# data[].attributes.body
Date of Completion: May 25, 2017
Materials Used: Water Color, Acrylic, Ink
Reflection: This was my final project of Level 2. I enjoyed this project very much because it pushed me out of my comfort zone. There were various different directions I could have gone, as we had the freedom to chose any materials to use and any subject to create a piece about. I loved experimenting with watercolor paint and the fact that I was able to create this piece with a 'loose hand' is a very big step because I often have a very controlled technique of drawing and painting.
I would consider my greatest strength within this piece to be the watercolor background. I was able to blend the colors together while still maintaining a vibrant background. One thing I struggled with was adding detail to the bird to make it seem more realistic and to stand out. I personally believe it would have looked cleaner if I avoided using color on the bird and just outlined it in black ink.
From this piece I learned the importance of using the correct amount of paint when adding small portions to a painting, as a little bit goes a long way. Spending time on the small details really helps to make the project appear more complete and realistic, which is something I would like to keep in mind for future projects.

# data[].attributes.body
Date of Completion: May 2, 2017
Materials Used: Colored Pencil, Charcoal Pencil, Graphite
Reflection: This piece was inspired by a photo of my brother looking over our farm. My brother, Jon, basically takes care of the farm himself and is very passionate about it. He has high hopes of the future and so many plans on ways to improve it. I chose to make the barn colored because it is the main focus of his ideas (as well as this art project). He is in color because he is alive with ideas and passion for what he does. The rest of the piece is black and white to represent the unfinished plans he has for the future.
My greatest strength in this piece was the barn. I spent a great deal of time paying attention to high and low lights in the color, as well as small details such as holes in the barn door and lines in the roof.
Once thing I struggled with was the yard space. I knew I wanted it to be open because that is what it was like in the actual photo taken of my brother on the farm, but because I did not add color to it it looks a bit plain to me. It could have been improved by adding more texture or variation in shading. However, overall I am very pleased with the outcome and would consider this to be my best artwork of the semester.

# data[].attributes.body
Date of Completion: March 24, 2017
Materials Used: Watercolor, Colored Pencil, Charcoal Pencil, Ebony Pencil
Reflection: For this piece we had to include watercolor paint and a portrait. I chose to use watercolor to fill in the background. The idea for this piece came from a history project my friend asked for help on. She needed me to draw a person being held by a giant hand. I used that idea and expanded it to create this image. The girl in this piece is dressed in bright, cheerful hues of pink, but is being held by a dark hand. This hand represents all the aspects of my life that I feel I have been controlled by. Each of the things labeled on the bracelets have impacted my choices–and therefore life– in one way or another.
My greatest strength on this project was the shadows and detail of the hand. I was able to make the hand appear more 3-D rather than like a flat image. I am very pleased with the way the hand turned out.
One thing I dislike about this piece is the background. I wanted the background to be simple, but reflecting back on it I realize how empty it looks. I wish I would have added more watercolor and texture to it...that would've made it more appealing in my opinion.

# data[].attributes.body
Date of Completion: February 19, 2017
Materials Used: Charcoal, Colored Pencil, Spray-paint, Chalk, Pen, Marker
Reflection: This piece is a favorite of mine because it was all based on experimenting. I used various layers and a lot of new materials i do not have much experience working with in order to create this project. My greatest strength was the color choice. I was able to pull all the different colors used in this together in order to make it look like a finished composition. Overall I am extremely pleased with the outcome.
My greatest weakness would be the expanse of negative space. I should have filled in the space more as there is a lot of areas that could have been more throughly covered, thus improving the whole project.
I learned the importance of filling up the space and spending time on the small details; because in the end it makes the piece more complete and appealing.

# data[].attributes.body
Date of Completion: January 26, 2017
Materials Used: Graphite, Ebony Pencil, Charcoal Pencil
Reflection: This was my first project of Level 2. Our assignment was to create the allusion of depth with shadows. I chose to do feathers because I wanted to challenge myself to do something I have not previously attempted. My greatest strength was the details on the feathers. I paid close attention to variations in low and highlights  un order to create the illusion of overlay and depth.
One thing I struggled with was establishing a light source within the piece. Establishing a light source where the whole picture is light and gradually gets darker as you go away from the light is important to create realistic shadows. It was difficult to decide where to make the light come from, but I finally decided to make it come from the top right corner. I wish I had made it more clear because I feel like the feathers would look more realistic.
From working on this piece, I learned that the areas where you emphasize highlights and shadows are very important. Also, it is important to be conscious of variations in high and low lights when trying to create a more realistic image.