Beginning this project, I was slightly apprehensive. I had not undertaken any significant art project since art class in eighth grade and did not feel fully confident in my artistic abilities. Embarking on this experience with my friends at my side helped push me outside my comfort zone and overcome these apprehensions. Working on this first art piece together in the same room definitely helped me take the first few steps for this experience. 

 

I chose to use graphite as a medium for this week. My previous experience with graphite had been simply the #2 pencils used for school, so the world of pencils with varying softness was completely new to me. I began by sketching miscellaneous shapes and objects on a blank sheet to get a feel for the pencils and practice my shading. Once I felt semi-comfortable, I began listening to the space-themed playlist and reflecting on how it made me feel. 

 

As the songs played and the playlist progressed, I started to lose myself into the image of space. The songs made me imagine slowly zooming out from earth, traveling deeper into the universe as the planet grew more and more tiny. I felt small and almost insignificant in the cosmic scale of the universe. My art attempts to capture this feeling through the small earth centered between large planets and a nebula. 

 

Overall, I am pleased with the way my piece turned out. The nebula was ambitious for my skill level and could have used some refinement/better shading, but in general the piece accurately portrays how I felt when listening to the music. Completing this week’s art as a group helped break the ice on the project, and I’m excited to tackle the next pieces in the upcoming weeks.