I like to make art fast and free. I make a lot of it, and am constantly exploring new ideas, though I don't always have time to carry them out. I try not to worry about my art being "good," as long as I learn something while I'm making it.

 

Recently, I've been exploring where life ends and art begins. My senior thesis project entails me "painting on location," in whatever esoteric place suits my fancy, and then hanging my painting in the place where it was painted. This will facilitate a dialogue between passersby and the painting, referencing assumptions made about art such as that it is shown in a museum. Through this project, I hope to encourage passersby to become more aware of their surroundings, and to question assumptions they might have made about life and art, and ultimately to take notice of their surroundings in the way one takes notice of art in an art gallery.

 

So far I have painted the view from the top level of a parking structure, including the steel railing. I have painted my school's campus in the rain. I have painted two houses in my neighborhood, and I have painted my art classroom. I intend the series to have eight instances of these paintings in their respective environments.

   

Arts Résumé for Sage Ryza

 

12th Grade, Crossroads School

Note: CAS = Crossroads Advanced Studies (Comparable to AP Classes)

 

CAS Studio Art

Focus on developing individual style and prepare for senior thesis show at year’s end. Loose assignments with room for exploration. 3 Hour class – last hour used for critique. My senior thesis project will explore the thin line between art and life, by hanging observational paintings in the place where they were observed and painted, thereby inciting the viewer to reexamine their surroundings.

 

Art History

Exploration of movements in art, from 1800’s to present. Discuss pervasive ideas and general trend of art movements, as well as influence on 21st century popular culture.

 

Senior Curatorial Project

Work in collaboration with nine peers to curate a show in the Sam Francis Gallery. Twice weekly meetings to discuss theme of show and prepare curatorial statement. Each participant researches and works closely with an artist for their work to be in the show. Show is entitled “Shangri-LA: the many facets of Los Angeles in the work of nine local artists.” I am working with artist Vincent Ramos, who explores aspects of LA through conceptual pieces which document processes.

 

After-School Figure Drawing (Advanced)

Gestures and long poses with a variety of models. Experimentation with various media, such as pen and ink, paint, charcoal, and wax.

 

NOTE: I submitted a portfolio and was accepted into CAS Photography, but chose to take Art History instead.

 

Related Experiences

Weekend visits to art museums & art galleries.

 

Summer, 2010

California College of the Arts, Pre-college Summer Program: Advanced Painting & Drawing, Advanced Sculpture.

Advanced Drawing & Painting: Teacher Sydney Cohen enjoyed baffling us with her creative metaphors for drawing, such as understanding the outline of an object by imagining a helicopter flying on the edges of it. Experimented with color, tone, form, line quality, etc. Daily critiques. Homework consisted of color charts and compositional studies. Culminated in intensive study for a final project, and a final show. My final project was a series of loosely-painted self-portraits with a variety of locations and attire, in which I explored aspects of self-alienation, and the multi-faceted nature of people.

 

Sculpture: Began with discussion of concepts - the demands and opportunities of three dimensions, as opposed to two. Viewed slides of contemporary sculptors, discussed how each approaches concept and subject matter with regard to their chosen medium. Our first assignment was a 6-foot sculpture in cardboard, based on an assigned word. Later, we experimented with wire, tape, clay, and other materials, and culminated in a project using plaster and unconventional gallery spaces. (I chose to display my final project in a bathroom). Each project was followed by a full-day critique.

 

11th Grade, Crossroads School

 

Studio Art 3

Explored various media and techniques in visual art, such as etching and printmaking. Class focused more on exploration and conceptual work than Studio Art 1 & 2. Was personally drawn towards quick and intuitive paintings, and developed a number of series’ including my series of note card paintings, my series of objects painted on cardboard, and my series which addressed the aspect of time, through portraying the window in our art classroom at various times of day.

 

Photography 3

Experimented with dark-room, as well as digital photography and Photoshop. Critiques after each project. Final Project involved a series of photos in the format of a book, taking an in-depth approach to a single subject.

 

After-School Figure Drawing

Worked in charcoal, graphite, and India ink to master correct proportion, as well as understand the gestural component of figure drawing.

 

Summer, 2009

 

Santa Monica College: Oil Painting

Learned the basics of using oil paint. Progressed from monochromatic paintings, to fruit still lives, to our final large abstract expressionist painting. My work was selected for display in our studio gallery for all 6 projects, and was used as an example to demonstrate correct usage of color in the secondary colors project. Enjoyed being in an art class geared towards college students.

 

10th Grade, Crossroads School

 

Studio Art 2

Emphasis on understanding color, proportion, and the expressive nature of line. Final project involved mixed media and collage to make a political statement.

 

Photography 1

Basics of dark-room practice and technique, projects on composition and subject. Gallery visits and write-ups.

 

Summer, 2008

 

Idyllwild Arts Summer Program: Painting & Drawing, Photography (2 weeks each)

Painting and Drawing: Figure model every day, was introduced to the concept of the gesture. Culminated in life-size figure drawings.

 

Photography: Worked in dark room and went on field trips to take pictures. Explored dark room techniques to enhance the idea behind the chosen subject.

 

9th Grade

 

Studio Art 1

Basics of drawing and painting – proportion and color mixing techniques.

 

Honors

12th Grade: Spanish Picture Book “Juan y La Luna” selected for display in “Book Show” in Sam Francis Gallery. Only Spanish book chosen for show.

 

Upcoming Project

Internship with middle school art teacher to learn the fundamentals of teaching art. I will help as an in-class assistant, as well as with creating lesson plans outside of class. Project will take place during allotted time for senior projects: May 1st through June 1st.

 

Creative Writing Résumé

 

12th Grade (Night Class)

 

Santa Monica College: English 30B: Advanced Creative Writing

This class is for already-established writers to get feedback on their work. Teacher chooses 3 or 4 students to read their work out loud per class. After each reading, fellow students critique work, and make constructive comments. Note: High School seniors not usually allowed in class, teacher made an exception based on demonstrated maturity of writing.

Teacher: Jim Krusoe

 

Summer 2009

 

Santa Monica College: English 30A: Creative Writing

Loose weekly writing assignments. Short story reading assignments in The Art of The Tale, essay reading assignments in The Writer’s Notebook. Comments by teacher on weekly assignments focused on understanding and developing individual intentions in own writing.

Teacher: Jim Krusoe

 

Honors

2 Poems featured in “Dark as Day” (Award-Winning Crossroads Literary Journal)

The Way you Eat Peanuts

Sunlight