Senior Mastery Video
Giana Montante’s Artist Biography
Development of Storytelling and Character Design
My name is Giana Montante and I am currently a senior Advanced Art Major at the Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology. My senior mastery primary mediums were digital art and acrylic painting. My focus in senior year was to delve and research into character design for furthering my knowledge of creating my own story. The Advanced Art Major has given me the opportunity to know this is the career I want to pursue further in college.
Creating my own story is something I have worked on since middle school. Writing a book series along with drawing a comic series of the same story. Using my mastery as a way to further draw the characters and the backgrounds. The story started with inspiration from other shows. I decided to make a comic as a way to use characters
I had created and further my skills in digital art and portraiture. Shortly after starting the comic I started the first book and have revised both since, still unfinished. During junior year I started the finished version of the comic and hope to finish the first 100 episodes this summer revising the sketches I already have.My junior year was where I was most involved in art competitions, such as Art Fields Jr., Burroughs and Chapin, State Fair. As well as applying to the Myrtle Beach Airport Student Competition. Submitting many of the pieces in my mastery. While at the Academy in the Advanced art major I have been a member of many clubs and in many activities. Theatre has also been a major part of my life. Being the International Thespian Society President is a title I have held close to my heart. The theater class yet not a major anymore sadly allows me to express myself and understand theater better. I finally got to learn some parts of tech, such as lighting, sound, design, helping middle schools with their sets, and our own robotics team. I have committed to Coastal Carolina University to start in fall, 2024. At Coastal I hope to double major in Studio Art to further my comic and a BA in Theatre continuing to act and do technical design. I chose CCU because it is close to my home allowing me to help with my family's business. As well as Coastal has both majors I want to work in.
Development of Storytelling and Character Design
Description of Exhibition
In this exhibition of mastery, I will paint characters and places used in my comic. These pieces will be of characters and places often seen in my comic or hint to the background of the story, showing a critical thinking process. Each painting will key in on details to work on space, line, form, and color. I want to work on interior and exterior design through breadth work looking at the Renaissance era to enhance my concentration pieces. My concentration pieces will focus on portraiture and facial features, showing my ability to portray different features. Using a sense of space in the backgrounds to balance and enhance my pieces. I plan on continuing my research of my Junior year Artists. After much thought through research in Junior year I have found the best medium for me is Acrylic on canvas. It is the quickest medium I can use. I plan on my main canvas size being 30” x 24.” Using acrylic on canvas my pieces will mean I am working in 2D. My goal for my senior year is to convey the story and characters and build a grasp at painting while continuing to add more details in the size, as well as staying cohesive.
Rationale
This mastery was chosen to help improve my comic through research, practice, and writing. Through research I would learn more vocabulary. After researching I was able to learn much about vocabulary, techniques, and different artists. I wanted to build skill in digital media and acrylic painting. In digital media, I wanted to sketch my characters and have them be shown. With acrylic, there was to be more finished pieces. As well as having sketches in a sketchbook. The overall goal was to have my characters shown and build on their character building. Character development developed into storytelling, learning how to tell a story. Rising action, climax, resolution all have important parts of the story. As well as the backstory of the characters before the story starts. All this is why I chose to do storytelling and character design as my mastery.
Research and Annotated Bibliography
Development of Modern Storytelling and Character Design
Starting with a proposal of Senior Mastery to now, not much has changed. My Mastery title boils down to storytelling. The assignments are to make art, but give meaning to every piece. Document a thoughtful process and present each piece at the end of the year. As a whole the Mastery has to connect throught the art and the writing. Researching topics to use in class for my personal development is a stepping stone on my professional path, as well as something to look back on later. Each week I hand in product, continuing to improve in my skill and knowledge in art everyday.
​
Storytelling as my mastery came from having my own characters and wanting to tell their story. The characters origin was in 2018, then recreated in 2020. This mastery looks at the characters and develops who they are. Each character has their own story, and the story is shown through both Ariella and Kerigans perspectives. The digital breath works are a progress before a painting. The digital pieces can be of the characters, backgrounds, or places in the story. Paintings are a more in depth of the digital works.
Everything together makes a story for the viewer to piece like a puzzle. I mix up the pieces a little. There is not a point A to point B when it comes to world building. The artist creates the world, yet it does not start when they characters are born, and does not have to end when the characters die. Nor does the story. The writing and art can have flashbacks. At the end of the year I will put all the pieces in the best order for the presentation.
​
Forest Memories, the comic, starts in Ariella’s Sophomore year. Ariella and Kerigan meet before highschool, but do not become friends till Ariellas Sophomore year. My characters are going to be in a comic and written in books after graduating from High School. That is the next step on the path. The story is about them, how they date, go to college, and get married. At the moment focusing on showing details apart of the first sixth of the series. When they are just friends. As well as showing other characters in the story. Both characters have had close family pass. Ariella lost her parents when she was just a baby, but sometimes in the comic she has moments when she wishes her aunt were her biological mom. Her aunt has always been there, yet she feels different from others her age. She loves her aunt so much. Kerigan’s father shut down after his wifes death, leaving Kerigan with his aunt and uncle. This led him to stay with them till the present story. Kerigan’s father wants to reconnect with his son. There is an internal struggle in Kerigan’s head because of this. He does not know what he wants just yet. He ends up talking with Ariella. That the comic has some internal conflict of the characters.
​
Earlier last school year, in November 2022, when thinking of mastery, and writing for my book there was a question. Is there any conflict in my story? Then I reread what I’d had. There was conflict. It came up as an internal conflict. There are not many if any external conflicts or screaming. My writing style and a choice I made was for communication to happen in my work. In a comic a feeling can be shown in a thought bubble and expression (McCloud). Body language and expression are one of my interests and key learning points for my mastery and AP class. Another question that came up. How does an artist create something from their brain and make it into reality? My answer was to research. Sketch out the thing. From outside landscapes to people, animals and places, fire, anything can be found as a reference. Going out and getting a reference is even better. Taking a thought and adding a reference can help the artist create accurately (Compton).
Elizabetta Sirani, one of the first women artists of her time, from Italy. As well as my influential artist. Starting at only 12 years old she created a name for herself. She had incredible skill, from that her art work was known throughout her country. People would come from all over to visit her paintings. Each of her paintings is original, yet they all go together like a story. Using similar colors of red, white, blue, and dark brown to black. Her techniques were influenced by Lavinia Fontana, the crowned first women of art in Italy from 1552. Sirani used oil paints in layers to create her pieces using wet on wet paint. Her pieces were meant to convey life to the viewers. Unlike others her pieces were created very quickly. In a form she used Chiaroscuro to create her pieces. That gives the viewer a focus on the character in the piece. Her pieces inspire my own through her use of depth in the face and how she conveys the frame of the subject. As well as her use of detail
Chiaroscuro was a term I’d heard for the first time, last year during the senior mastery presentations.
Chiaroscuro means light-dark. Allowing the artist to key in on a certain subject in the painting. The background is darker, mostly black background. I’d realized it was in my artwork. In my now product 6. The background is a dark green, the character August is surrounded by a metaphorical fire of emotion, which is only in her hand. It is a term I’d like to teach to the juniors if they do not know it. Wet on wet paint is what I like to do till the paint dries. Working with acrylic that happens quickly. Using certain products that can slow it down. I have not tested them yet. In my work I can work quickly on one area to get it finished. If I want to save my paint from drying and losing the color I need I use a damp paper towel to secure moisture.
