Ultimate Senior High (Youth Group)

Frank

This is a Christmas gift for the Trinity Church I'm in.
The drawing depicted all the members in the Senior High Youth Group.
This massive drawing took me nearly thirty hours, but I'm glad to see that all my friends love this drawing.

[My Article]Narrative Art:

Frank

I've just did a research on the painting below and written an analysing article about it.




















Peter Paul Rubens
Peace and War
c.1629
80x117 in(203.5x298cm)
oil on canvas
Natioanal Gallery, London

As a renown painter in early 17th-century Europe and representative of Baroque painting, Rubens cited the properties of Baroque painting in his own artworks.
Rubens's own successful and fulfilled lifestyle is reflected in the material blessings shown in Peace and War. He was happily married, never lacked material comfort, and become very wealthy.
Rubens worked extremely rapidly, and he employed a large studio of assistants, some of whom became famous in their own rights. Rubens worked out the basic ideal in rapid, fluent sketches, which his assistants would use to do the large-scale painting. Models would pose for the artists so that detailed drawings could be made from life. Rubens himself provided the finishing painting and final alterations. He was a prodigiously hard worker and was very strict to his assistants. Most of the time，his patrons were perfectly satisfied to have a painting produced in this manner. The idea that the artist should paint every brushstroke of his work is relatively recent and even Rubens would not accept.
In this representative work. Rubens depicted a scence of alteration from blessings of peace to the turbulence of war. The whole scene was apparently separated by two parts. On the left side, followers of Bacchus were shown, one carrying a basin which is full of golden cups and pearls, and the other dancing with a tambourine. Because of the glowing color of the skin of the followers. They become the eye-catching part of the left side. Complementaries are placed together to give colors heightened intensity. orchestrated color is one of the main proterties in this painting.
In front of the two followers, a satyr holds out a horn of fruit as an offering to the three children on the right. A winged cupid invites them to eat fruit. Right between the satyr and cupid is a lying leopard rolling around like a domesticated giant cat.
Another transition in this scene is Minerva, the goddess of wisdom who use her shield to hold Mars, the armored god of war.
The underlying design is a diagonal line from bottom right to top left. Above the diagonal are the gloom of war, bellow the diagonal are the brightness of peace. This is the most awesome composition I've ever seen!
In the Great Artists Explained, the author think the children who are shown in the scene is the beneficiaries of Peace and the older child among them is the god of marriage: Hymen.


Reference: Great Artists Explained and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque

Artist Statement(Advanced)[draft]

Artist Statement(Advanced)
[draft]
Shixiong Wang(Frank)

