My name is Cooper, and I love all forms of human creation and art. I'm self-reserved and slightly agorophobic. I struggle to leave the house for a variety of reasons. When I'm in a spiral and unable to go anywhere art is something that keeps me sane. Art isn't just a hobby or possible career to me; its a necessity, its an exstension of me. I have not just a drive to create but a need, and will lose myself easily when in an art block. I process and express my emotions and thoughts through art because it's what makes sense to me, and its the easiest way to explain abstract feelings or thoughts. I've always loved art even as a kid, I grew up in a family with numerous artists and always strived to be as good as everyone I looked up to. I also saw first hand growing up the forceful stifling of creativity from the harsh landscapes of the world. Both of my parents enjoyed art and creating in their formative years, but as more responsibilities pilled up for them they pushed it aside and over the years lost their belief in themselves and ability to create. I never saw my parents make much art, but they always pushed the importance of it and would talk fondly of their creative years. As a kid my art was largly motivated by friendly competition with my older brother to be better than him, and he was one of the first people to help me imrove my art and strive to continue. I witnessed the success of art through my aunt, who successfully started and still runs her own business selling various polymer clay producs such as jewlery or decorations. Seeing that art could be a feasible path for my future I swore to myself I would do anything in my power to get myself there. I promised myself I wouldn't end up like my parents and push my creativity aside to make life work, and instead I will form my life to work with my art. I have an exagerated motto for life, which is to live as an artist or die trying. I will never put my life aside to work a souless job. If I have to live in a capitalistic hellscape I'm going to live it my way, because if I don't I wouldn't be alive.
Name of project: Still Life
Medium: Pencil and Paper
Year: 2025
Learning Goal: Draw a still life of an object and incorporate it into a fantasy environment. Apply the elements and principles of art to make the object work seamlessly into the environment. Realism should be strived for.
Technical Process: I began by envisioning an environment to place my chosen object in, followed by a rough sketch of a composition plan. After, a cleaner sketch was composed on the final paper. A combination of soft and hard pencils were used to add detail and shading to the piece in order to give it the appearance of realism.
Explanation: The drawing depicts the interior of a temple, with numerous relics on display in the main hall and a doorway into an unseen room. This temple is part of world and story inspired by the book series known as Warrior Cats. The temple belonged to an ancient society of humans in the jungle, who mysteriously get wiped out. The temple is shown in its state not long after the disapearance, empty but not quite in a state of disrepair yet. Learn more about this world here.
What was Successful: I am proud of the shading and compostition of this piece.
What could be Improved: I think the perspective could've been done better, it's a bit wobbly and crooked in some places.
Name of project: Woodland Paddle
Medium: Wooden paddle, acrylic paint, paintbrushes
Year: 2025
Learning Goal: Design artwork to be painted onto a wooden paddle in the woodland art style.
Technical Process: I started by choosing an animal, that being rats inspired by my pet rats. I then sketched a design for the woodland pattern design of the rats. The rats were then sketched on both sides of the paddle before being painted. Linework was done, followed by colour, then cleanup.
Explanation: I wanted to paint my rats in the unique style. The colours and sizes of the rats on each side are representitive of each of my rats. One being orange and the other being blue. The orange rat is slightly larger than the blue one. My rats in real life are brown and black respectivly, with the brown one being larger.
What was Successful: I love the colours I used and am proud of the designs of the rats.
What could be Improved: I think I could've made the lineart neater, and parts of the sketch are still visible. If the sketch was done with pencil instead of paint pen it could've been erased at the end.
Name of project: India Ink Animal Movement
Medium: thick paper, india ink, dip pen, painbrush, Magic 8 ball fluid
Year: 2025
Learning Goal: To create an artwork showcasing the movement of an animal in a style inspired by woodland art. Needs to be done with india ink.
Technical Process: I started by choosing an animal to draw, and landed on a rat since I also did
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Name of project: Drawing Challenge - Clothing On a Hook
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Year: 2025
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Year: 2025
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Name of project: Drawing Challenge - Natural beauty
Medium: Drawing tablet, Laptop, Krita
Year: 2025
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Technical Process: There was no plan behind this piece. Colours and shapes were thrown down randomly with different brushes on different layer until I got an idea of what I could make it into. I landed on an abstract flower feild due to all of the colours. More detail was done, and a bee or wasp was added as a subject to make it more grounded.
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Name of project: Drawing Challenge - A forgotten place/suggestion of the sinister
Drawing tablet, Laptop, Krita :Medium
Year: 2025Year:
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Technical Process: I started by finding a reference picture from Kane Pixels' Oldest View video series. The structure of the mall interior was sketched quickly, and sketchy lineart followed in order to achieve an unsettling feeling. The background was made a solid blue and shading was done monochromatically. colour was then overlayed through multiple blending layer. everything was done messily and quickly to make the work feel sinister and run down.
Explanation: This work is taken from a YouTube video horror series by Kane Pixels called the Oldest View. Set in the valley view mall in dallas, its a haunting film that follows themes of: adandonment, decay, hubris, nostalgia, and much more. I heavily recommend watching the series, its roughly an hour all together. watch the series here.
What was Successful: I am proud of the colours, and the atmosphere the work holds. I also think the texture was implimented well to convey the feelings I was going for.
What could be Improved: I wanted to spend more time on the sign in the foreground. In my oppinion it's too rushed and lacks detail. In the video series, even when the mall is in it's furthest state of decay the signs are the only things left in prestine condition and I hoped to capture the contrast of ruin and messy with clean and detailed.
Name of project: Culminating Series
Medium: WaterColour paint and paper, cardboard, wood glue, tape, acrylic paint, 8X10 canvases
Year: 2025
Learning Goal: To create a culminating series of artwork following a theme meaningful to you. The series should be creativly challenging to make and should show your proficiency in your chosen medium.
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