do so now, but maybe in another 4 weeks this might be a possibility.

Learning Journal 1 9/16/15

So far, I have learned how to sign the alphabet, the numbers 1-10, and many different words. these words include yes, no, deaf, hearing, learn, like, don't like, and name. Learning the alphabet was hard because of how many signs there were. Learning sentences is fun because I can use signs in context. I learn best by repeating the sign many times, and by using it in sentences.

I will continue to learn the vocabulary from lesson one. Next week, I will self-asses my improvement.