Avery Watson

My sustained investigation was centered around transformation, change, and most importantly personal growth. I wanted to explore how I have changed as a person, who I am as a person, and who I am as an artist especially. This artwork is the perfect summation of all three of these inquiries. I had ideas for future projects, but I didn’t have a concrete idea for how I wanted this specific piece to turn out—in fact I didn’t actually know what this piece was going to be. So, for my digital sketch, there’s nothing here. It is quite literally a black page with white, diagonal letters receding into the distance; it simply asks the question, “WHERE DID THE GENIUS GO?????” A sort of double entendre as "GENIUS" could refer to the person (a genius) or the idea of genius (intelligence/creativity). This is a question I’ve asked myself for a while, because I always had this idea that when I was younger, I was a genius. When I was younger, I did not have all the resources, materials, and art supplies I have today, but I was able to use what little I had to make incredibly creative things. I used to make these paper animals—not like origami—similar to stuffed animals, but filled with paper. Now, obviously they weren’t realistic, but you could tell which animals they were, and I think they were pretty good for my age. I also think about how I was able to skip second grade (but I didn’t) purely because of how easily and quickly I grasped concepts—not to say that I can’t anymore. But I think it’s ironic that I eventually did skip my sophomore year of high school, but it had nothing to do with my intelligence. I simply took two summer classes. I often ponder on whether I think the technology in my life has done me more harm or good artwise. On one hand, the internet (especially YouTube) has made me branch out into different media and styles that I may never have tried. I’ve gotten into crocheting, sewing, using foam clay, oil pastels, and so much more. But on the other hand, I feel as though getting my first personal device in sixth grade created a space for envy of others’ talents and dissatisfaction with my own. That space had never been present before because I had never had anyone’s art to compare my own to. Regardless, the point of the piece is to convey these recurring, repetitive thoughts that I pressure myself with every time I create a piece. With every artwork I make, I feel the need to make something never-before-seen—to reinvent the wheel. I think this piece sums up who I think I am as an artist and a person.

We were told to make sketches and layouts for each of our upcoming projects. My sketches were always digital—this one included—however, I made no sketch for this project. Leaving only the question of “WHERE DID THE GENIUS GO?” left a lot to be desired. I wasn’t confined to what I was able to create and add to a simple canvas. I had plenty of ideas that didn’t make the final cut, but that I wish I had had more time to add and experiment with. This is kind of where I think I failed in the meaning of my piece. This was a moment to truly show genius and raw, unbridled potential, but I was too scared to make a mistake and ruin my piece. Even though the finished product isn’t as experimental as I liked, I did let go of some parts of my perfectionism by covering the background letters, letting the “WHERE” interact with my head, and overlapping the background with my portrait. I still wish I was more experimental with what I added to the piece—but at the same time I feel proud of the piece as it is.

As my portfolio ended, I concluded that transformation and change doesn't just happen to you; you must choose it.

As much as it’s hard to do and easy to forget, this class does not have to feel like a chore. I feel like this piece of advice is often given and just as often ignored. If you don’t prioritize creating art that truly makes you happy, you shouldn’t expect to enjoy the class or the work you make. At the end of the first semester of AP Art, we were given a sheet to reflect on the things we could do better for the next semester. One thing I really wanted to do was focus on creating something that fit in with my sustained investigation, but more importantly make art that truly excited me. Previously, I had drawn a dragon with oil pastels and colored pencil for the first time, simply because I wanted to. And it brought me so much joy. All throughout the second semester, I was creating pieces that had me smiling and feeling proud throughout the entire process of creating them. Art felt like art again and not another class, not another deadline, just art. Make your process fun and make your art you. And don’t procrastinate.