Lucia Chang

Revised Junior Project Artifact Reflection (Know, Do, Reflect)

Complete the KDR graphic organizer below with comprehensive thoughts. Each section should consist of 1-2
detailed, thorough paragraphs that showcase what you KNOW, what you can DO, and your REFLECTION on your
project. The boxes will grow as you type.
KNOW:
Explain the goal or
objective of the course, what
your project was, and how
your project met that
goal/objective
Discuss what you needed
to know in order to
complete the project
effectively and proficiently,
as well as discussing what
you LEARNED upon
completing the project.

For the Junior Project, the theme was The Power of Artistic Storytelling.
We had to come up with a project that showcased activism through art.
My initial thought was to create my project focusing on social injustice, a
topic that interests me and that I wanted to dedicate my time to. I asked
Mrs. Wickware if I could paint her door with art for my project. I had lots
of time to develop a concept, the process was thoughtful and lengthy. I
went back to Mrs. Wickware many times to consult and ask for her input.
After about two weeks we were set on a final image, to paint prison bars,
representing the lack of freedom, for the various hands that would be
grasping the bars. Hanging off the wrists there would be tags labeled with
minority groups, like "African American", "Poor", and "Immigrant" to
represent these groups being labeled as just labels.
What I needed to know to start the project was what topic I wanted to
focus on. Luckily for me, I always knew that I wanted to do something
related to social injustice. I also needed to develop a concept and mockups to put to paper what I was imagining in my mind. A big learning
curve was learning to paint the hands. I hadn't ever before done hands and
it was especially difficult doing so in a medium I wasn't too familiar with.
I'm glad to have learned to paint hands because it is useful to my growth
as an artist. This project has let me experience new techniques and
exploring with paint. As an activist, this project has shown me how to
express my thoughts and has allowed me to share a provoking story to
those who view my painting.
I gave Mrs. Wickware questions about my piece to ask to her students so I
could gain insight from my peers, and I got responses I had hoped to hear.
Reading what they wrote, I learned new ideas and thoughts that I hadn't
thought of before, like this a comment from a girl regarding the labels,
The tags show that people are reduced to a single word at times. This
was something I hadn't thought of when I was coming up with the concept
and I think that it is interesting and very true. Hearing others thoughts on
art allows you to look from a different view and let's you catch onto things
you otherwise might have not. I learned how to tell a story through art
and, seeing it translate very easily across to the students, I am glad to say
it was a success.

DO:
Discuss the process of what
you actually did in order to
complete your project and
what you can do as a result

The concept development was a lengthy process, much had to do with

having lots of other school tasks to complete so my focus was not solely
on the concept. When I set up my calendar and scheduled goal dates to
complete aspects of the project by, I did not realize how it would take me
to finalize my concept as well as the setback that came when I was told by

o Think - because I
know (this) I can now
do (this)
Discuss new technologies
used, new subject matter
encountered, new skills
learned or skills that were
improved, etc. as you
worked through your
project.

REFLECT: Reflect on the

process of completing the
project (both steps taken and
knowledge and experience
gained).
What went well? Why?
What could have gone
better? How could you
have improved it?
How have you
demonstrated growth in
your knowledge and skills
as an artist, a storyteller,
and a student as a result of
working through the
project?
Reflect on your process of
creating memory, legacy,
and/or tradition, and how
using your art has helped
you tell an untold story.
Did you meet your project
goals/objectives? Yes/No,

administration that I could not paint the door. When that happened I was
very frustrated and sad because I felt that the person who I had to talk to
about painting the door was overall unappreciative of what I had worked
so hard on developing. Though this was the lowest point of my project
process, it taught me to not take to heart when others don't see the point of
my art. It really did though set me back because I was ready to actually
begin painting but did not have anything to actually paint. Looking back,
the door restriction really motivated me to make this project as great as I
could. I talked to Mrs. Wickware and she was very supportive, we settled
on having the art painted on a canvas that she will display inside her
classroom. I got the canvas on May 13 and set myself a goal to finish it by
May 20, but I did not get to because of lack of experience on how to go
about painting hands and using much time to practice my skills. I finished
sketching the canvas on Tuesday by working with the little free time I had
that past weekend and school time on Monday and Tuesday. I began
painting the canvas on Wednesday plan to finish no later than Tuesday the
24 of May.
I learned many new techniques while working on this project, like how to
layer paint to get the dynamic hand structures, I also worked with depth
and close-up detail. I definitely challenged myself with this painting- the
size of the canvas was very intimidating, as well as working large scale
with paint. I had never done a project on a canvas that big and in a
medium I wasn't too experienced in. I appreciate the opportunity to be
given this challenge and to improve myself in several aspects.
Overall, I think this project went really well and I'm very happy and proud
of how it's turning out. From the start, I had lots of motivation to get this
to where I dreamed and passion for this topic and concept. I think that my
drive and challenge I set for myself is ultimately leading me to succeed. If
you were to ask me what went wrong two weeks ago, I would say that not
being to paint on the door was the biggest problem. I would say that if I
had done the same art on Mrs. Wickware's door the visualization would
maybe be more impactful, but now I see that by it being hung inside the
classroom, the image will be in an atmosphere where the topic of it is
better expressed and taught. So I definitely see that as a benefit in that
unlike students seeing it on their way to class, they will be able to form
perspectives throughout the course of the year by learning in class and,
hopefully, have a better understanding and appreciation for what it
represents.
Over the course of these past weeks I feel I have grown a lot in many
aspects of my character. As an artist, I have discovered a new love for
painting, working with a medium I prior to the project really hadn't
focused on was challenging but let me push myself into exploration. It
was a learning curve for sure, I tried many techniques and styles for
painting, and tried to figure out the dynamics of the paint. I learned new
techniques, like using undertones and complementary colors and layering
them many times to achieve a final skin color. I know that if not for this
project, I would not have stepped out of my artistic comfort zone to step

Explain.
Did your project produce
the intended impact on
those who engaged with it?
How so?

away from pencil and pen to use paint.

Being an artist, I tell stories with my art. It's my own way to express my
thoughts and ideas through something that I care so much about and love
doing. This project has let me grow as a storyteller in that the story I wish
to tell now has a bigger audience to listen to it. I feel that the story I am
telling had been given a home in a room where it will be amplified and
taught for appreciation of it. This project has allowed me to create artwork
with a meaningful story and has given me the honor tell the story in a
great manner.
I feel I've grown as a student with this project by using knowledge and
interest to actually complete the project. I have grown in knowing my
abilities and wanting to share these to my peers.
With this project, I hope to have told a story that will influence others to
want to learn and discover the topic and to appreciate someone wanting to
share the story. This story is new in that it is the first time it has been
represented with this artistic concept.
I am happy of what I've completed over these weeks and I am proud to
say that I challenged myself as an artist, storyteller, and student to achieve
the final outcome. Although I was behind schedule on my set dates to
accomplish different pieces of the painting, my real goal was to create
something meaningful and impactful to be proud of, and I can say that I
have.
I have not yet had the opportunity to take the next step and ask for other's
thoughts about my piece as I have not yet finish it. How I plan to get
feedback is to have my piece presented to Mrs. Wickware's history
students and have them give their thoughts about it. I hope that with this I
can get a sense of how or to whom this will impact, and especially why
this piece impacted those that it did. As for comments I've gotten
throughout the process, I've had several people tell me that they really like
the message and how it's expressed. They've said that it's easy to
comprehend by just looking at it and that it's relatable to any time.
Hearing people complement my art is humbling and motivational. I hope
for my painting to provoke thought and kindness in the people who see it.