My Theory of Writing

My theory of writing is the reflection we embody into our writing. We reflect the world around in and express that into words. And into the writing, we reflect on how we could’ve done better, or another way we could have written a piece. Through reflection you grow, reading books and reflecting on the aspirations you’re character yearns for. In reading, you reflect a lot into different universes. The universes we all hold so dearly, our ideologies, our identities, our nationalities all represent something greater that should be reflected in our writings.

   In the dictionary, it defines reflection as serious thought or consideration. When writing a piece, your mind becomes perplexed and asphyxiated into the deep realms of knowledge and logic. The state of mind, where you have all the open files of your past and present knowledge right from your brain.

   During this course, I reflected a lot from my high school writing and how I have progressed. Though in college, I reflected on the essays we wrote in this class. The Narrative essay let me reflect on a time of vulnerability, and my writing embodied my identity that I hold so dearly. Into writing, you become a part of it, and it captivates all your essence, all your experiences. Other people’s experiences and triumphs can also benefit your writing. When I had to write an analytical essay, I focused on the research of others. I reflected on the research I had done, where it gave me the satisfactory analysis I wanted to create for my paper. Another assignment where I had to open my eyes and perceive the world around me, was the describing of work of art. I had to describe a work of art where I had to reflect on what I saw and what it was. Writing can be personal, and writing can also be freeing, and that is exactly what the two genres assignment is. Writing on what my topic of interest is, and reflecting that into two pieces of writing. My mind starts moving a million miles per second because of the multiple choices I could do, though I chose a poem where I reflect on a painting and a first perspective narrative where I reflect as an artist.

   At the beginning of the year, my mind was fresh from summer. A college English class might sound intimidating, but nevertheless, I found myself having to write a theory of writing. The theory of writing I wrote was based on me taking the roles of others. I would embody the piece I would write about, and make a recollection of it, i.e. something like a detective would do, collecting the pieces until he has reached a conclusion. But this theory of writing was missing the perplex aspect of the mind, and the mind was something I was exposed to in my psychology class. The deep thought process we have as early as 8 months, comes from the left hemisphere of the brain. The left hemisphere is responsible for any logical thing we do, and also controls our understanding of reading and writing. From that, I then was able to recollect my thoughts and assemble my theory of writing.

   From this new theory of writing, I was able to enhance my writing from the past writers that came before me. I was able to write my essays because I was reflecting on what aspects I needed in order to complete a part of the piece. Writing multiple pieces starts the engine in your mind that was longing to be used., and gaining knowledge from that is powerful, so I used that for class. Reflecting then became second nature for me, I was doing it while writing in class for journal entries. I would also reflect with others, which was something important I learned this year. Peer reviewing can help because someone else’s perspective is beneficial. This second perspective that looks into your writing is essential because the piece of writing becomes not only your reflection but someone else’s as well. This theory of writing helped me understand what I need to benefit my writing for the essays I had to complete, by enhancing my state of mind when writing.

   Beforehand, I used to only write because I had to. Rethinking of writing, and evoking a theory on top of that can help the process of writing a lot. It makes it easier and less stressful due to the fact that you have written dozens of times and each time you grow and reflect. In my future of writing, I will be able to resonate to my college writing theory because this was the beginning of my changing mind. Not only do you grow with skills such as writing, but your mind grows too. Taking in the knowledge of others, the past experiences of our ancestors, the fiction of the world, and the terrifying truths can all be reflected in our writings. Pertaining to my future, I will hold my writing as a place in my mind where I dive into deep reflection, and spill it all on the paper. This will help develop a sense of guidance to my writing, and not make me have to struggle into my deep perplexed mind.

 

Monet: I am human

Its true, I miss life. I’ve never been the one, in your eyes. I’ve never seen the truth, all you saw, was a broken mirror. My paintings, and reflections are all symbols of light. You’re probably thinking, what other person spends days trying to find the right lighting for the perfect painting, THIS GUY. I was in my late life painting these lilies, and adding colour that was so ahead of its time. The cold winter interchanging to its beautiful spring, reflecting its light in the deep blue water. The violent violet interjecting its colors on the gradient water, where it appears to have lily pads on it. This was my only joy, purely how limitless the options of different shades of blues, purples, greens, and more of the cold palette has to offer. Then how the whole scenery is clouded with light, distilled with illucid fog. Once I saw this with my very own eyes, I knew I had to capture this moment with my talent of the arts. I painted until I knew it was exactly what I wanted. Holding my life with my paintings, just a dream filled with mockery. I hope one day, someone will see the reflection of art I saw in mine.

