Observations of Everyday Experiences

 

Essential Questions:

How can experiences change your point of view?How does memory affect our view of objects or events?Could you think of ways to use your senses beyond your 

sight to enhance your art making?What kinds of simple object can transform into a work of 

art? 

Artwork that explores the senses…

Stephen Wiltshire, New York Cityscape from Memory

Stephen Wiltshire• Stephen Wiltshire is an artist who draws and paints 

detailed cityscapes. He has a particular talent for drawing lifelike, accurate representations of cities, sometimes after having only observed them briefly.

• Stephen was born in London to West Indian parents on 24th April, 1974. As a child he was mute, and did not relate to other human beings. Aged three, he was diagnosed as autistic. He had no language and lived entirely in his own world. At the age of five, Stephen was sent to Queensmill School in London, where it was noticed that the only pastime he enjoyed was drawing. It soon became apparent he communicated with the world through the language of drawing; first animals, then London buses, and finally buildings.   These drawings show a masterful perspective, a whimsical line, and reveal a natural innate

New York City Story

At aged eight, Stephen started drawing cityscapes after the effects of an earthquake (all imaginary), as a result of being shown photographs of earthquakes in a book at school. He also became obsessed with illustrations of classic American cars at this time and he drew most of the major London landmarks. The teachers at Queensmill School encouraged him to speak by temporarily taking away his art supplies so that he would be forced to ask for them. Stephen responded by making sounds and eventually uttered his first word - "paper." He learned to speak fully at the age of nine.

Chicago street scene, 2009

The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral

Aerial view of St. Paul’s Cathedral and Millennium

Hiro SakaguchiArtist Statement I am interested in making an object, which contains a fictional realm that is

relevant to my experience as an artist and an individual. I depict images or making objects gathered from my everyday life experience, interest and memory. By making artworks, I

am after a story, which leads the viewer’s visual and conceptual departure.

Pin wheel, 2006, graphite, watercolor on paper, 9” x

12”

Boat with Pin Wheel & Hibachi Engine, 2009, graphite, ink on paper, 42” x 58”

Great Wall, 2009, acrylic, oil on canvas, 72” x 96”

“Because of my background, growing up in Japan and residing now in the U.S., elements of my images often come from experiences from both places. By depicting those autobiographical elements from memory and everyday life, I am after a story in which I myself would like to dwell. I am after the emotion I associate with those images."

Using sound. . .

Sound Drawing created from Obama’s 17-minute long acceptance speech. The drawing above was automatically generated from a tool invented over at http://www.zefrank.com that draws an image based on sound waves from your microphone.

Ani faceSingle line drawing while listening to music. Colored ink applied to add depth and emotion. Ani Modified

Artist: ERIN BARGER

    Enduring Understandings:• Making close observations of everyday experiences or encounters can 

change how you look at your surroundings.  • Using everyday materials can make connections between the artist and 

the viewer.• Memories can hold both truth and fictional facts; they live in our minds 

until we feel the need to share or express them.