Rubby

  Materials: Canvas, pencil, gouache, oil pastel Process: I first painted the main colors with paint and then layered and added the oil pastel on top of it.  Idea: This time I used more domestic items, like in my question. In the middle is a more traditional style of Chinese noodles. On the left is an open package of chopsticks; the chopsticks snapped in half out of anger. On the far right, my hand is clenched into a fist, showing that I'm angry. 

Materials: paper, gouache, watercolor pen, oil pastel, blender pens  Process: I started with gouache over everything, then blended it out with oil pastels. I used this to create a more metallic effect on the subway. I also used the blender pens to blend out the oil pastels.  Idea: I wanted to convey that I felt isolated even when surrounded by people. I'm looking down at my phone, ignoring everyone else; that is why they're blurry and kind of like a memory in the background.   

Materials: Pen, paper Process: I chose the subway because it has a sadder ambiance. I want to use darker colors and have most of the "light" coming from my phone (a domestic item), and I want to use a backpack on my back as another domestic item. Additionally, I'm writing in Chinese "Too many Foreigners" on the neon announcement sign across the subway.  Ideas: I want to convey how I felt isolated, even while surrounded by people; I also chose to wear baggier clothing, while everyone else wore business casual. I know this is a different approach to isolation, but I wanted to show the big difference between American and Chinese culture, and I wanted to stand out (kinda in a bad way). 

Materials: watercolor board, Pencil, pen, watercolor, and gouache.  Process: I experimented with black watercolor paper, but I didn't like how the color didn't show up as much as I wanted it to. I then decided to use watercolor board. I wanted to use bright colors and have a harsh contrast between them. This harsh contrast was between the mirror and my face in the mirror, along with my hand. The rest of the domestic items were in color, lit normally by the lamp. I also wanted this piece to have detail, but for the desk to not be as crowded and to have some type of simplicity.  Idea: In my SI, I wanted to explore harsh contrast; for this piece, I chose light. The light IS reflecting on my face, but as soon as it gets to the mirror, the color changes to a lighter gray, showing sadness and isolation. I also wanted the lamp to dramatically affect the other objects, leaving everything else in color. 

 Materials: Paper, pencil, watercolor  Process: I tried to use perspective as if the viewer was looking through my phone. I used the light to highlight happiness, which was the paintbrushes and me taking a photo. The darker colors are chinese related thing such as a bowl of noodles or Chinese books.  Idea: I want to show that the light reflects happiness; even though it's reflecting on my face, I still want to show that SOME of China was a happy memory. The things on the corkboard also reflect my SI; my Chinese name is written along with a to-do list to show some stress. I also wanted to include a photo strip of me and my sister to show some happy things. 

I tried to use more of a darker color scheme for things related to China and for things related to America or other i tried to use brighter colors like yellow. My inspiration artist is Andrew Wyeth. Even though I'm taking a more modern approach, I'm still trying to use his sense of light with watercolor. One of the main things I like about this piece is the light coming from the gas station fridge. I used to go to this convenience store almost every day after school to escape everything else. I didn't plan on doing the red line throughout, but the middle looked a little empty, and I wanted something that was going through the whole piece.