About the Piece: The second style of writing is a short story in Monet’s point of view after all of the glory and past expectations he faced. This writing piece will go further deeper in the mind of Monet, the story of how a legendary artist became what he is known today. The audience of this writing are for the people at the MET museum, who want to know more about what the artist was going through when painting vital works of art. The reason for my writing of a story in monet’s POV will give a new perspective of what was happening during his life.

 

Water Lilies Through my Divine Eyes

By: Alejandro Espinoza

 

The Light in our eyes,

Dimmed with colors,

Refracting like diamonds

 

Lily pads dissolve in iridescence,

Blue, Purple, Green,

One by one, enchanting the scene

 

The sky embraces time,

Shows the longing life we have to climb,

And the aura of the world we have declined

 

The shadows show lost,

Dissolving the cast of joy,

The light of our life

 

Our times of light,

Are sufficed by illusive nature,

By the winds and tree lies the Lily pads dream

 

About the Piece: My first writing style is a poem on Monet’s Water Lilies. The poem showcases the art piece through my eyes/my perspective. The audience will be the pushcart press, a poetry contest where they get to decide whose poem was the best and you win a cash prize. The purpose of making this poem is to give elicit sentiment to the art piece, show the real beauty it is. In the poem I will describe the art piece, what Monet believed and what I believed as well. This genre is pertinent to me because poetry is like another language, it gives different meanings to different things which is what art is, symbols thriving through our eyes. The audience is expecting a poem because its a poetry contest.

 

 

 

 

 

Monet: Living in Shades of Blues, Violets, and Truths

Claude Monet, known to many as one of the most famous abstract painters whose art is exhibited around the world. His work came from the experience he gained during the 1800s in france with other painters. Monet transpired the post- impressionist period due to his ability to conserve techniques and start new ones. One of his famous paintings called Water Lilies, made in the impressionist and post impressionist period in ca. 1860-1910, paved the art world in post-impressionism (Fig.1). Standing at 6′ 6 3/4″ x 41′ 10 3/8″ (200x1278cm), the medium used is oil on canvas.

Earlier in life, Monet was in a pivotal place where change was happening to art in the 1800s. As stated by Snider “A small group of artist banded together and, in the period of a few short decades, completely overthrew the tenets of traditional paintings” (Snider 89). Also as stated by Snider “French impressionism was viewed as a sweeping revolution in painting” (Snider 89).  Impressionism was important for Claude Monet because during the 1800s, “paintings were limited to biblical, historical, or mythological subjects” (Snider 90). Impressionist art consisted of the painters view of the world through their eyes and recreating that. As stated by snider “The impressionist… were fascinated with modern life themes, and they often focused on the contemporary” (Snider 90). The impressionist believed that objects in paintings were seen not just because of our eyes but the way we perceive it (Snider 90). As stated by Snider on what Claude Monet said, “for me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment… the surrounding atmosphere gives objects their real value” (Snider 91). Impressionism played a role in monet’s paintings, but later in life this led him to develop new techniques due to new influences.

Claude Monet was obsessed with how light contrasts a way an object is appeared in art. This started the post-impressionist movement, as stated by Eisendrath “After 1890, Monet began a more intensive study of light on landscape and objects… a ‘series’ of paintings of the same subject came to Monet from his familiarity with love for japanese prints” (Eisendrath 15). Due to the fact that monet was “in a stubborn race with light” (Eisendrath 17), he initialized a process of light study called instantaneity. In order to play with light in paintings, Monet would use complimentary colors like yellow and purple, in order to stimulate the effects of “sunlight” (Eisendrath 19). Also stated by Eisendrath “ these complimentary colors were found most effectively in an uncombined ‘divided’ state with their constituent tones left on the canvas for they eye to integrate… objects are visible not only in their local or immediate color, but also with reflections from adjacent objects” (Eisendrath 17).   An infamous painting, titled Water Lilies, embodies the true meaning of post impressionism based on the techniques used. The painting according to Eisendrath, “combine a globalur, enclosing space with flatness and bold brushwork. In content, they stop just short of symbolism, expressionism, or pure abstraction” (Eisendrath 17).

The painting Water Lilies, presents the concept of light and water. Monet used japanese art influences in this piece due to the fact that its flat, and asymmetrical. This piece is dynamic because of the continuous usage of lines and gradations of colors. There are shadow strokes, and touches of color.  The colors are crisp and bright in order to paint for the light. Because there is no real horizon from water to sky, it holds continuous reflection from sky to water. The lily pads almost start to get lost, allusions to various clouds in the sky. The usage of different tones of blues and violets give a cold pallete to the painting, intentionally giving the tone of the painting to be a vaporous water field. As stated by cowart, “The Lily Pond was one specimen where he (Monet) could experiment with radical compositions in scale, ambition, saturation of light, the marking of fugitive effects, and his impressions of them. Monet tried to render in nature not only what one sees, but how one sees” (Cowart 32). I believe that the Water Lilies personified the existence of the world, water and earth. The world seems like it’s always clashing, yet there seems to be a balance of contrast subjects.

