Noelle's Blog

  A little Confused  Acrylic on Wood  Chaos doesn't have to be conflicting. It can be confusing, uncomfortable, and even exciting. Figures stand on geometric shapes and paths. Legs sprint. Eyes watch. Stairs spiral. Where do they lead to? Where is everything going?  Going into this piece, I knew I wanted to create overlapping pathways and worlds on the canvas. I wasn’t sure what the finished piece would look like, but I envisioned it to be visually nonsensical yet perfectly balanced to me. I put the colors on the canvas, experimenting with what works together. I begin painting a spiraling staircase that will lead to somewhere; I just don’t know where.  I paint legs sprints to create a sense of motion.  As I continue, I struggle with resolving the negative space and the clashing of too many vibrant colors.  To resolve this, I use the eye motif and streaks of color to fill the empty space.  I also repaint the legs to make them look like they're...

Peering through the Keyhole (Thesis 2) Wood, canvas, acrylic paint It is uncomfortable to know you are being watched– judged and evaluated. Even in my own privacy, I feel a scrutinizing eye peering through, and the weight of others’ expectations burdens me. I created a sculptural wooden frame in the shape of a distorted keyhole, inviting viewers to look in. Behind the frame, a misshapen face stares back, reflecting how self-perception can be manipulated under the gaze of others. Oftentimes, I dismiss the uncanny discomfort that comes with this moment of observation. However, I can’t ignore how such unfamiliar judgments make me hesitate before I make a decision. These are my two idea and brainstorming sketches. I wanted to create a sculptural frame with a keyhole that has a distorted face looking at the viewer. I was inspired by the 3d paintings on unique canvases made by Elizabeth Murray. The canvas would be made out of wood, and the painting behind it would be on a normal canvas. As I...

  Chaos and Conflict (Thesis 1) Canvas paper, Acrylic paint In this large painting, I illustrate the emotional contradictions that arise when I try to untangle which emotions, desires, and aspects of myself are truly mine. A distraught figure slumps on a couch, overwhelmed by the opposing elements surrounding her. Delicate flowers emerge from the confusion, while structured honeycombs—symbols of order and stability—begin to melt into burning lava. Chaos flows, consuming the grass below. In trying to define myself, I become even more uncertain. This is my initial idea sketch. I wasn't sure about what colors and symbols to add, but the overall composition between the couch, flower, honeycombs, and lava is similar in my final. I wanted this painting to be large and compositionally interesting– I didn't want it to realistic or illustrative, I wanted to create my own atmosphere. In my final piece, I ditched the clock because I didn't think I was symbolically significant. I also ...

  Description  My honors art thesis will explore the contradictory nature of navigating life with true autonomy. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Psychology, individual autonomy refers “to the capacity to be one’s own person, to live one’s life according to reasons and motives that are taken as one’s own and not the product of manipulative or distorting external forces, to be in this way independent.” Thus, my pieces will concern themes of public scrutiny and observation because the consequential feelings of feeling watched can restrict one’s ability to act authentically. Within this idea exists a contradiction between internal autonomy, what one wants to do, and the external manifestation of conformality or hesitation. I question if true autonomy can exist if others perceive you differently than you do yourself. Furthermore, I will dive into the internal conflict that prevents one from being their “own person”. Oftentimes, opposing emotions and traits compete in the ...