This was my first college art class during my first semester and it really encapsulated the meaning of what it means to be an artist. Even though it was 2 hours and 50 minutes long, time goes by fast when you enjoy the positive classroom environment and engaging assignments. Before the pandemic, this class met in Mendenhall, a beautiful old building with a grand staircase and a room with a high, decorative ceiling and stained glass windows. This differs from the rest because we weren’t always confined in a classroom setting. There was a time we walked through Uptown Whittier and sketched whatever interested us. It was peaceful and an opportunity to acknowledge art within our community.
When I see the world through an artistic lens, I soon understand that art is everything. Art is the designed chair we sit on, the sky we look at with a gradient spectrum of colors, the anatomy and complexity of our bodies, the way music makes you feel, etc. The class deepened my appreciation for a world full of beauty and design.
Each student had their own sketch book to practice and document their learning experience during and outside of class. These stacks of papers, bound by a spiral wire, allowed us to express ourselves in the weirdest of ways without being judged.
One day while we sat around a long rectangular table, Professor Albert shared some of his collection of sketchbooks. It may seem simple, but these books are personal and intimate. Every project, we presented our art work with the class, and these moments allowed us to become closer by explaining the struggles we faced and its meaningfulness. Through these exercises, I learned proper terminology when analyzing someone else’s artwork and receiving/giving constructive criticism.
Although there were directions and expected craftsmanship for our projects, there was still freedom in choosing how you wanted to present your art piece. This allowed me to make my own artistic decisions and develop my own style. We also learned how to use different mediums through creating collages with magazines, juxtapositions with image and text, and painting with palettes.
Professor Albert stressed the importance of being ambitious, yet appreciated the art of simplicity. It’s fascinating to create and absorb one’s perceptions of shapes, colors, compositions etc. It’s even more exciting to be in a class with a professor who is passionate and embraces strange yet beautiful forms of art.
Through a lot of trial and error, I became proud and more confident in my artwork. In fact, the majority of the pieces in this class have made their way onto the walls of my room. Introduction to Art 2-D continued to fuel my fire for art and motivated me to take more art classes. I wish I could take it again.