​
Techniques I’ve learned when it comes to prepping my canvas with Underpainting. Try using a bright color under a duller one. Using a brown underpainting (Handel). As well as opposite colors from the color wheel. Adding more layers yet keeping them flat. Keeping the paint flat was something I struggled with last year, it was how I mixed the paint.
​
Mixing the paint is the first step of painting. Using a premixed solution with another color has helped in consistency in Senior year. There are also less pieces of dried paint that made my canvas bumpy. I could work with the 6 primary and secondary colors as well black and white to create hues in a breathwork. Mrs. Compton had a wonderful chart from college they did to learn how. My most recent way is the fastest for me in my Senior Mastery at this time.
​
Some artists say things are made up of shapes. If you can find the shapes it can help you to create a sketch. Form is a lot of shapes, like semi circles, rectangles, triangles (Pike 35). Even if the art is not exactly clear and blurred, the brain can still make up shapes and identify what the picture may be. Certain parts of her work make a painting more life-like. Pike uses gray blue instead of just white to the eyes (Pike 68). When she sketches she is very minded of where her brush strokes will be. Getting my own images as references has been somewhat fun. Classmates ask for references as well. When walking I take pictures of possible needed photos. It helps with my perception of depth, shadow, and I am able to use the photos. Using photos of other people helps to see different proportions, because bodies can be different.
​
Using certain lighting techniques on a figure draws in the viewer's eye. A bloom of paint puts a lot on at once and gives paint freedom (Handel). Depending on the piece this could be perfect for a background or even for shading, a circle bloom could be a bubble warping the view. View and placement is very important. Working with a place in real life, that is already done, even a face. Getting the proportions correct would be the artist's job. Depending on where the artist places things. Different brushes hold different amounts of paint and liquid. Light thin Rigger brushes can do calligraphy writing. Thicker Filbert brushes are great when having a large space to fill on a canvas (Pike).
Filling space, form, different bodies and height differences was something I worked on in the summer for my characters. They are all different heights. Making a reference for future pieces was extremely important to be able to look back to. Around the art room in the 4th block I still need to get a group of people most like my characters for photos, it will help when I do a group painting of my characters. I’d like to possibly use my wood piece from last year, using the other side. Then it would be another chance to work with wood, and improve from last year.
​
After getting a canvas sketched out and under-painted, an artist starts painting with the colors they will end up with. With the underpainting it allows colors to pop at the top. Red helps purple to pop. As well as a different color ensures the whole canvas layer is covered and has full coverage. That was an issue in the past; there were too few layers and it made the painting illuminate through. Full coverage paintings are better. When painting faces there's the underpainting, a base color, then depth is needed. In many of my paintings I use a green underpainting for skin tones.
​
Working with digital art is different from canvas or even pencil and paper. There is the advantage of layers and an undo button. There are different programs to choose from. The programs and apps are similar, some easier than others. In the summer of 2022 I purchased an Ipad and Apple Pencil to allow myself to improve in a technical way. Prior I’d used my phone, IBIS Paint and either a cheap pencil or mainly my finger. It was not the best way to make digital art. The pieces were still good but not show stopping. Shortly after getting the Ipad, I purchased Procreate. Procreate has been something I’ve learned and worked with over my time at AAST. It improved my art profusely. With Procreate you can move parts of the piece easier than in IBIS Paint. Allowing you to make things more realistic to a human form. Making hundreds of digital pieces also helps in anatomy.
Procreate has a feature that helps a lot with skin tone. It saves the colors. There is different folders, each character can have their own folder. The app can also make folders from a piece of work. When sketching you can lighten the opacity, alike other apps. As well as Procreate has different options from making the layer the opposite on the color wheel, darkening the layer, lightening the layer, and other options. Procreate can change the hue, saturation and brightness. Using that feature can help keep colors cohesive. There are other features like textured brushes in the brush library. It can help make certain part of pieces more realistic, like trees, or outside elements, brick/ house and exterior textures.
​
My comic is done through digital art so it is important for part of the mastery to be in digital art. The paintings in my mastery are to build on the skill of painting. Painting has helped my shading inside digital art. Looking at references where the sun hits certain ways it helps to know what shading goes where. Digital art has helped with anatomy as well as my sense of line. How an artist uses body language can show what is happening in the scene of a comic or in a piece of art (McCloud 76). From how the head is positioned, to arms and fingers. Details mean something and should have thought behind them. Certain features can be for younger or older characters. After facial and body expressions McCloud talked about speech bubbles. Some words can be emphasized for readers (McCloud).
​
Composition can be so simple, the brain sees shapes and can conjure up a person. Adding more shapes gives another image. A person and then hair brush are drawn simply yet the brain understands what they are. (Hosegood 77). Working with anatomy and learning rules of the body is important. Some artists look at bones, bone structure, and mussel. How it breaks down and connects with ligaments in knees and elbows. Different profiles, like side profiles, have half a face, but more hair. The neck and shoulders are also shown in the side profile. Sin uses construction lines (Sin 52.) With the lines, one section can be viewed at a time. Shown, the artist worked on the nose. Having a triangle shape connected to a square where the upper lip would start. Sin is able to block and start shading where light would not be. Leaving space for highlight. In other sections Sin works with ears. Working with different features of my characters could be a breathwork. Getting the proportions accurate. As well as working with shading and highlighting still.
​
In Junior year I experimented with many different mediums. Figuring out which were the fastest for myself. Working with both painting and digital art I can focus my time in different ways. Digital Art is something I worked with as a main medium. For many years. Painting is something I need to learn more in depth. In the past year it has become one of my main focuses and mediums. After junior year digital art gets to shine as well. I included digital art into my mastery because I have used it well, as well as with a weekly assignment, I cannot make a painting in a week.
Stepping into the end . The senior mastery is not finished just yet, and there is still much to learn. College is the next step. Learning the most 21st century skill since starting at the Academy. Developing my knowledge and experience in the elements and principles more with every piece. Finding inspiring artists that stayed for my senior year. Refining my skills in digital art and continuing to improve. When acrylic is used, overcoming and researching new techniques and ways to paint more efficiently. From Underpainting to the final touches. Afterschool and on weekends utilizing my time by either working, or planning ahead. Choosing my next step.
Works Cited
Compton, Annette. “Drawing from the mind - painting from the heart. 12 essential lessons to becoming a better artist.” New York, Watson-Guptill Publications, November 1, 2002.
Fisher, Susan. “Lavinia Fontana.” https://nmwa.org/art/artists/lavinia-fontana/ Washington DC, National Museum Of Women In The Arts, 2023.
Handell, Albert. “Painting the Landscape in Pastel.” New York, Watson-Guptill Publications, 2000.
Hosegood, Betsy. “Figure & Portrait.” New York, Watson-Guptill Publications, 2000.
McCloud, Scott. “Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels.” New York, HarperCollinsPublishers, 2006.
Pike, Joyce. “Oil Painting: A Direct Approach.” Ohio, North Light, an imprint, December, 1992.