Honestly speaking, this is the second time that I force myself to think deeply about the reality as being an artist: Why do I make my art? How I make it? What my art is made out of? What my art means to myself?
Since I have been to America for more than two monthes. During this period of time which is so precious to myself that everyday I've been through was a special experience. When I think of the days which have passed away, sometimes I could not believe that I have overcome so many difficulties I have never imagined before and experienced so many kinds of sentiments which later provide me with great source material time and time again.
Once a period of time, I felt strongly emotional wave that I felt so helpless and lonely. Like what Akon had sung in his song "I'm so lonely. I have no body." Once one of my friends asked me if I missed my home. To my astonishment, the first sentence that slipped out is "I felt I've lost all the things I used to have in China." With a brave heart which is not brave enough to hold the responsibility of realizing my own dream and making my dear parents feel proud at the same time, I stood on the land that only an ocean away from my motherland alone. It is only a small step of an foreign student who is as normal as other foreign students, but it is truly a huge step to myself who chose to give up a cosy and warm home and challenge the reality in an completly different country.
When I was in primary school, a weird but true thought stemmed in my mind that "Black and white are enough to express all the feelings he/she wants." I used to hardly use color, exclude black and white in my drawings. Years have passed, I did not say that I was wrong but color,basicly played an important role in my first and second painting in America. The best illustration of this point: Remote Stare, truly change my opinion on color.
Till not, with my art teacher's instruction, my own diligence and most importantly, my passion. A series of art works have successfully shown to the public. I really cherish the chance I had right now for never before I have so much time that I can spend on art makings.
Basicaly, what I want to show the students and faculties of the school, in another word, the whole society I'm living in, is my way of expressing art and personal ideas.
Take on of my favorite paintings, the huge self-portrait, is an art work used to think of myself, a unique way to introspect myself as a person who tries his best to be his best in the perspective of an artist's way.
What is new to me is that almost every time I can have a chance to try a different kind of material. My self-portrait was drawn by using watercolor I seldom use when I was in China.I'm pretty sure that I will never attemp to use this kind of material instead of oilpaint if I were in China. To my surprise, I started to intend to use this new material and borrowed books learning it by myself. Results assured me that I can gain success if I can bravely try new things. For now, I feel excited to know I'm about to try something new, risk facing unexpectly failure at the same time.
As I was moving forward and kept painting, I realized what I have read can affect my art works. I gradually intended to combine meanings, actually they likely reflect my feelings and emotion, with my art works. When it comes to make a choice to keep it simple or depicting things in an complicated way, that really depends on the material I'm using and the theme of the work. Before I set the first strike on the paper, I'll think about the best way to reflect my intention through the composition and color. Avoid using the same way all the time, I deliberately obtain inspiration from those great artists'master pieces. Rembrant's portraits influenced how I use dark and light and leaders of modern symbolism gave me ideas of using symbles. Perhaps for the reason of my teacher's instruction or the ruless reality and complex emotion, I'm potentially turning my theme of art works from the assessment of the natural world to the exposion of my personal feelings.
Clearly to feel that I treat art as part of my life. I demonstrate the period from the day I entered Washington Lee High School to today as the explosion of my desire of doing art. Art, simply composed by only three letters, deligates a method of expressing feelings. More than a method, it symblizes an attitude of living in a certain perspective: sharing the beauty and harmony with others and brought joy to those who visulize the art work, in a brief sentence:"sharing is caring."

Self Portrait-- Final Painting

After the material experiment,thumnails and the pre-sketch. I could start my final colossal painting.
To my astonishment, the comparision of dark and light was well used in the painting. Black background make the bright side of my body much stronger which can catch others' eyes at the first moment. The white background at the center focus on the dark side of my body. That is why my full body portrait can catch attention instead of the huge face on the left. Thanks to the magical background, that's how it works!
The figure, the yellow one, is the center of the work. Not only he is the reflection of myself, but also is the one who is drawing himself. This creative idea emphasizes the name of the painting, self portrait!

Self Portrait--Sketch

This painting was prepared for the final self portrait. As a material experiment, I tried to explore the best way to express the comparision of dark and light. The idea of separating my face briefly into three parts was working well, which determined the way of painting my face in the final one.

My Design For The Church2

Coffee House, as one of the most important church activities is welcomed by everyone in the Trinity Church. This is my design: two mugs strike together making sparks and drops of coffee flying out of the mugs. In order to make the liquid in the mugs less like beer, I drew six cured lines above the mugs indicating that it is coffee.

My Design For The Church1

My host dad: Mr Scholl is part of one of the most famous church band of Trinity Church. The band's name is pretty cool, called: Soul fire. I designed the logo for this band.

Research Project: Art Criticism

1.Internet Research
Liberty Leading the People
(French: La Liberté guidant le peuple)
Eugène Delacroix
Oil on canvas
102.4 × 128.0
1830
Louvre, Paris
2.Research Report
(1)Description
1)What elements did the artist choose to emphasize?
The actions of the major five characters and the color.
2)What were the results or effects of the organization of elements?
The whole emotion of the revolution is raised.
(2)Analysis
3)Describe the dominant art principles the artist uses to organize the elements of art?
It is organized by the pattern of triangle formed by the five figures. The triangle also made a kind of movement leading to the right corner.
(3)Interpretation
4)Describe what you think about the artwork is about in symbolic area.
The main figure of the painting, the bare breaste woman with a musket in one hand and a tricolor flag in the other, which symbolize liberty during the revolution. The reason why Delacroix chose a feminine figure as the centre of the painting is that he wanted to promulgate that women played a very important role in the rebellion against the king, Charles X.
(4)Judgement
5)Describe how contextual approaches is appropriate for judging the artwork.
The painting described the emotional scene happened when people fought against the greedy and tyrannical Charles X. The caps of the figures clearly show that the rebellion was raised from all classes, except the monarchists. The painting has its important meaning to the historians for the painting describes a true background of the political uprising in Paris in July 1830. The Notre Dame is hiden in the gunsmoke. It also shows the same emotion of people come from different classes of people from young patriot to college student.

