We completed our pieces for this stage as a group so that we could all gather and listen to a playlist. Immediately upon hearing the first few songs, I imagined the sky, clouds, and space. They reminded me of the vastness that exists in the world (I believe that’s what the playlist curator intended). In my piece, I tried to capture some of that feeling by creating a scene from above, one that emphasizes clouds and makes rolling hills and valleys feel insignificant by comparison. 

 

Throughout the image I include a free-form grid of piano keys, just to communicate the idea of music. In reacting to the playlist, I felt that the idea of music filling the sky would fit well with the songs I heard. 

 

This was one of my first experiences working with charcoal, so it took some time to get used to its properties when I drew certain things. It was much more forgiving for the shading of the clouds than it was for the solid lines of the piano keys, for example. While the piece did not end up looking quite like I hoped it would in my head (funny how that happens), I thought it was a fine first attempt at a new medium and a reasonable return to art after a long hiatus. 

 

On top of that, I thought it was valuable to be creative around my friends, as the energy of the room helped keep my focus on my task.