Sin, Oliver. “Drawing The Head For Artists: Techniques for Mastering Expressive Portraiture.” Massachusetts, Quarry Books, 2019.
Annotated Bibliography
Development of modern storytelling and character design
How can I use Character Design and World Building to show Americana life?
Drawing and Painting
Compton, Annette. “Drawing from the mind - painting from the heart. 12 essential lessons to becoming a better artist.” New York, Watson-Guptill Publications, November 1, 2002.
Pg. Contents, 74,74, 26, 58-65.
​
Compton wrote this book about lessons in line, mood and color. Starting off there is the contents of the book. The content is great when a reader is immediately looking for one thing. Compton researched and created 12 lessons that walk through different art terms. The main focus through the lessons is line. Looking at Compton's work she starts with an image. In an example she took a photo of cats. From a sketch into a watercolor medium. She started very light, then added darker vivid colors to finish the piece.
​
In other sections of Comptons book, there are different lessons that can help artists at other times. The artist shows different mediums from pencil and ink to watercolor. There's undetailed and studies the artist did, then some are very detailed. On Page 64 Compton talks about Mind work. Taking a photo in the same medium and trying to get the same energy as the original. Then she talks of Mind- Heart work where she has people pose for her for 15 minutes. Trying and using expressive strokes on the piece. Think of brush strokes rather than colors.
​
The work stands out for how Compton uses lines. In my works, I also like to think of the brush- strokes as I do them, making them intentional. Taking time to continue learning from this book, as it has many lessons. The artist does different studies in similar mediums. The only thing is Compton does watercolor and my medium is Acrylic. Her use of detail is important and different to each piece.
Brushes and Techniques
Pike, Joyce. “Oil Painting: A Direct Approach.” Ohio, North Light, an imprint, December, 1992.
Pg. 6-9, 16-18, 42-43.
​
This book is about painting, and how paintings happen. Pike begins with a description of different brushes. Then onto brushwork and technique. Pike uses strokes of the brush like handwriting. She uses large brushes with light strokes on the backgrounds. Sometimes she uses a drip technique. Later, looking at one of her pieces on page 42-43, she started with big, loose brush strokes. Then defined areas, making shapes and adding in flowers. Compton sees the piece as shapes and colors.
​
Overall the book is helpful when it comes to explaining a work, but my works are not exact to hers. Her style is different from mine. Learning from her colorwork, like in page 42. The white stands out from the background. Pike’s composition has its own page. She plans out her piece beforehand. Making sure things are where she wants them. Focal point is the page after, she likes having patterns in some pieces. Having color and texture were important to having eye’s move around.
​
The book fits in with my topics and with how I am painting. Some of Pikes pieces are more detailed and fit in with my mastery more. Specifically her landscapes. Her use of color is at a high level, as well as her shadow and light. She’s able to take real photos and recreate them in her style, which is consistent.
Portraiture
Sin, Oliver. “Drawing The Head For Artists: Techniques for Mastering Expressive Portraiture.” Massachusetts, Quarry Books, 2019.
Pg. 26, 30, 34, 46-47.
​
Sin wrote his book about portraiture. Sins portraits are very realistic. He uses basic techniques of hatching and crosshatching. As well as line shape and form as basic elements. Sin puts shape and form together to create the faces, then adds in depth. He looks at the light and shadow of the face to contribute to realism. Value is a whole page, value is the lightness or darkness of the tone. Sin suggests working on individual elements, then a whole element.
​
Portraiture is something I would like to work on in my mastery. Specifically getting proportions correct. His medium is different from mine. Sins proportion and realism are incredible, his work would go well into a portion of my mastery. Using breathwork to learn how to draw my characters more proportionally, and detailed. I do want to keep a cartoonish look to the characters. Sins book is good for a lesson on proportions.
​
This source is for anyone who wants to learn more about portraiture, like myself. It was written recently, in 2019. Art 1 students can get a good sense of Elements and Principles, older art students can recap the elements. There is also talking of hats, hair on models heads, and facial hair. Sin used different facial expressions from the same model to show versatility.
Underpainting and Acrylic
Hosegood, Betsy. “Figure & Portrait.” New York, Watson-Guptill Publications, 2000.
Pg. 22-23, 76-77, 126-129.
​
This artist has a technique called a bloom when watercolor floods, the color ends up being deeper. Hosegood starts with a brown- red base. She delicately blends wet with wet technique for skin tones. A shortcut she uses is dry brushing to get a different texture. Composition is important because it ties into what’s going on in the piece. In another piece she shows a sketch of directly where the light is. The light source helps show where the focal point is.
​
Technique goes into my mastery well. Learning the phrase bloom can come in use later. As well as using a red-brown underpainting. Lighting techniques are an important topic to learn as an artist, improving helps the viewer's eye on pieces. Hosegood works with both watercolor and acrylic, I only work in acrylic paints for my mastery of traditional mediums. The techniques she uses are still crucial for any artist to understand.
​
“Figure & Portraiture '' does not go over many topics, but key’s in on specifics inside painting. This helps the reader further comprehend the topic. Using this book again in the future will be something I will do. This book is an excellent recommendation for other artists. Hosegood goes over underpainting, phrases, as well as lighting.
Comic Drawing
McCloud, Scott. “Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels.” New York, HarperCollinsPublishers, 2006.
Pg 158-163.
​
Straight away, looking into world building, this book is shown as a comic. Into the section called ‘world building,’ it talks about showing different parts of the comic world. Artists can show a shot of a character in a pose. A character's goals can be shown. Close ups and different angles are important. The artist having a goal in each piece is important as well as a mood. As well as using readers' senses.
​
This specific section goes very well into my mastery, as I work on story building. The five senses part was a good part to look at continuously. Making an image of a background that can be zoomed in on will be important for backgrounds in the comic. Five good tips were to continue a panel going down, getting closer to an object, an off center angle, less word bubbles, and a sense of depth. Which can be done inside of artwork made in the Mastery.
​
McCloud is very good outside of that chapter. Other chapters are more about making an actual comic. Those chapters would be important for when I make the actual comic. The Mastery is the world building behind a comic.
​
Story Writing
Wolk, Douglas. “All of the Marvels.” New York, Penguin Press, 2021.
Pg 21, 98/99, 178/179.
​
Douglas made this book about how all Marvel comics came to be. Built on story building and consistency. Marvel comics are different from other types of comics. They don’t stay on the same path, the author says others should try for the same, but in the way of being original. To trust yourself in your process. Most of the comic storylines have an underlying tone. Sometimes characters you’d think were not a main character get their own story line.
​
Marvel and DC are their own giant companies with many characters. This helps in the way I am creating a story. If the book had talked more about the origin of the whole branch of Marvel company, then it would work with my mastery, but it did not. Some characters come from legends or folklore. Stories are lessons that are talked about. My question is, how did Stan Lee make everything connect?
​
While giving a lot of information and background on Marvel characters, it was not what I was looking for. My story has a good amount of characters, so I can look into how stories connect. Some characters get a story of their own. That would not be exactly a part of my mastery though. Overall not the perfect source for me, could work for someone else.
​
Color Theory
Ames, Jim. “Color Theory: Made Easy.” New York, Watson-Guptill Publications, 1996.
