Statue
Gene Y.
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My work for the past few months has been leaning into the study of light and shade, heavily influenced by fine art. I went to the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts for 3 years where I took an Art History course for 2 years. I am an avid fan of museums and frequent them quite a bit.
I like to see my work as a study of art history, by closely looking at and memorizing techniques I see in the pieces I like. I am entirely self-taught, and even though I was a student in a performing arts school who studied art history, I never had the opportunity to expand upon my own artist techniques. I want to learn and surround myself with art history, along with expanding my skill and artist forms. I want to do more than just look at a reference and copy it verbatim. Though I am able to look at an image, or reference, and exactly replicate it on paper, that is the best of my ability. Because I lack an actual base and understanding for art and design, I am only able to copy what I see, even if I am able to do that well, I am not necessarily able to form a piece fully out of my own mind. That is why I ultimately want to study artist techniques as much as I can, so I am a well rounded artist.
I respect fine art, and I hope to one day be at a level of proficiency that closely resembles the pieces that made fine art into what it is. I want people to look at my work and feel like they are looking at something more than just pencil on paper. I have been casually drawing since I was a child, always taking more interest in it than my peers. In school and social circles, I have always been dubbed as ‘the artist’ and that makes me happy. The idea that people know me for my work, even if they don't know exactly who I am, makes me appreciate art, and the time I put into it. My art makes me feel like I am worth something. Like I can actually accomplish something. Like I actually have potential. I keep drawing and creating things because by doing so, I create a name for myself. When people see my work, they acknowledge that I actually have some potential. That is a feeling that I never want to lose. And even with my current skill set, I know I still have so much room to improve and so much more I need to learn.
The shading aspect of my drawings is by far my favorite. The shapes of lines, the weight, and the way certain forms can entirely change the flow of a drawing. I like looking at the way it can all tie a drawing together. Even without proper art education, just by looking at the art of masters, I have learned to appreciate the art of shading. When I shade my pieces, the feeling of creation starts flowing through me. When I take time to shade my work, that is when I feel like I am actually creating art. The process of shading feels like the process of creation. The perception of light and dark and how it can entirely form a piece, never fails to amaze me.
That is why I favor pencil sketches and portrait studies recently. The process for these drawings is always so fun to me, it's always fascinating to see a drawing come to life in a way, just because of some lines or some mere scribbles. It truly makes me appreciate art and how simple yet powerful some of it can be.
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When I draw I feel I have worth. People look at me differently after they see my work. They treat me like I have potential and am capable of being a maker. This is the feeling I strive for. I want to be seen, learn and improve as a maker.
