IB Visual Arts LINCOLN SCHOOL Costa Rica: ADRIAN FERNANDEZ Ib Art Lincoln School Costa Rica

THE ARTIST STATEMENT

Art is a big part of my life. That is why, of course, I chose IB Art. With artistic influences all around me, I slowly drew my way through life since I was a child. At the beginning, I drew because I enjoyed it. However, now the purpose of my work is not just to make myself feel good for what I do, but to tell people about myself. I want to show how my life has been influenced by both external and internal aspects that sprouted nostalgia within me.

There is just one aspect of my life that I regret, and probably most people regret it too: it is the enjoyment of childhood. It was one of the best times of my life, but I think that I did not enjoy it enough, and that is why all of my artworks reflect nostalgia. Life is just too short.

I have always thought that art has no errors, and in a sense it does not. However, errors do exist in art, but they are only noticed by the artist, because the artist who knows exactly what he or she wants to express through art. I think one of my accomplishments is I've been able to use line to depict movement and light. An example of this is my still life acrylic painting of a skull and oranges on a table covered with a blanket. I succeeded in the lights and shades, as they were placed correctly.

There are a few problems that I have faced, however. My one difficulty was learning to use new media. Painting with oils for the first time in my life was the most influential moment. It was so beautiful, yet so intimidating. It was different from any other media that I had used, even acrylic paints. I have also tried charcoal, and for me, it is better than drawing with pencil. With charcoal, you draw more freely and easily. It is an advanced yet great medium to use. Even after any and all failures, I overcame them and became better at new media.

Impressionism is definitely the art movement that influenced me the most. While creating, I always think about light and shadow, because that is my way of describing what I see and what I want to show. Just like Monet, Manet, and the other Impressionist artists, I intend to depict subjects and objects through the use of light and shadow.

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