Pg 4-16, 70.
​
Color theory has to do with understanding of color, how colors interact. Color has to do with our brains, through a prism, same as a rainbow. There are primary colors and secondary colors. Hue is what makes a color the color it is. Depending on where it is on a color wheel. Value is the lightness or darkness of a color. Saturation is the intensity of the shade.
Color theory is something that I struggle with inside my art, learning more will be helpful for my mastery and for any artist. Knowing how to specifically make a color more vibrant or have colors match is important to pull in viewers. Color theory can also improve vocabulary. The knowledge of color theory can also improve composition in pieces.
​
Ames has good credibility. Different areas of what an artist is painting, from people to landscapes. Color theory is also an important key to learn and understand well as an artist. Catching back up and recapping with the book as the year goes on will be important. 1996 was almost three decades ago, but this would be an important source to read up on, when learning how colors work in the brain.
Backgrounds and Elements in Principles
Handell, Albert. “Painting the Landscape in Pastel.” New York, Watson-Guptill Publications, 2000. Pg 48, 52, 94-95.
Handell does different backgrounds in pastel. Looking at his techniques, he uses different lighting techniques. On page 52, he used flat light and rim light around a cactus. The artist has a clear path of where the sun is coming from. Looking at another piece on page 48, he is able to show shadow from the tree to the ground and on the house, the sun shines from above past the house. Handell shows trees very naturally, the branches lay just right, the shadow and light make them pop.
​
Furthering my knowledge in the elements is a continuous part of my mastery research. Learning about different lighting types came from Handell. Different pieces of his show the lights, same as my pieces, the type of lighting from outside, to inside light source changes. Learning how to make lighting more natural will be a focus of mine.
​
Handell's book is something I’d share with someone researching lighting in artwork. Blending and texture is talked about, furthering the knowledge of elements and principles. The source is 2 decades old, so not exactly up to date, but the lessons stick. The older sources go further into detail than newer ones. Overall the source is a recommendation.
​
Objects in Art
Herberholz, Barbara. “Artists Paint ... Fantasy.” Arts & Activities, vol. 152, no. 4, Dec. 2012, pp. 23–24. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com /linkprocessor/plink ?id=574247fb- 7c79-30f4 -9647-c909797edcb0.
​
The artist listed the materials she used, but states artists can use anything. Using pencil and paper to start and sketch, then went in with blending Oil pastels and crayons. The artist used chiaroscuro making the background of black, then the figure is multi-colored. The motivation of the piece was to inspire and make viewers think. The objects being animals, and fruits, they turn into something new. Leonardo Da Vinci inspired this artist.
​
From the article, it shows one piece, the medium is different from the one I use in my mastery, but the piece says a lot. There are different elements and principles mixed together. They got a direction from Da Vinci making fantasy animals out of those of real animals. Herberholz took that into their work. I could look further into Da Vinci's work.
​
Herberholz talks about the use of objects in a piece to continue telling the story of what is happening. The objects can be fruit, animals, clocks, they say something. There is vocabulary the artist can use. I’d recommend this source as something to read, but maybe not for a research paper.
Comics
Eliopulos, Andrew, et al. “Painting the Stars.” School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 7, July 2023, pp. 28–31. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=d32d3f43-29 1a-30b5-a1a3-661cb5cddc99.
​
This article is about 3 different artists, for the source I use the 1st artist. Deb Lee is the artist the author wrote about first. Lee is an illustrator, making her own comic and story. The source art is very fluid and she uses monotone to make her comics. In her youth, Lee thought being a Graphic Novelist was something she could not do. Still, she loved them, and reading them. Her comic is about a diverse group of high school students. She uses Procreate to make her comics, one of her characters represents a part of her culture to her.
​
Lee’s work is a step past my mastery, her work is a comic. Researching her as an individual could be important. How she came up with her characters and world building. Finding a comic artist was important for my mastery research because that is what I want to do as a part of my Art journey. The whole article was similar to the comic I am making. Complex characters are something that interest me for my own mastery building. More research into Lee could be apart of my future.
​
Eliopulos article is less than a page long, so I would not suggest it to others. The source is recent and up to date. The whole article did not pertain to my mastery, using the 1st part was perfect for me, as she is a comic artist. There is not any vocabulary, but that was underweighted as the information worked well.
.png)
Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki has created all his works in Japan. Miyazaki’s company Studio Ghibli is widely known, and a major influence to many generations. His story’s use old folklore, tradition, and create unique inspiring stories. Studio Ghibli falls under film animation and the style is so distinctive, it is easily recognizable to be Miyazaki’s. Miyazaki still makes the time to make more films today, and is in the process of Hayao Miyazaki, Ponyo, Start: May 2006 End/ one now, because of how much he loves it, his release: June 28, 2009 Toonz films make it clear how much he is devoted to
his work
Miyazaki uses complementary colors of oranges and reds against the blue’s to make the car the main focal point. The lights being bright then fading drives attention where he wants it. His line art is not black lines, except on the people. Miyazaki also uses depth and proportion to make the car look closer. Ponyo and the waves look like they’re behind the road/ mountain. Miyazaki retells old folklore and uses stories to tell new ones. All of his stories have the theme/ a war to show he is against it. The stories tell how it drives people and families away from each other. In Ponyo we never see Sosuke’s father, but he is in the navy. Ponyo is the oldest, it shows how parents put more responsibilities and rules on older children at times. Ponyo’s father is against the wars going on and holds back on her going to the surface. This came from Hans Christan Andersons story The Little Mermaid.
Miyazaki is my first choice because he was the first major artist in my life. It is so interesting how he puts so many details in his stories. His work is widely recognizable. I aspire to have a consistent style. Ponyo came out when I was little, and was one of the movies I remember from my childhood, as well as The Little Mermaid. Now I know they’re tied together. Sea and ocean themes fascinate me, many stories and artwork have them included. I have a strong connection with the sea.
I love his portrayal of the sea, the colors, him actually making the sea alive. He can show through a kids perspective of how they'd see under water, different from the little mermaid. More bright, less frightening. I also love how he can take some known stories, and put some elements together, but then make something so original. I would love continuing to make my own style relevant and obvious in my work.
Elisabetta Sirani
Elisabetta Sirani worked in Bologna, Italy. The city was widely progressive for women. She was able to paint quickly and that got the attention of many people. Sirani was able to support her whole family at 19. She was able to teach many people how to paint. Her skills came from her father, who was a painter before her. She used Christ and portraits of people in her work.
Elisabetta Sirani, Baptism of Christ, 1658. Oil on canvas, 4 by 5 meters. Church of Bologna, church of san Girolamo certosa.
This was one of her most famous works. She works with contrast of blues and then deep red or cream colored clothes. Sirani’s works have lots of details in each piece. Sirani puts a lot of Christian views and biblical portraits in her work. Like many did in the Renaissance era. She made over 90 pieces in around 11 years. At the time that was widely popular. Her work style was of the renaissance era, and always included people in them. She also often had lots of deep reds and blues as a continuous detail.
I was looking over famous artists and she came up. She sparked my interest because she is from Italy and I have Italian ancestors. I enjoy world history as well. I also found it interesting how ahead of the time Bologna was. Her works are also the style I would like to be able to do as well as other styles.
