I stood in art class holding a large, blank piece of watercolor paper. The assignment was to create anything I wanted, as long as several different art techniques were incorporated. Looking down at this ivory colored paper, my mind immediately began to race. Soon it would turn into something more, something full of ideas which were my own.
I thought of drawing strawberries, or a person morphing into an animal, or even an abstract painting, but I soon realized that I wanted to draw a picture that would have a deeper meaning. I spent a few days thinking of various things I enjoyed doing and seeing, but nothing caught my attention. That night I noticed my violin in the corner of my room while lying in bed, and then it hit me - I would draw my violin!
The next morning, I took my violin out of its navy blue case and snapped a few pictures. During class, I projected these pictures, mounted the sheet of paper to the wall and began drawing. Several days passed and I was finished with a preliminary sketch. Now it was time to paint.
I wanted to stick to realistic colors and paint the violin various shades of brown, but for the background I was free to use my imagination. I began to ponder about the endless options; what could I do on the background that would add to the drawing as a whole? I decided to carve a music staff stamp from rubber and use a matte acrylic to stamp it onto the background. By using this technique the stamped matte acrylic would show up through any water colors applied onto it and complete to the painting. Similarly, the violin, though a part of my past, completes who I am.
I was having trouble deciding which color I would use for the background. Nothing seemed to compliment the mahogany of the violin in the way I hoped it would, and I was not finding any inspiration while sitting inside. Walking around outside one afternoon, I noticed something. The brown color of tree bark, resembled the color I had used for the violin, the green grass, the leaves, and the yellow sun in the sky, all perfectly complimented each other.
Finding these three simple, yet ideal colors taught me that looking more deeply at everyday surroundings can lead to great ideas. By going outside, I noticed color combinations that I might not have thought of if I had stayed indoors. I learned that to obtain what you are looking for you have to be willing to look around, keep an open mind, and be patient.
For several months, this painting stood on an easel in a main hallway in my school. Many people told me how they connected to my painting; peers told me they were reminded of instruments they use to play. Whenever I walked past the painting, I was reminded of all the years I spent playing the violin; all the different opportunities it brought, and people I met through being a part of two orchestras. Through hard work and dedication I was once a guest conductor for my orchestra, was selected to play "Funky Town," and also preformed in a select members band. Art and music, two important aspects of my life, brought many great experiences.
The layers of my painting symbolized the layers in my life, and just as I had ceased playing the violin a few years ago, I was finally finished with the painting. In the end, I painted the violin brown, the treble clef on the music staff yellow, and the background green.
Overally the essay is good and the idea, in my opinion is very original! However, I think the essay would benefit, if you described why did you choose to paint the picture green, yellow and brown. What do these colors mean to you? Try to write something about what made this painting so special to you and what is its symbolic meaning, apart from the memories and compliments?
And I think, it would be a good idea to stay only on one topic (either painting or the orchestra) or make them more linked together throughout the whole essay. But I think you're definitely on a good start! Good Luck :)
