Mom and I recently took an art workshop together at the Harvard Art Museums. It was part of their Materials Lab series in which they examine a single material. This one focused on carbon.
We entered the classroom and there was a large table filled with different kinds of paper, inspiration images, and a variety of carbon-based art tools:
The instructor gathered us together for a brief lecture. Some highlights:
- Carbon is the 15th most common element on Earth and the 4th most common in our universe.
- Carbon can be found in a wide variety of drawing materials, including:
- graphite
- conte crayon
- charcoal stick
- compressed charcoal
- black chalk
- inks
- pastels
- William Kentridge is an artist who uses carbon based material (charcoal) to create animation. Watch this video about his process, it's fantastic:
After the lecture, we headed into the galleries to take a guided peek at some carbon-based art up close and personal:
This Andy Warhol doesn't use any carbon, but I thought it was fantastic. Same with the Frank Stella piece slightly higher up.
This Jasper Johns sketch was exciting to me because I've seen the 3-D assemblage that is related this sketch. It's at MoMA in New York. Take a peek.
After the galleries, we headed up to the Art Study Center. Let's pause for a moment to talk about how cool the Art Study Center is:
You can request any of the artwork that the Harvard Art Museums owns that is not currently on display. Anybody can make a request. The artwork will be brought to the Art Study Center where you can examine it up close and even take photos of it! Totally amazing resource, right?
We stopped at the sinks outside the Art Study Center to wash our hands and then headed in to take a look at some fabulous examples of carbon being used in art.
After being inspired by some master artists, we headed back to the classroom to try it out for ourselves!
We even worked on creating a communal charcoal animation in the William Kentridge style:
Are you surprised to know that my contribution was the eye?! The instructor promised to post the video online, but I don't think she's gotten around to it. It was a lot of fun to work on the piece. I think I'd like to try creating some fun animations by myself using this method!
Here's what my Mom drew during the workshop:
And here's what I did:
Some of them are drawings based on people in the workshop and some of them are made up out of my head.
Hope you enjoyed this peek into the workshop! I always enjoy being a student.
Thanks for stopping by!
Wow! What a fun learning experience. Very interesting & informative. Thanks.
Cheryl
Wow! What a fun learning experience. Very interesting & informative. Thanks.
Cheryl
Wow! What a fun learning experience. Very interesting & informative. Thanks.
Cheryl
Wow! What a fun learning experience. Very interesting & informative. Thanks.
Cheryl
Wow! What a fun learning experience. Very interesting & informative. Thanks.
Cheryl
Wow! What a fun learning experience. Very interesting & informative. Thanks.
Cheryl
RE: SEE ME, Look beyond the human form to find value in person-hood is a universal mantra of souls, young or old, thick or thin, lovely or average, able and disabled. Some hear the mantra others do not. Thank you for putting your touch on this revelation as a gift. Learning to value others regardless of their external form is a gift of true emotional maturity the step that precedes making the choice to demonstrate compassion for ourselves and to others.
RE: SEE ME, Look beyond the human form to find value in person-hood is a universal mantra of souls, young or old, thick or thin, lovely or average, able and disabled. Some hear the mantra others do not. Thank you for putting your touch on this revelation as a gift. Learning to value others regardless of their external form is a gift of true emotional maturity the step that precedes making the choice to demonstrate compassion for ourselves and to others.
RE: SEE ME, Look beyond the human form to find value in person-hood is a universal mantra of souls, young or old, thick or thin, lovely or average, able and disabled. Some hear the mantra others do not. Thank you for putting your touch on this revelation as a gift. Learning to value others regardless of their external form is a gift of true emotional maturity the step that precedes making the choice to demonstrate compassion for ourselves and to others.
RE: SEE ME, Look beyond the human form to find value in person-hood is a universal mantra of souls, young or old, thick or thin, lovely or average, able and disabled. Some hear the mantra others do not. Thank you for putting your touch on this revelation as a gift. Learning to value others regardless of their external form is a gift of true emotional maturity the step that precedes making the choice to demonstrate compassion for ourselves and to others.
RE: SEE ME, Look beyond the human form to find value in person-hood is a universal mantra of souls, young or old, thick or thin, lovely or average, able and disabled. Some hear the mantra others do not. Thank you for putting your touch on this revelation as a gift. Learning to value others regardless of their external form is a gift of true emotional maturity the step that precedes making the choice to demonstrate compassion for ourselves and to others.
RE: SEE ME, Look beyond the human form to find value in person-hood is a universal mantra of souls, young or old, thick or thin, lovely or average, able and disabled. Some hear the mantra others do not. Thank you for putting your touch on this revelation as a gift. Learning to value others regardless of their external form is a gift of true emotional maturity the step that precedes making the choice to demonstrate compassion for ourselves and to others.
Julie, No matter where you go and then later share with us, I always enjoy the journey !!
Such a wonderful gift you give to us………I feel like I was there with you and Mom !!
thank you…….Joan K
Julie, No matter where you go and then later share with us, I always enjoy the journey !!
Such a wonderful gift you give to us………I feel like I was there with you and Mom !!
thank you…….Joan K
Julie, No matter where you go and then later share with us, I always enjoy the journey !!
Such a wonderful gift you give to us………I feel like I was there with you and Mom !!
thank you…….Joan K
Julie, No matter where you go and then later share with us, I always enjoy the journey !!
Such a wonderful gift you give to us………I feel like I was there with you and Mom !!
thank you…….Joan K
Julie, No matter where you go and then later share with us, I always enjoy the journey !!
Such a wonderful gift you give to us………I feel like I was there with you and Mom !!
thank you…….Joan K
Julie, No matter where you go and then later share with us, I always enjoy the journey !!