Bartolomeo Montagna
Bartolomeo Montagna was an Italian renaissance artist. Alive from 1450 to 1523. He trained/ went to school in Vicenza. Montagna worked for the church of San Bartolomeo. He had influences from the teachers around him. Tword 1500 his work became more dramatic and his work had to do a lot with biblical references. Although he died young he didn't have many life events.
Bartolomeo, Saint Justina of Padua, 1490. Oil on wood, 19 1/2 x 15 1/8 in. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Lots of Italian renaissance art had to do with religion and Montagna continues that. His use of green really contradicts others' work from the time. His dark background really helps pop that green. Montagna also uses red and deep oranges which are complimentary colors. The lines and small details are so well done. Especially in the way that it's not supposed to look like a person but resemble one and he does that so well in his work.
Lots of Italian works like Siranis use blues and reds, what stood out to me was he used green. I hadn’t seen that much so this piece really caught my eye. I would love to go see this and more of his work in person. The piece above stood out to me because it reminds me of my style and how I'm closely getting there. Before I researched it I didn’t know she was a historical religious woman. As I researched her/ the meaning behind the painting it pulled at my heart in a good way. I felt more of a connection to his work. I very much admire his work and will be looking into his work more in the future.
Works Cited
Artcyclopedia.com Ediors. “Elisabetta Sirani.” The Artcyclopedia.com Website, 2015.
Artherstory.com Editors. “Elisabetta Sirani.” The ArtHerstory.com Website, 2019.
Artvee.com Editors. “Bartolomeo Montagna.” The Artvee.com Website, 2020.
Medium.com Editors. “Miyazaki’s Beautiful Antiwar Dreams.” The Medium.com Website, 2015.
NewYorkTimes.com Editors. “Hayao Miyazaki Prepares to Cast One Last Spell.” New York City, NewYorkTimes.com Website, 2021.
NGA.com Editors. “Bartolomeo Montagna.” The NationalGalleryofArt.com Website, 2022.
NMWAHome.com Editors. ”Elisabetta Sirani.” NationalMuseumofwomeninthearts.com Website, 2015.
Pluggedin.com Editors. ”Ponyo.” PluggedIn.com Website, 2008.
Repainthistory.com Editors. “Elisabetta Sirani.” Repainthistory.com Website, 2022.
StudioGhibli.com Editors. “Ponyo. Studio Ghibli.” StudioGhibli.com Website, 2008.
ThoughtCo.com Editors. ”Women Artists of the Seventeenth Century: Renaissance and Baroque.” ThoughtCo.com Website, 2017.
Toonz.com Editors. ”Toonz Software Used by Studio Ghibli.” Toonz.com Website, 2016.
Wikiart.com Editors. Elisabetta Sirani. Wikiart.com Website, 2016.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Value Study
​
​
Value Study
7”x9.5” and 8.5”x11”
Graphite and Ink on paper
These two pieces came together to show how I worked in learning value. Taking and converting my original reference photos into black and white. Starting the pencil piece with a very light hand with a pencil. Going in with a light sketch then having clean line work. Focusing attention onto the classmates in the picture. Working my way down to the table with items and the two chairs.
The story behind this piece was these juniors had sat there everyday, so I wanted to get a picture of them working, to show still-life. As well as focus on my skill in value work.
This linoleum print was the second print I did. It originally went with a painting of my bedroom. When starting a print there is a sketch, you take the image and sketch with graphite. Then it transfers to the block. After having a good sketch, it is backwards, and I went and carved out what I did not need, leaving line art. After having a finished block there is ink applied to the block, then rolling the whole piece onto a piece of paper keeping everything lined up correctly.
The story behind this was to think ahead for my CCU portfolio to capture a moment of real time. Showing my skill in portraying real moments through realism. These two pieces are also a part of my AP sustained investigation portfolio.
Reflection
15”x20”
Digital and Graphite on paper
For my digital piece I created the image myself by having photos of myself in a mirror. It is not a picture accurate to an actual shadow. It is to make the viewer feel something alike being watched.
With the photo I went into procreate to start with the base skin color, adding shadows and highlights on the skin. As well as detail into the skin I wanted to focus on the mirror. Using shadows and lines to show form in the shirts.
This next piece is one of two where my parents both took the inspiration photos. The one to the left is one my father took. The focus was to work with value again. I started with a sketch. Moved to having more detail in the fence as well as myself.
When working on the fence I started with a light sketch then erased some when needed. Using a ruler to get proper proportions. Then having the final part of the fence.
Next I worked on the greenery with the tree in the background and the grass in the foreground. Adding any final detail, having the dark path be dark as it could with the medium.
The story I would make out of this is a girl thinking of the future and deciding to sit while she ponders. The trees move from the wind and time passes as time goes on she wonders the garden more.
In the neighborhood
6” x 6” and 15.5” x 15.5”
Digital in Procreate, 2 layers, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
The story starts in the spring of Ariella’s sophomore year and Kerigan’s Junior year. Then it ends at the beginning of winter. To portray that, I used Ariella’s house and did the four seasons, spring, summer, fall, and winter, choosing Ariella’s house because of the trees. Showing fall with orange leaves and in winter with none. Showing Kerigan’s house as well in summer. In the story it's shown they both visit the other's house, so it was important to draw that they look like.
With both they start with a sketch, then line art. Then the base color. Adding light and shadow. In Ariella’s house I went in to add the trees as detail. Going and rendering for each season. Having the lighting in the window. Additionally I could have done different times of day. The winter sky has a lighter hue because of the reflection of the snow. This also hints at the climate, Ariella and Kerigan don't live in the south.
When rendering the piece I wanted a different type of line art and a little more realistic with realism. Having a base and less lines but shading. There is shading on Ariella’s house under the window; additionally more realistic rocks and bushes. Using different brushes to add to the look of the trees behind her house. And adding the mailbox. On Kerigans house it was similar, there was a drawing like Ariella’s house. Doing a more realistic look with the brick, flowers, and grass. Having different shading than before, and new lighting in the windows. Lastly adding clouds to the sky behind his house.
Kerigan’s House
20”x 16”
Acrylic on Canvas, pallet, flat, pointed round, and rigger brushes, and a paint pallet.
Ariella’s House
20”x 16”
Acrylic on Canvas, pallet, flat, pointed round, and rigger brushes, and a paint pallet.
​
After finishing the digital piece I wanted to have each house in an acrylic medium for sustained investigation. Sketching the piece out, painting the color onto the canvas, went in with browns for the trunks of the trees. Using a green that I used at other times to paint the trees, grass, and Kerigan’s house. Using the same dark blue for both driveways. Mixing white and yellow for the windows to help them glow. The brick is my favorite part in Kerigan’s house painting because of how the outline ended. For this I used Alla Prima. Putting finishing touches on window lines, garage windows, and bushes.
Building Development
10.8” x 14” and 8” x 8”
Digital in Procreate, 2 layers, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
Building skill in exterior and interior design, and linework.