Monet’s work was deemed as the paving way for many artist to come, such as those in the divisionist movement and avant garde groups in the post impressionist period. As stated by Cowart, “Water Lilies… impinges technically and visually on the art that in the 1940s and 1950s has been termed avant garde” (Cowart 18). He changed the art game with his contributions of technique and versatility. He truly mastered his techniques that are still thriving in modern day society. His changes in styles implements his amount of work, making him more focused on realities. Though in the beginning Monet’s life was in the struggle, he conquered that because of his vision he had for art.

 

Work Cited Page

Cowart, Jack. “IMPRESSIONIST AND POST-IMPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS.” Bulletin (St.

Louis Art  Museum), vol. 16, no. 2, 1982, pp. 1–35. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40716044.

Eisendrath, William N. “WATER LILIES BY CLAUDE MONET.” Bulletin of the City Art

Museum of St. Louis, vol. 42, no. 2, 1957, pp. 14–19. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40714857.

Snider, Lindsay. “A Lasting Impression: French Painters Revolutionize the Art World.” The

History Teacher, vol. 35, no. 1, 2001, pp. 89–101. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3054513.

 

Creative Mind, Flesh, Bones

My dreams have always been in the backseat of my father’s car. At a young age I was told what I would do with my life, what was expected and what was acknowledged as anything other than was considered a let down. How, was it that my hobbies were considered bad, yet there I was in elementary school trying my best in science class. Though me and science work, we aren’t of the best friends. One of my best friends is Art. At young age I would illustrate so many things in my head till one day I decided to put something down in my paper. That relief my hand felt when it touched that paint brush was almost heart felting. My mind and expressions were revolting creativity. When dreams become a reality, you take it by the brush and stroke it.

How can you tell a 10-year old to choose whether you want to be a starving artist or doctor? How, could it be that my father was already foreseeing my downfall in life. I believed at that moment my life would change if I chose one or the other, my studies, or my hobby. Art was something I would enjoy at home, and my father would see that and told me to finish my homework, or study new vocabulary. When I was in the 5th grade, my parents switched my school, so I started out as a new person. While there, I was exposed to so much art because the school took extracurriculars important. From dance, to painting, to sculpting, to instrument playing, it felt like a whole new universe had opened up. I was enveloping these new emotions of acceptance and excitement that often had me in disbelief that a school so hard was also a school open to art.

In middle school I chose art as my elective, and that was the peak of my art experiences in school. My art teacher was so freeing, she would let us expose our feelings in our art pieces. Our skills, our failures were all left out in our artwork. I felt creative, powerful, eccentric because of the art I had created in those 3 years of middle school. In those 3 years I had a precious disguise because many people knew me as the artist, and not the smart kid. I could become the person I always wanted to be, cool and creative. My art teacher really helped me express myself, whether that be in the art I made or the person I was. She focused on painters that showed difference in techniques and style. One major artist that she showed our class was Frida Kahlo. Frida Kahlo and all her life journey with her art made me more passionate in art because throughout all the hardships she went through, she still found the beauty in things. She also represented latinos, and latino culture through her paintings that helped me with my identity.  The paintings I did throughout those 3 years helped me develop a sense of reality when it came to being an artist.

 Now this is really out of my control, but in High school I did not take any art because my school did not offer it. I had to reason myself because I always told myself that art was my thing, yet there I was choosing AP classes instead. AP classes was routinely the same, studying and researching, which made me incredible melancholy. So in Junior year, I went out of my way to sign myself up for the Whitney Youth Program, where I was exposed to art and the making of it. My dream of becoming an artist was being extended when I presented my art pieces at the Whitney in the end of the program. This opened my world of other artists who create art and this excited me because I found people that love to do the same thing I love to do. The dream of becoming an artist was starting to be reachable when my art teacher emphasized to me on how my skills impressed him.

Having skills that don’t pay the bills makes you feel useless, immorally correct or incorrect, those with science and math degrees make it in this world. An art degree doesn’t, and that robs many people’s dreams. It robbed my dream. Though I don’t regret having art skills, because It made me have an identity other than just a student. Art helped guide me from going to events, discovering myself and my creative approach in thinking. Just like physics, art enhanced my view in this world. Perception and perfection is a wonderful trait, just like art is to science.