Such a wonderful gift you give to us………I feel like I was there with you and Mom !!
thank you…….Joan K
Once again, thank you for sharing your experiences. What a joy it is to share art through your eyes.
Once again, thank you for sharing your experiences. What a joy it is to share art through your eyes.
Once again, thank you for sharing your experiences. What a joy it is to share art through your eyes.
Once again, thank you for sharing your experiences. What a joy it is to share art through your eyes.
Once again, thank you for sharing your experiences. What a joy it is to share art through your eyes.
Once again, thank you for sharing your experiences. What a joy it is to share art through your eyes.
Thank you for posting this; I have loved drawing since I was 4 1/2 years old. I do less of it simply because the contemporary art buyer seems to like color and texture better than sensitive line drawing. I have taught figure drawing and occasionally taken drawing experiences with no teacher, only a model. Your post makes me want to put aside the mixed media and draw more, regardless of where people’s interest lies today.
Thank you for posting this; I have loved drawing since I was 4 1/2 years old. I do less of it simply because the contemporary art buyer seems to like color and texture better than sensitive line drawing. I have taught figure drawing and occasionally taken drawing experiences with no teacher, only a model. Your post makes me want to put aside the mixed media and draw more, regardless of where people’s interest lies today.
Thank you for posting this; I have loved drawing since I was 4 1/2 years old. I do less of it simply because the contemporary art buyer seems to like color and texture better than sensitive line drawing. I have taught figure drawing and occasionally taken drawing experiences with no teacher, only a model. Your post makes me want to put aside the mixed media and draw more, regardless of where people’s interest lies today.
Thank you for posting this; I have loved drawing since I was 4 1/2 years old. I do less of it simply because the contemporary art buyer seems to like color and texture better than sensitive line drawing. I have taught figure drawing and occasionally taken drawing experiences with no teacher, only a model. Your post makes me want to put aside the mixed media and draw more, regardless of where people’s interest lies today.
Thank you for posting this; I have loved drawing since I was 4 1/2 years old. I do less of it simply because the contemporary art buyer seems to like color and texture better than sensitive line drawing. I have taught figure drawing and occasionally taken drawing experiences with no teacher, only a model. Your post makes me want to put aside the mixed media and draw more, regardless of where people’s interest lies today.
Thank you for posting this; I have loved drawing since I was 4 1/2 years old. I do less of it simply because the contemporary art buyer seems to like color and texture better than sensitive line drawing. I have taught figure drawing and occasionally taken drawing experiences with no teacher, only a model. Your post makes me want to put aside the mixed media and draw more, regardless of where people’s interest lies today.
So interesting!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
So interesting!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
So interesting!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
So interesting!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
So interesting!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
So interesting!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
I so enjoy seeing art through the eyes of you and your mother; you have access to so many museums and the resources they make available.
You recently mentioned, I think in a podcast discussion, that museums often purchase works of art that will never be displayed. The Art Study area is a wonderful way to be able to see some of those works. I know the few times I’ve been privileged to see favorite paintings in person at museums, it has been a very emotional experience. I can only imagine what it would be like to see one of them without the crush of crowds.
Love your See Me piece and appreciate that the theme has carried over into your journal (as seen on your Instagram).
Thanks for sharing!
I so enjoy seeing art through the eyes of you and your mother; you have access to so many museums and the resources they make available.
You recently mentioned, I think in a podcast discussion, that museums often purchase works of art that will never be displayed. The Art Study area is a wonderful way to be able to see some of those works. I know the few times I’ve been privileged to see favorite paintings in person at museums, it has been a very emotional experience. I can only imagine what it would be like to see one of them without the crush of crowds.
Love your See Me piece and appreciate that the theme has carried over into your journal (as seen on your Instagram).
Thanks for sharing!
I so enjoy seeing art through the eyes of you and your mother; you have access to so many museums and the resources they make available.
You recently mentioned, I think in a podcast discussion, that museums often purchase works of art that will never be displayed. The Art Study area is a wonderful way to be able to see some of those works. I know the few times I’ve been privileged to see favorite paintings in person at museums, it has been a very emotional experience. I can only imagine what it would be like to see one of them without the crush of crowds.
Love your See Me piece and appreciate that the theme has carried over into your journal (as seen on your Instagram).
Thanks for sharing!
I so enjoy seeing art through the eyes of you and your mother; you have access to so many museums and the resources they make available.
You recently mentioned, I think in a podcast discussion, that museums often purchase works of art that will never be displayed. The Art Study area is a wonderful way to be able to see some of those works. I know the few times I’ve been privileged to see favorite paintings in person at museums, it has been a very emotional experience. I can only imagine what it would be like to see one of them without the crush of crowds.
Love your See Me piece and appreciate that the theme has carried over into your journal (as seen on your Instagram).
Thanks for sharing!
I so enjoy seeing art through the eyes of you and your mother; you have access to so many museums and the resources they make available.
You recently mentioned, I think in a podcast discussion, that museums often purchase works of art that will never be displayed. The Art Study area is a wonderful way to be able to see some of those works. I know the few times I’ve been privileged to see favorite paintings in person at museums, it has been a very emotional experience. I can only imagine what it would be like to see one of them without the crush of crowds.
Love your See Me piece and appreciate that the theme has carried over into your journal (as seen on your Instagram).
Thanks for sharing!
I so enjoy seeing art through the eyes of you and your mother; you have access to so many museums and the resources they make available.
You recently mentioned, I think in a podcast discussion, that museums often purchase works of art that will never be displayed. The Art Study area is a wonderful way to be able to see some of those works. I know the few times I’ve been privileged to see favorite paintings in person at museums, it has been a very emotional experience. I can only imagine what it would be like to see one of them without the crush of crowds.
Love your See Me piece and appreciate that the theme has carried over into your journal (as seen on your Instagram).
Thanks for sharing!