Starting into the story behind my comic. There are places often seen, so this is a part of the storytelling. To the left above is where Ariella works. It is across the street from Kerigan’s job, shown on the right, so once they met, they bumped into each other often. When creating the two cohesive pieces, the exterior buildings have the same texture. The two being across the street are slightly different. On Kerigan’s side there is a bookstore, cafe, and a movie theater. On Ariella’s side the plant shop, a laundromat, a restaurant, and a clothes store connected.
This piece is supposed to be an interior of Kerigan’s house, a few rooms. Also apart of sustained investigation to show more simplistic rooms, and a practice with lineart.
Building on the lineart above doing some rooms above the plant shop where Ariella’s boss lives. Showing 2-point perspective. This one had a lot of details which were fun to render. I redrew one room to have it match the others in size for the CCU portfolio I’d made. Choosing to keep the apartment realistic as realtors use the same flooring and paint, it helped keep consistency throughout.
These two parts of this piece are shown in Ariella’s room. Her room is to the left. The design changed. Partially because of where the room is in her house, and because of the furniture in her room. To the right is shown her pet frog tank.
Characters
3.7” x 5”, 12” x 10.8” and 8” x 8”
Digital in Procreate, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
With this product I worked on character design. Drawing the characters you see in the mastery. I’ll write about the main two characters, then the rest. The story focuses on the main two Kerigan and Ariella, which is why I drew and painted their houses before.
Ariella is sixteen in the spring then turns seventeen in August in the story. She enjoys reading every once and a while as well as crafts and plants. Ariella works at a plant shop and has for about a year and is a Sophomore when the story starts. She wears a necklace her mother had before her.
Kerigan is seventeen years old in the story and a junior in high school. He loves books and video games, he can read a book or two in a day. Which makes working at a bookstore perfect. Kerigan met Eli there.
Dimitri is Kerigans cousin, he is a year younger, at seventeen, they are somewhat close, but Kerigan kept to himself for a while. Dimitri used to be friends with Ariella and August. He enjoys sports.
Eli becomes close friends with Dimitri, and Ty through Kerigan. He enjoys books as well. Usually reading at school during breaks or lunch. He also likes baking. Eli is a Junior and seventeen in the fall.
August has been Ariellas close friend since they were 5 at elementary school. She enjoys baking and loves coffee. August is in the same grade as Ariella and Dimitri. She was born on September 2nd.
Stella moves in the summer and is new at school in the fall meeting Kerigan first in science, then the rest. She enjoys writing. Evangeline quickly becomes her best friend in the group. Her birthday is in January. She is a Senior.
Evangeline was friends with Eli last year and joined the group in the fall, she loves fashion. She works at a movie theater in town near Ariella and Keriga’s jobs. She is a Junior and sixteen almost seventeen in December.
This piece is the whole group together. Starting with a sketch and a background. Having most wear similar sneakers to be cohesive. I wanted them all to have a unique, cool, similar, somewhat trendy style together. Each has their fun characteristics.
All of this part above is working with character profiles of Kerigan, Ariella, and Stella. Starting with a sketch of the person in different profiles. Then a base color of the skin tone, shading, working on the eyes, nose, and mouth. Final details. I worked with these three characters as Kerigan and Ariella are seen the most.
Ariella portraits
7.5 in X 7.5 in
Digital in Procreate, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
There was research to do with this trying to understand how fast children grow in a year. I focused on the first 6 years. Having her wear a similar pink colored outfit throughout and the age she is in the photo. The new born photo was one I redrew.
For all of them They started with a sketch. Looking at the others to be cohesive. Having the base color, then details. My favorite one was the bunnies on the baby blanket. The favorite clothes to draw was the 2nd birthday. There are the sparkles on the dress. I took inspiration from my younger cousin's dress.
Her mother set her down, she was only a few weeks old and as asleep. Holding a plush toy. On her 1st birthday her aunt was going to do a video for the first time trying cake. She took a before picture. On Ariella’s second birthday she was not having it, she did not want to smile or sit still. For her third birthday it was not much different, she was sitting, but she was playing with grass. On her fourth birthday Marie got Ariella a cupcake so she could blow out a candle for the first time. Right before Kindergarten Marie got a photo with a number 5. Ariella had an outside party for her 6th birthday, so Marie got a photo on the swings.
Character Development
3.7” x 5”, 12” x 10.8” and 8” x 8”
Digital in Procreate, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
Ariella is walking through the hallway before school like any other day and is not paying attention. Kerigan did the same. They both walked into the same corner of lockers colliding. Ariella was holding a coffee, then wasn’t, the coffee got on her and the floor. They ended up cleaning the mess and thought nothing more.
A few weeks later Ariella was working and decided she wanted a coffee after work, they met by chance at the same coffee shop where she got the coffee when she bumped into him. Causing them to hangout together, eventually dating.
Holidays
Digital in Procreate, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
The first image is Ariella and Kerigan celebrating Christmas together decorating a tree. After that is them building a gingerbread house. Lastly is Ariella during Halloween.
Starting with a sketch, I had started doing less visible lines as line art. Adding highlights to match where the flames would be. Her cat, Gizmo, was my favorite to draw.
This image was a redraw from the year prior. I added more definition to the tree. A light reflecting on the inside of the fireplace.
After decorating the tree they went and sat at Ariella’s table. Kerigan got a gingerbread house to decorate. They started by icing the base, then each corner of the house as support. Putting the top roof as the final gingerbread. Going on to decorate with icing dripping down as if it was snow and icicles. Using candies to replicate stained glass. Lastly, putting trees, then Ariella’s aunt took a picture.
​
​
Pink and Blue Dresses
Each canvas 14” x 12”
Digital in Procreate, 2 layers, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
Starting with the digital sketch and finished lineart. Then drawing their skin tones, added shadow and highlight. On Stella’s dress adding lines to show pleats in her dress, as well as stars. She has hair pieces and a star necklace. Added her eyes, mouth, and nose. Then her curly hair.
For Evangeline starting with her skin tone, hair, eyes, mouth, nose. The painting added more definition to her hair. Behind them is the balcony seen in a later painting. Using different browns to have a similar color scheme. Lastly with both using curtains to finish the piece.
Evangline entered the prom after giving their tickets to the teachers. Going inside enamored by the scenery. They got some pictures as they entered then went through the right to go take some more pictures, they loved the balcony they saw. Moving down the right corridor with other hallways to the right and left. Stopping at one with light peaking through. They went to two next to the other at first to take some photos that way, then went to the same one and got some pictures then.
Writer
24” x 28”
Acrylic on canvas, rigger brush, flat brush.
After Stella moved she had a new room and chose a vibrant shade of purple. She chose this white desk and shelf from IKea. Furnishing the shelf with her favorite books. She enjoys writing so here is her doing her favorite hobby. First she grabbed a white piece of paper to start her ideas. Then soon after she wrote the finished part on her laptop.
In this piece I worked in foreshortening. Sketching out this piece, recording the process. Having a bright underpainting. Painting in the two purple shades with 3 layers. Starting the white desk and flooring. This gave some difficulty, for the shadow I went in with blues. After finishing the self I added small details such as books, a mirror, a computer. In the right top corner is a window. I took an inspiration picture from our art room window.
Working on the foreshortening aspect I had Stellas feet close to the corner, this helped get better detail of the shoes, the design of the shoes came from the piece earlier. Then it leads back to where she is writing. Painting her skin tone then eyes, mouth, and nose. Adding highlights into her hair. Lastly drawing her pencil from her hand.
