Spring Studies

     As mentioned in the last post, I'm a student at Henry Ford College. Until recently I had been taking classes sporadically in order to work and come up with some kind of plan. I've had a vague idea, but I needed to come up with something more precise. To make up for lost time, I've registered for two spring classes. Anthropology is the one I was most excited for, and it's even more interesting than I previously figured.

     In short, anthropology can be described as the study of humans and their ancestors at any given time or place. It's a broad field made up of four different disciplines, each specializing in a different aspect of humankind and the lives they led. They include archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and physical anthropology. I'm sure it doesn't sound all that exciting if you don't already have an interest in learning about other cultures, but each field of study plays a considerably big part in helping and figuring out how people and their ancestors relate to and understand each other. 

     Part of the work I hope to go on to do is reconstructive illustration, which involves paleontology and physical anthropology, also known as paleoanthropology. The information, theories, and hypotheses they report give me and other reconstructive artists the information we need to rebuild an ancient place, person, or animal in a realistic two- or three-dimensional format. Cultural anthropology can play a role as well in helping to envision ancient peoples and ancestors when the direct, empirical information being used is limited.
     This means a lot of what the class has to offer is relevant and can be used, which has given me added incentive to study.  

The two books for my course and some class notes. The one opened is Anthropology: The Human Challenge.
Reconstructing the hominin is French sculptor Élisabeth Daynès.

Perspectives of a Homo erectus skull: my version and the book's. Still a work in progress.

Yawalapiti tribe members playing sacred trumpets - from an image in Anthropology: The Human Challenge. 

     Another reason I'm excited to learn more on the subject is because I'd like to do something similar to the work of anthropological and ethnographic field researchers. That would be traveling to a foreign area to learn what I can from whatever group of people resides there. I wouldn't mind if it was part of a research project or not. I would go just to see what I can learn for myself, even if there was no other funding available.
     I've come across some of the work of some photographers who do this, and I'm not sure how they go about it, but I'm determined to find a way.

Examples of some of the field work from Applying Anthropology.
(click the image to view in full size)

     An example of this career practice is one of today's most notable photographers, Steve McCurry. If the name isn't familiar, I'm sure his photographs Afghan Girl and Red Boy will refresh your memory (both were used by National Geographic). He started as a  freelancer, moving to India, and continued onward to be the first to photographically report on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Through the years he has covered major conflicts, cultural identities, and living conditions in other parts of the world.
     It might not seem like there's much of a point if there's already people out there photographing these kinds of scenes. I personally don't think visual progress and expression should end at photography. It's a different kind of process. Photographers report and show you what they've seen. I create what I've seen, and in doing so I make it unique from the subject as well as displaying the subject as I see it. Making an image from scratch also provides for certain freedoms in the creative process that photography lacks. The production requires very simple tools, which means change can be made without using different equipment and can be done with relative ease.

Steve McCurry, Cobblers, Bombay, India, 1996

     In some situations cameras are seen as intrusive or disruptive, not just by some native cultural groups, but here in the West as well. Cameras are generally not allowed inside the courtrooms of federal cases, for video or photography. We do, however, have sketch artists that record the events at these trials. If a major federal case makes the news, they may show a sketch or two from the collection.
     In terms of reconstruction illustration, there's only so much photography can do. Photographs can be used as reference images and even a beginning step if the task is reconstructing an area, but somewhere in the process drawing has to take place either on the computer or using tangible media.
     Besides being an adventure in itself, one of the things that draws me the most to the idea of traveling to such different places is most likely finding new and interesting subject matter for direct observation and plein air pieces. I'll draw almost anything, anywhere, at any time, but with so many different possibilities out there, it would be crazy to not try as many places as I can.
     Money is about the only reason I haven't started traveling around already. It probably doesn't cost too much to go to some of these out-the-way places, but at the moment just about every dime I get is put back into my education or art.
When the time is right, my more mobile days will start.

Back to the Blog

To those of you who remember me from my previous blogging attempts, welcome back.

