Peer Critique of Bella, Meghan, & Marissa (by Ava Passehl)

 Bella Dayrit (AP Drawing)

Materials: gouache, acrylic top coat, pencil, watercolor, no reference photo 

Processes: experimentation with gouache, complementary colors, 

Ideas: inspired by Klimt's The Kiss painting, layers of self (self-acceptance, same person accepting their past)  

Critique of Drawing Skills: Bella's use of light and shading is reflecting in the bright spots on her subjects' bodies and the soft dark areas between the subjects and in the dark regions under the hair. Her use of mark-making in skillfully evident as the difference in line thickness and line hue emphasize the areas of light and dark where black and white usually would. The compositional space and use of line draws your eye directly to the figures then around the image thanks to the smokey mist surrounding the subjects. 

Meghan Dellose (AP 2-D Design)

Materials: cotton balls, newspaper, acrylic, Adobe Photoshop, printer paper 

Processes: Meghan wanted to use photoshop to create realism/brightness in the cigarette and its colors. She also wanted to portray the shift from healthy lungs to poor lungs with the shift in gradient underneath the smoke of the cigarette. 

Ideas: About cigarette/nicotine addiction (a common addiction) but using bright colors for a colorful and unexpected twist (for motivation to quit their addiction). 

Critique of 2-D Skills: My eye is drawn in a line from the bottom tip of the cigarette to the edge of the smoke, then around the background to notice all the hand-cut geometric shapes. Texture is a key variable in this piece, as the 3-D smoke provides depth to the image. The juxtaposition of light to dark reflects the quick and dangerous change from health to addiction, while the oddly bright cigarette makes the viewer question such a happy contrast to the repetitive dark background. 

Marissa Quercetti (AP Drawing) 

Materials: reference picture, watercolor, liquid acrylic, Sharpie 

Processes: simplistic yet chaotic style, finding reference image, cover foam-core board with acrylic and gouache, dripping liquid acrylic rom the top, splattering watercolor/gouache for freckling, drawing heart 

Ideas: portrayal of bipolar disorder, difference in colors to represent difference in mood swings, how the mental effects the physical 

Critique of Drawing Skills: Marissa's attention to detail is reflected in the difference in line variety/thickness, creating depth and visual stimulation when looking at the heart. The gradient in colors for the background and the drips reflect the sudden change between extremely contrasting emotions. The surface, though flat, seems three-dimensional as the heart looks like it is sheltered underneath a waterfall of color. The spacial placement of the heart at the center of the piece draws your eyes inward then outward to notice the drips and freckles in the background.