Birthday
20” x 24”
Acrylic on Canvas, pallet, flat, pointed round, and rigger brushes, and a paint pallet.
This was the first piece I had made at the Academy. The theme Mrs. Compton gave us was light and shadow, so I wanted to work on lighting with balloons, a flame, and the cupcake. Stella’s hand is one of my favorite parts. Starting with research of how the flame would affect the lighting, then painting her face with the layer of paint, then adding the highlight from the flame. Working on the cupcake. In her hair I wanted to reflect the colors of the balloons in her curls.
Later in senior year I decided to rework the piece for AP art. Having a darker purple background to use chiaroscuro, instead of red, which was there before. I kept her green shirt the same, as well as her hand and the cupcake. I repainted the balloons, her curls, and the highlight on her face. Using a reference photo for the curls helped a lot.
Sitting at the table, for what felt like the last time Stella looked around. The familiar sound of Happy Birthday filled the room. Her friends were all smiling. Usually she kept her eyes closed because she was nervous but she couldn’t help but peak. Then the music concluded and it was time to make a wish. Stella finally closed her eyes, and wished. She ended up getting her wish later when she moved.
​
The Pier
24” x 18”
Acrylic on Canvas, pallet, flat, pointed round, and rigger brushes, and a paint pallet.
​
On Ariella’s birthday Kerigan sets up a plan to go and have a nice day filled with activities. They start the day at her house and have breakfast her aunt made. Then he takes her on a series of events ending up at the pier nearby.
The sunset in the piece is inspired by Myrtle Beach. As well as the sky wheel nearby. Working in digital first. Sketching, focusing on the clouds and sunset in the background. Having a design go down the boardwalk. Allowing more dramatic shadow casted from the fairwheel.
In the painting I used the sketch from the digital, this was the only time I used projection. Underpainting a layer over the sketch in brown. Focusing on the sunset again first. After, moving to the ferris wheel having a base color, painting shadow and light from the sunset light source. Having a few layers with that. Starting the blue light from the attraction. Then the circle around the lights.
With the lights along the street, having a base and adding the shadow and highlights. Almost lastly, I painted the building. Added the texture to the building. Going over the window with a few layers to get a clean line. Lastly, added the birds.
Ariella at the Beach
18” x 24”
Digital in Procreate, 2 layers, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, different brushes.
Ariella at the Beach shows just that. Ariella gets taken on a long adventure on the day of her birthday, August 18th. The two end up at the beach. While at the beach they play in the water. Then on the walk between the cars and the beach, a bird lands on Ariella’s finger.
With this technical piece I challenged myself to work with only two layers. This was done by having a background layer, then a layer with Ariella. Expressing the sky is turning into a deep sunset sky. In the sky using different yellows to express such. As well as yellow in the water. Drawing the sand then the beach grass, then the wood over it all. Shading the wood and highlights. Adding wood texture over the wood.
Ariella’s layer started with a sketch. Placing her skin tone, hair and dress colors. Shading and highlighting from the sunset to be more realistic. The dress has pleats like in other pieces of my mastery. Drawing more details of Ariella’s necklace. Lastly drawing the bird she has that flew on her finger. Finding a reference of a bird. Having the light base color, shading and the darker wing feather color, lastly, the final details.
Running
3.33” x 7.23”
Digital animation in Procreate, over 60 frames, — layers, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
​
This was the first animation I had created. Working with two backgrounds moving or getting darker. I had to redraw the one seen later to move properly.
Working with Ariella’s hair moving and her dress. This was an issue with her hair having minimal movement. I wanted to do more movements for her hair in a future animation.
Later on, she is running and her dress gets caught, so there was more dramatic movement.
The story behind this piece is a dream-like state. In dreams, it does not always make sense what is happening.
Ariella starts walking through the woods, going on to start running, but we do not see what or who she runs from. Finally the running stops because she walls, but the canvas turns dark, and she wakes up.
Ariella portraits
7.5 in X 7.5 in
Digital animation in Procreate, over 140 frames, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
Ariella walked to go find August at the prom, she wasn’t out on the dance floor, she wanted to get photos with her. Ariella guessed she was in the bathroom and went to go check.
This was the second animation I had worked on. Researching how to make my frames more consistent. This had over 100 frames. First drawing Ariella over and over again. Having her skin tone, then shading at times, as well as movement and consistency between frames. Working with multiple different documents because I was running out of panels to use.
Going in and working on the background, I had sketched it out, but this was the first time I had only one part move while the rest stayed. Drawing without the door first, the door frame, and walls. Behind the door is a window in the room, which would allow for new lighting later.
Drawing the door and making it move to match Ariella opening the door. Then it all came together and I uploaded it, it had to be in two videos.
In the Garden
40” x 30”
Acrylic on Canvas, pallet, flat, pointed round, and rigger brushes, and a paint pallet.
This piece was a long process and my most time consuming piece, as well as the largest piece I had made. Originally I had the underpainting I’d started with. Working with the piece through summer, then redesigning the top of the piece.
Working under the stairs and making sure it was all flat. With a contrast between the light and dark greens. Above the flowers with the blue it was not blue, and had more balconies, but they were painted over. I added the blue over, and final touches on the columns. Above that as well to have the browns and greens between the columns and the ceiling. Then while working on that I had worked on the leaves and the flowers along the stairs, painting the stairs over as well,
The ceiling was one of the last things I worked on. Having a base then going over that. Figuring out I wanted a design. Going in with gold paint squiggle design. I hid my name in them. They are meant to mimic green stained glass windows. Over them is the final part of the ceiling which are ovals connected. I was inspired by crown molding. The last touches were the painting in the bottom left corner, and the balconies to the left I added back in.
The story behind this was when you walk along the balcony you see this as well when you walk into the building. It is a very special piece to me.
A Moment
20”x24”
Acrylic on Canvas
A moment came to me while I was working on my last piece in my mastery. I wanted to start and stop with the same setting. Sketching the piece and then digitally painting it. On the digital piece I started with a sketch then a finished line piece, then used the lineart to have the base of colors, did lineart for the background interior design and went over the lineart and added blocks of color. Shading and adding highlights to the blocks, drew flowers and leaves over the stair hedges, and added highlight and shadow to Ariella and her dress. Later rendering the piece for my CCU portfolio. Rendering the piece by adding more shadow onto Ariella’s arms, hair, and dress. Similarly for the painting, adding an underpainting, a base color of blue behind the stairs, the stairs and over the stairs.
The story is Ariella and Kerigan enter the prom and he gives her a flower. The entrance has big windows that let in light. My favorite part was painting in all of the roses.
Dance
6” x 8”
Digital in Procreate, 35 layers, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
In this product working the colors that matched the room as a whole its the same as In the Garden. Working in the background first, having a base of green, showing the dark of the balconies seen in Pink and Blue Dresses. Adding small details of all the flowers on the stairs, matching A Moment. Then the stairs down to the foreground.
In the foreground is Ariella and Kerigan having a dance at prom. Working on Ariella first taking inspiration from the times I had drawn her dress in the past and making sure her dress had a nice blended shadow at the bottom. Added details of gems on her dress. As well as a shadow behind her head in her hair.