To those of you who are new to the weirdness,

Allow Me to Introduce Myself 

     Some people know me as That Kid Who Draws Really Good, so for those of you who don't know, I'm Derek. My life has always centered around my creative work, and if there was ever a time my focus was shifted, I would always find a way to realign it as my axis. In my early childhood it was one thing I could hold onto during a time of unfavorable change and negativity that continued to worsen through my recent emergence into early adulthood. There's something of a good feeling knowing I controlled everything on the page or canvas and how well it turned out. It also made a good sounding board for expressing my emotions since I don't like complaining, and I was sick of hearing people who clearly didn't understand say that they do. Self-pity and negativity aren't the reasons I'm here though, so I digress.

     Currently I'm a student at Henry Ford College. I'm in the process of attaining a certification in illustration while working on prerequisite classes for the bachelor's I plan on getting subsequently after. I've been working towards the goal of becoming a freelance illustrator for some years, but with few connections, I've been figuring it out as I go along. I'm one of those stubborn people who believes persistence is the key. Much of my work has been in graphite, colored pencil, or pen, but I've used a variety of other mediums. I like the challenge of mastering new materials and methods, so I continue to learn what I can about the different artistic media and how better to use them.

     What is Visual Value? You could say it's an inside look at the work and mind of someone who is determined to make a living from their passion one way or another. It's going to be a long and difficult pursuit, but one that I am sure will be worth it in the end (I've seen the alternative - definitely not something for me). With that proud, stubborn determination, I seek to expand my creative knowledge, manifest as many ideas as I can, and venture around in the process. The sharing of ideas and thoughts is central to blogging, so in that spirit I'll be sharing some of the interesting bits of information I find on related creative or subject matter.
     The title Visual Value comes from part of what I hope to achieve in all this: showing others that there's more to this than a hobby or interest. It isn't just nice looking pictures that you can look over in a matter of seconds and know everything about it. The image below is some of my early work, so that's probably a poor example, but there's a whole lot of art out there. Art can convey perspectives, thoughts, ideas, emotions; even if we can't even put them into words. There is value in what we artists and artisans do. Also, everything I do comes back to the visual aspect - making it into art of some kind.

     Why care about the progress and thoughts of a scruffy downriver artist? Perhaps you're a fellow artist, designer, illustrator, or someone who works in a creative field. Maybe you're considering expanding your horizons and trying out some creative ideas. It could be as simple as you like the subject matter and want to learn more about it. I also like discussing various creative topics with anyone that shares an interest, so if something crosses your mind that you'd like to ask or add as input, don't hesitate.
     This could also be of some benefit to those of you who maybe didn't think that a job was possible in a purely artistic field. I can't guarantee anything, but it looks like others have achieved it, so it's definitely possible. Or you might be like me in a sense that you greatly feel the need to break away from the negativity in your life. This will be discussed and encountered as well. If you don't happen to fall into any of those groups, I suppose at the very least you can get a glimpse of the art scene here in southeast Michigan as I make an effort to become part of it. 

     Once or twice a week I'll be sharing, as mentioned, something new in the progression of a project, my travels, recent studies, or the news. At the same time I'll be working on overcoming what I jokingly refer to as my "creative attention disorder."I have a pretty bad habit of starting projects and moving onto new ones before I finish the ones I started. It started some years ago when I started coming up with ideas faster than I could get them on paper. For a time I had to settle for writing them down and making thumbnail sketches so I wouldn't forget them all. Now it's time to check more of those projects off the list. It's true that being stuck in your ways makes it harder to change, but it isn't impossible. The way I see it, if you change what you do on a regular basis, then things will change as a result of that. Basically the same as putting in what you expect to get out. As above, so below.  

     There's still going to be plenty of pictures, so don't worry, but this will primarily be the reading site of the social media forums I plan to use. For solely photos, there's my Instagram (@d.sohoza), where you can catch my day-to-day wanderings and workings. Other sites will follow and be announced as they're ready.

Hopefully this will be enlightening and interesting to us both.
Now to have some fun with it.