Explorations Project – Introduction
The Explorations Project allows students to delve into their passions and enhance relevant 21st century skills. The driving question is: “How can you find, explore, and/or expand your passion?” All junior students will explore a topic of their choice and develop a specific skill set aligned with 21st century competencies. For my project, I chose to illustrate astronomy through spray paint because I have always wanted to experiment with spray paint and have always been interested in portraits of space. The key 21st century skills I am focusing on are creativity, adaptation and getting out of my comfort zone.
Explorations Project – Process
The first steps in my process of creating my work were difficult. I had to learn how to use spray paint and work through the difficulties of being able to apply light or hard pressure to the nozzle to make the right amount of paint come out. My first draft artwork was pretty rough, I had troubles using newspaper to create the texture in the middle of the planet and I was not familiar with how to create a shadow on the planet. Below is an image of my first draft:
The next steps in my process were to start priming more boards and learning how to use the newspaper/magazine paper and how to create a shadow to make the best outcome possible. I primed 3 more boards to use and started practicing with them to test my ability to create shadows and texture. Priming was quite easy, I used a black primer and applied a light coat onto my cardboard boards and then let them dry for about 10 mins. The primer allows the spray paint on top of it to stick and stay on with the best grip. Below is the image of my first draft plus the primed boards:
The final stage of my project, was trying to create my end product. I started with one of my Prime boards and picked out a couple of colors I wanted the planet to be, I chose red yellow purple and blue just as some of them. I started by placing my colors in the middle of the canvas layered on top of each other. then, I took my magazine paper crumbled it up in my hand and laid it over the layered colors to create a textured effect. The next step was placing the bowl over the colors and blacking out the night sky. lastly, I added stars and slight color streaks around the edges. Below is an image of my final and completed product:
Final Presentation Video
Explorations Project – Reflection
As a digital artist, the Explorations Project allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and experiment with an entirely new medium – spray paint. By illustrating astronomy through this unique art form, I was able to unleash my creativity in unexpected ways while adapting to the challenges of working with spray paint. This project truly expanded my passion for art and helped me develop invaluable 21st century skills.
Music Recording Project
I assembled a group of friends, including two Freestyle students, to experience the process of recording music in a professional studio. The primary goal was not to create a polished, high-quality recording, but rather to collaborate and gain hands-on experience with the various aspects of the recording process. Through this project, we were able to explore our creativity, learn about studio equipment and techniques, and bond over our shared love for music.
Our latest track was a unique blend of country twang and the whimsical spirit of Forrest Gump. We were inspired by the idea of capturing a nostalgic, feel-good vibe with a touch of folksy charm. This unconventional mix felt like a fun way to tell a story and create a sound that was both familiar and fresh. What I’m most proud of, however, is the technical leap I took in the studio. Learning Pro Tools opened a whole new world of possibilities for recording and editing. It was incredible to be able to connect the instruments seamlessly and experiment with sonic textures. That ability to synthesize different sounds and craft a cohesive soundscape is something I truly valued in the recording process. It felt like having a whole new creative tool at my fingertips.
Lyrical Essay
A Lyrical Essay is a form of creative nonfiction that blends elements of poetry, memoir, and essay to explore a topic in an evocative and introspective way. In crafting this piece, I drew inspiration from the lyrical essays of writers like Maggie Nelson, Claudia Rankine, and Ross Gay, whose works seamlessly interweave personal narratives, poetic language, and cultural commentary. Beyond the assigned readings, the innovative nonfiction of writers such as Ander Monson and David Foster Wallace also influenced my approach to blending forms and pushing the boundaries of the genre.
