Drawing and Painting Experiments

«Last week, Jamilah and Genevieve wrote the final post related to the Spies in the House of Art exhibition and the Teen Advisory Group's photography project. Over the next month, our blog posts will focus on two of the Met's summer teen programs.»

This summer, I participated in the Met's Drawing and Painting Experiments class, a three-week art-making course for teens ages 15 through 18. We were all really shy on the first day, but by the end of the class I felt like we were all family because of the risks we took in making our art.

Evelin at work during the Drawing and Painting Experiments class

At the beginning of the course, we spent some time getting inspired by objects in the American Wing and working with familiar art materials. It didn't take long before I began experimenting with different media, which built my confidence to try new techniques. Our teachers were very warm, and they made us feel comfortable to ask questions and ask for advice. Personally, I am often nervous during my art-making process because I am afraid that my work will not be successful. But now I have a desire to experiment with new techniques and materials.

My favorite artwork from the portfolio I created during the program is called Intertwining Seasons. This piece was inspired by the art in the American Wing galleries, where I saw so many different colors and nature scenes. Two examples are Thomas Cole's View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The Oxbow and Sanford Robinson Gifford's A Gorge in the Mountains (Kauterskill Clove). I chose to paint the changing of seasons with watercolors to make the work look soft and calm. I had never used watercolors before, but this class encouraged me to take a risk. Now I am fearless and ready to explore what's next in my creative process.

Evelin. Intertwining Seasons, 2012