Project #1: Language End Report

In terms of my goals, I believe the project was overall successful. I made 16 records in the time allotted. I made 16 unique designs based on crowd sourced music genres. One of the drawbacks to the process was of course time. I paint fast and found waiting for one record to dry (in between layers) to be particularly frustrating. Especially if I was also listening to my own music (usually fast-paced classic rock), I paint to the speed of the music. This was compromised a little by working on multiple records at once. This of course, could feel a little over-whelming.

            This project also had the issue of my preconceived notions and attitudes towards a particular genre. It is hard to remain objective in a project associated with music, because of the emotional elements. There is one record in particular that I can think of, #9. I do not like this genre of music; therefore I made it a “disgusting” green color. Other factors could also sway my design process. I have a Children/Soundtrack station on my Pandora station for this project. The songs I listened to from this genre are so intimate with the movies they are from; it is difficult to disassociate them with something else. I wonder if someone else did this project how would they interpret the music? Like art, music is something that isn’t physical different from person to person, but is altered by perception. I feel if I repeated this process with someone helping randomize the music more, meaning something I haven’t heard, this issue could be easier avoided.

            In my process, I noted some things about my style as an artist. I tend to use similar colors: pink, orange, green, blue, purple, and black. It may be because I had the same colors mixed up already and used them out of convenience. But I use these colors often in my other work, so I obviously find these colors very pleasing. I also have this tendency to outline shapes and forms in my designs. I don’t know if this is relaxing for me to do this, or if there is some deeper meaning behind why I do it. I like the graphic quality the images appear to have, even though my style tends to border on the line between graphic and painterly. I believe this project was a great way to explore my psyche and become more ambitious with my abstract designs. These are no longer a quick doodle on a miniature canvas. They have a musical narrative driving the designs.

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