Next, working on Kerigan sketching him and adding a base to work on top of. Starting with his suit putting a blue for his vest. Added shaded pleats to the suit. And a shadow under his arm. Lastly, a highlight on his back. For his pants having a base and added highlight and shadow. Working on his face and drawing his eyes, nose, and mouth. Then drawing in his hair with his curls by a darker shade.
August
24” x 30”
Acrylic on Canvas, pallet, flat, pointed round, and rigger brushes, and a paint pallet.
Creating this piece last year when thinking of competitions. After research as well, I took inspiration from two of my artists, Elisabetta Sirani and Bartolomeo Montagna. Using Chiaroscuro learned from Montagna. Which again is a dark background with something lighter in front to help focus.
The story behind this piece is August mutually broke up with Ty. She is in the bathroom and is thinking about how she had no date for the prom. August finally just lets it all go. Represented by a flame to paper. The flame and paper behind her is the same as the one in her hand. Shes letting it all burn.
With this I started with a lighter green underpainting. Then I ended up taking it home and working during a storm and it was the fastest painting I’d made. Going into the face with a base of a skin tone I had mixed. Getting advice from another art major that helped, I’d added more lighting to the face. Going into the background and adding the flame, paper, and adding details to her dress. Adding the dark background. The final thing I did was put gold paint onto the piece.
August and Dimitri
6.0” x 8.6”
Digital in Procreate, — layers, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, different brushes.
In this product my focus was showing another relationship, a rekindling between old friends. August comes out of the bathroom and finds Dimitri, her friend from middle school. They have hung out recently as a group, but he notices she looks upset. He asks her if she wants to go dance.
Taking inspiration from castles and dances to create a room. Adding a chandelier as a focus behind them, as well as details on the ceiling. In the foreground, I had a sketch of the two, then lineart, going over and added blocked out color, shaded over the skin. Worked on her dress, added flowered details connecting back to the artist Elisabetta.
Going in to draw Dimitri. Digitally drawing the purple suit he has. Added shading and highlights. Working on the details on his mask to match. As well as his face and curls in his hair. His sleeve puffs have shading.
Ballroom
18.5” x 18.5”
Acrylic on Canvas, pallet, flat, pointed round, and rigger brushes, and a paint pallet.
After having the digital sketch there was a circle wood canvas I wanted to paint on to see how my skill was built with a different material. Starting with sanding the wood, then painting a base color for August's dress. Having the base color and meticulously working in the flower details on her sleeves, dress, and corset.
Then painting Dimitri. Having a flat color for his face, added the shadows and highlights. Painting the purple on his mask and curls in his hair. On his purple suit cuff there are some small details as well. Lastly, for him added one last darker layer to his suit upper sleeve puffs.
In the background there was an underpainting of brown. Going over that and having other browns. Darker for the hallways, then the other walls in the room lighter to show the light of the room. Moving up to the ceiling where there are more details like flowers.
In the Grass
5.4” x 7.2”
Digital in Procreate, Apple pencil, iPad generation 9, brushes.
This being the final piece I wanted to draw all my characters together one last time, to show how their friendship and relationships have grown. They are all relaxing on a nice day. I’d also made this my last animation. Having the tree shadow move.
Starting with a sketch using the group photo from before as a reference. Sketching then making line art. Using final more blocked shapes over the line art with skin tones and hair. Shading when needed. Drawing eyes, nose and mouths over the faces.
21st Century skills
During the time at the academy I built six 21st century skills, creativity, self direction, adaptability, collaboration, leadership, and community. With creativity there is innovation in making new things. Whenever doing something artistic there is creativity in it because something is made of something else. From painting to digital art, they are created from an idea. There is learning and sketching and thinking behind it.
Self direction is a part of initiative to get work done myself. Everything happens through us. Talking to teachers. We have due dates but we have to get the products done by them. A week between each is a very fast pace. As well as having it relate to our mastery, additionally all the writing and our website we had to make and keep up with. It helps see if we would want to continue in the field. Which I do.
Adaptivity comes from when there is an issue. Like if we run out of a paint color, to mix more, or asking questions. Researching an issue we may have and finding new ways to do our mastery.
Collaborating with people in our major such as our friends, seeing their opinion on a product or with writing and then proofreading, helping each other out. Seeing how the product works with mastery or taking reference photos for the others. We did chalk day both years, I collaborated with Sundae both years and the second year was much better as we understood it better.
Leadership was something that I learned from my clubs. Being Secretary in the student council and President of National Thespian society making initiative to have meetings. Through leadership came community involvement, a part of school was honors societies, National Honors Society, International Thespian Society, and Art Honors Society. Outside of honors societies and student council I had done many clubs in the two years, Tree Huggers, MPC or Multicultural Planning Committee, Gala Committee, and Science Club. Spending over 80 hours doing community service. While working some jobs.
Advice to Juniors
It is very tough, but do not procrastinate. You can do that by using your time wisely in the summer and even now. I had thought ahead all the way to November Junior year, I still did admittedly procrastinate. If you sketch each product and plan it and a way to research that is good as well as picking a minimum but at least 2 mediums. I learned quickly not to only do one medium personally because I would have gotten tired of it.
Using breaks during school breaks is important to help not burnout. As well as weekends, try finishing on Fridays, using times when you get bored to work on another product. Sometimes working on multiple. With that being said make sure to know which you’ll hand in that week and focus on it the most. Sometimes I’d had two products in two weeks, and not one every week.
Research, research, research. It’s hard to work on the writing assignments while working on your weekly products, but you do learn a lot if you do it right. I also recommend learning elements and principles if you have not yet.
My mastery is somewhat unique. I have 24 products, but they are compiled with way more than 24 pieces of work. I worked harder in many ways, but it was hard to keep it organized and everyone to understand what I was doing at times, as well as I had a lot more I wanted to do and could not. I did admittedly again work on some parts more than others, like the prom. Knowing your story, if you go with story writing and even shortening it can help with mastery.
Lastly, enjoy senior year! So many events and enjoy those events, clubs, prom, chalk day, and trunk or treat. Spend time with friends. I don’t think I’d recommend everyone to do all I did.
Community
From all I did, I built a large community of friends, I knew people a lot better in Senior year, and sometimes friend groups merge. I’d recommend getting to know people better!
That happened because I was at the academy, being here gave me so many opportunities. From the Honors Societies to the clubs. Theatre was one of my favorite communities, both classes become very close with the plays, and the plays are so fun to perform. I was happy to give back to the community.
My Future
For the next four years I plan on attending Coastal Carolina University for Arts and Theatre. The first time I went to CCU was at the theater to see Radium Girls. I loved the black box theater and how the show was performed and audience participation. Knowing the school was nearby and finding out there was art as well I wanted to attend the university. I further looked into CCU. Went there a few more times, winning second place in a math competition. Seeing other shows, Green Bird, Cinderella, and Caberette. Everything is performed very well and I loved their technical design. I would love to work in art design in theater after college.
Thank you For Reading
My website: https://gianamontante1306.wixsite.com/giana-montante
​
Giana Montante’s Artist Biography
Development of Storytelling and Character Design
