Barthes-ian analysis

     For my own work, on the surface there is plenty to look at. There is a decoration on the borders of my map that I've been working on so far. The map itself is just that. When we look at any map, how do we interpret it? For my own money, I always imagine and generate what kind of cultural and societal apsect are embedded in the map. A globe of the Earth might show what cities are named and the topographical qualities to our world; all of that tells a story.

    So when I look at my own work I like to imagine what implications I'm making about the world I create. The Barthes-ian analysis of map-making might be to interpret the symbols and style of the map to be a part of the world in which it was created for. The drawings on the edges tell a story about events that may have occurred and from there, the intent of the map's designer. Perhaps a Barthes-ian analysis might also be to interpret the inter-workings of fantasy as a cultural concept. There are plenty of tropes in my work, like animals as a recurring theme, old houses with banners, the North vs the South.

    My final project is coming along. The largest work in the first half of the term is nearly done. I have to ink the drawings and lay down the actual land-masses which will be the quickest process. Soon I'll move on to the next set of drawings.

Final Project Proposal

    

    For my term project I plan to make an assortment of paintings and drawings. They will all be a continuation of my previous work in both mediums. I am used to painting large abstract pieces with many layers on them. That work is mostly inspired by Willem de Kooning even though I am not working primarily in abstract figure painting; my stuff is conceptually leaning closer to pure abstraction. 

    The other kind of painting I plan on doing is shifted more towards impressionism and it will consist of portraits and figure paintings.

    As for drawing, I plan to make a series of made-up fantasy maps. Like abstract painting, this is something I have been doing for years. The archival lore and stories to be found in a simple birds-eye view is very gripping to me. It feels as if the viewer can change the context of the maps history to fit whatever they enjoy the most. That's why map-making has always been fun for me and the time it takes is rewarding. 

    Since there are nine weeks left in the term I plan on having four of any of the above options completed by the end of week 5 on May 2nd. One of the in-progress pieces is very large which is why it's not six or ten completed works. Each week I plan on doing progress checks with the pieces that aren't done. For the second half of the term I will do the same thing and by the end of week ten I will have at least eight projects done by May 30th, some of them being between 3' by 4' and 5' by 6'.

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