I just had a senior critique on my art yesterday. I was very stressed and nervous before the critique because the work we are supposed to present is all our own visions and ideas. The critique is not just of our work ethic or artistic abilities but also our voice as artists and all of the professors gather round with their opinions, both good and bad. Watching the critiques last year from other classes made me nervous because they were harshly honest in telling people their work looked like shit. I'm not exaggerating, those words were used. I also have not been as productive as I should have been this semester. One of the pieces I had to show was broken and two were in progress. The other 2 things were drawings, even though I'm focusing on ceramics. Needless to say I pulled an all nighter the day before to have the in progress pieces and I stressed like crazy for days, but the point of what I'm saying is they liked my work. The very first thing they said is that they didn't have much to say, it was great and I just need to keep doing what I'm doing. The only negative thing they said, which was to improve my forms, I already know and am working on.

So some might say I stressed for nothing, but if I hadn't stressed I wouldn't have worked as hard in the prior days and I wouldn't have had as much to show for myself. I guess I should say what my recent work is focusing on. I am working with somewhat similar lines as the previous carvings I have done, but they are taking on a different organic quality and I am toning down the swirls. I am also looking at forms in nature and incorporating those textures and designs into carving, much like my recent deviations, particularly "themed2".