In-Class Assignment: Between Ugliness & Beauty

For this assignment we were to draw 4 pictures that

attempt to show the midway point between ugliness and beauty.

Beauty: The quality present in a thing or person that 

gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind.

Ugliness: Very unattractive or unpleasant to look at; 

offensive to the sense of beauty; displeasing in appearance.

 

Abandoned House

This is the drawing that I began during class.

My inspiration for this was the historic architecture

I've seen growing up in Tennessee. Many of the structures

are civil war plantations. Some have been converted into

museums or venues for weddings, but there are a great

number scattered throughout the region that are deteriorating.

There is something about old abandoned homes that spark

my senses and make my heart flutter a bit. Particularly,

the houses that are being consumed by nature... Trees emerging

from glassless windows, vines cascading along the sides.

The house itself is so beautiful, and of course, the nature

is as well. But there is something so dark about the combination.

This was someone's home. Memories made there. Lives lived.

Why is this home abandoned and empty? It's a dreadful sight, really.

Simultaneously, however, it's fascinating to see nature take

back what was hers to begin with. Sigh...

Bat Chandelier

For this piece I began thinking about animals.

There are very few animals that I don't like. Bats are

one of those few. I think bats are pretty amazing, but aesthetically,

I'm not a fan. The sight of one sends shivers through my soul.

I wanted to pair bats with something lovely and unexpected.

So, I chose to use a chandelier for the beautiful part of the image. 

However, instead of glistening diamonds hanging from the fixture,

there are ominous bats dangling.

Snapdragon Spines

One of my favorite flowers are Snapdragons. They are tall

blossom-laden stalks with individual blossoms stacked

vertically upon one another. They come in many colors.

One afternoon it hit me. Somehow, I made the visual connection between

Snapdragons and spines. Something about those detailed anatomy charts

of the spine gives me the creeps. However, the intricate stacking of the tiny

bones reminds me of the beautiful flower.

 Snapdragons

Ocean Trash

For this one I was inspired by a beautiful photograph
I came across of the ocean floor. I began pondering
on what is actually on the ocean floor that is ugly.
There are many strange animals, but I wouldn't necessarily
consider them ugly. The solution for the ugly portion of
the piece was something man made (of course)... Trash.

I remember reading an article once about how it is legal
to dump waste into the ocean once you are so far from shore.
Reading further, I was astonished at the amount of our
trash scientists believe rest on the ocean floor.