Sources:
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Leading_the_People
Great Artists Explained
Delacroix

Art Research: Full Size Figures After 18 Centry

This is the research of the examples of full size figures after 18 centry, I did for my final self portrait.

#1:Portrait of Zola
Edouard Manet


#2:Execution of Emperor Maximilian
Edouard Manet


#3:Bonjour Monsieur Courbet
Gustave Courbet



#4:Mozes Tafelen
Gustave Dore


#5:Verwundeter Kuerassier Verlaesst Das Schlachtfeld
Theodore Gericault

Old Man And His Dog

This drawing was edited from Theodore Gericault's "Pity the Sorrows of A Poor Old Man"

Shirt Design For The Senior Band

As you can see, the musician at the front of the T-shirt is Lil Wayne. All the memebers of the senior band wore this T-shirt during the football game.
I want to say thank you to my American brother: Ethan Scholl, for he gave me the chance to do the design.

Costume: Sbatan

I made my own costume for my first Halloween in America, it was fantastic!
It is pretty hard to make a half sphere for the helmate, but I finally achieved it!
I want to say thank you to my Art3 teacher for her suggestions and support.

Atone For My Crime

As a boy grows from a boy to a man, one thing he should learn is taking responsibility. One of my favorite songs is "Sorry, Blame On Me"
Here is part of the song
"His life goes on, starting to learn more and more about responsibility and I realize that everything that i do is affecting the people around me. so I wanted to take this time out to apologize for things that I have done and for thing that haven't occurred yet and things that they don't want to take responsibility for.
I'm sorry for the times that I left you home
while I was on the road and you were alone
I'm sorry for the times that I had to go
I'm sorry for the fact that I did not know.
that you were sitting home just wishing we
could go back to when it was just you and me.
I'm sorry for the times that I would neglect
I'm sorry for the times that I disrespect.
I'm sorry for the wrong things that I've done.
I'm sorry I'm not always there for my sons.
I'm sorry for the fact that I'm not away.
you can not sleep when I am not there.
because I'm in the streets like every day.
I'm sorry for the things that I did not say.
like, how you are the best thing in my world
and how so proud I am to call you my girl.
I understand that there are some problems
and I'm not too blind to know
all things you kept inside you
even though you might not show.
if I can't apologize for being wrong,
than it is just a shame on me.
I'll be the reason for your pain,
and you can put the blame on me."

Castle,Fire,Forest And Graveyard

This painting was sent to take part in an art competition. The theme of the painting is called "Wow". The reason why I chose to paint like this was that I wanted the first reaction of those who see this painting was shouting "Wow" for the scary and cold scenes. At the same time, this painting is used to celebrate my first Halloween in America.

Machine, A Human's Head

Art is the product of crystallization of human's wisdom. When an artist sees the world and decides to draw things he beieves are art, his brain startes to analyze the things and tries to make the "product" through a complicated process. My own conclusion is: a human's head is the machine to make art.

Sketch Journal-Fashion Model

This is my copy of
NancyRiegelman's flats with figure
9 Heads

Golden Friendship

I can still remember the day when I left my best friend in China: Ruiliang Xv. I was so sad their I held the watch tightly in my hands and tears rushed out from my eyes. The watch, with time of America and my home town, symblizes the friendship with Ruiliang. Black is the actual color of the it but it is golden in my heart!

Sketch Journal-Power of Pencils

It is clearly to see that the words on the pencils are the names of famous artists. The whole page shows a time line of the artists from Bellini to Matisse. Pencils, as the basic tools of hundreds of thousands artists, improve their drawing skills and created so many impressive art works to the world. That is the power of pencils!

My Artist Heroes

My Artist Heroes

Shixiong Wang(Frank)

1. Rembrandt Van Jijn
Key works:
1)Self-portrait
2)The Night Watch
3)Self-portrait with Sakia
4) Destructuon of Jerusalem
5)The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Tulp
6)Head of a Mn in Oriental Costume
7)The Rising of the Cross
8) The Blinding of Samson
9)The Holy Family with Angles
Qualities: Rembrandt is a genius in using comparison, he gives up the common sense of making a group portrait. This quality was shown in his work: The Night Watch, which is Rembrandt’s largest painting and one of the most important works in 17th century European art. Rembrant’s creation played an important role in the paintings of that period, but his action led trouble to himself, those who were not depicted importantly as others flew to rages. At the same time, Rembrandt’s skill in painting human portraits is extremely great as well, namely, The Prophet Jeremiah Mourning over the Destructuon of Jerusalem and Head of a Man in Oriental Costume.

2. Jaques-Louis David
Key Works:
1) Death of Marat
2) The Sabine Women
3) The Coronation of Napoleon
4) The Oath of the Horatll
Qualities: Leading the beginning of Neoclassicism, his idea of putting Classicism of Roman times into his own paintings were shown in all his paintings, especially in his The Oath of the Horatll. The poses of the figures of it are just like the figures of Roman times: obvious outline and statue-like action. He indulges his passion for the antique and came into contact with the initiators of the new Classical revival.

3. John Constable
Key Works:
1) The Hay-Wain
2) Salisbury Cathedral
3) The Cornfield
4) Arundel Mill and Castle
5) Flatford Mill
Qualities: As one of the greatest British landscape painters, his works are famous around the world for his fantastic skill in capturing the reality of daylight and the smell of the dewy freshness of nature. In his early works, he painted every detail of what he had seen, this fact could be found in his well-known work: The Hay Wain. From the dog near the river to the men on the hay wain, from the man hiding in the grass, who is in red and black, to every leave of the plants.

4. Engene Delacroix
Key Works:
1) Liberty Leading the People
2) Barque of Dante
3) Massacre at Chios
4) Death of Sardanapalus
5) Lion Hunt
Qualities: Doubtless, Delacroix’s passion is well-known and that is why people gave him the name of The Lion of Romantism. Liberty Leading the People is his most famous painting. The highly controversial painting shows the classical scene that Parisians took to the streets in revolt against the greedy and tyrannous regime of the king, Charles X. The center of the whole scene is the bare breasted woman with a tricolor flag. A bunch of patriots ran around her and the cloud-like gun powder filled the background which lead the revolution into its climax.

5. Vincent Van Gogh
Key Works:
1) The Yellow Chair
2) Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear
3) The Bedroom at Arles
4) The Potato Eaters
5) Sunflowers
6) Starry Night
Qualities: Van Gogh’s tough experience set the background of his style of paintings. In his Starry Night, the painting shows an amazing scene of the night of a small village, stars shinning in the sky, compared with the cozy and quite sky and village. The fire-like pine tree expresses the lonely artist’s enthusiasm hidden in his heart.


Reference Books:
1) Great Artists Explained Robert Cumming

Sketch Journal-Ultimate Alliance

Sketch Journal-Self Portrait

Modern Depression

The purple and red streams symplize the modern materialism. They surround the black figure in the middle. He stretches his arms as if he is trying to hug his dream and feedom. But now, as you can clearly see, the purple and red streams which form a handcuff have controled this man. He is attracted by the modern materials. The golden particles symbolize money. The black figure now is separated into two parts which means he has given what he is supposed to do. What a shame! The reason I drew this painting is that I want to alarm people to be aware of the attraction of materials, they should always be themselves and hold on their dreams.

Remote Stare

The whole painting is separated into two parts. The left part is filled with warm color. In contrast, the right part is cold for the use blue and purple. Honestly speaking, the yellow figure is myself, I am staring the black building at my left which explained the title of this painting :Remote Stare. The second layer of meaning of the title is the huge eye in the sky. The eye is the attention of those who concerned about me in China. The blue triangles simblize the difficulties I'm facing in America, they look like pieces of knifes facing me and bloking me from moving forward. When I meet the difficulties, I'll ture my back and look at the black building, my home in China. My attention is focusing on the lamp at the left corner and the half-open door, both of which focus on the room inside. The small yellow figure is me when I was in China, surrounded by the warmth provided by my home. The green buildings connect the two worlds together.

Frank-A Frank Guy

Frank
Shixiong
Wang
China
Changchun
JiLin
Dream
Art
Confidence
Drawing
Art History
Creative
Love
Hands
America
Beijing
Pingpong
Hero
Vacation
Black
Blue
Green
Nature
Reading
Soda
Lettuce
Books
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French