Week 10 - Final Blog

The Chicana Art and Artist course was a definite blessing in disguise for me during the Fall Quarter. It not only brought out the artist within me, but I am grateful that the class taught me that messages can be communicated through different means other than in writing. There is a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. I most fervently believe that holds true after taking this course.
I enjoyed being a part of this class for I learned a lot of information about Chicana artists who are creating beautiful, magnificent wonders. It is a bit embarrassing that I consider myself a Chicana, yet I had no idea that there were so many of Chicana artists in the field. I am learning about the different components of the Chicano Movement, and am very proud that Chicanas contributed to it with their art. I especially am honored that I learned many things from my instructor, Professor Alma M. López. I saw one of her pieces in a previous Chicano Studies course I took, and gained insight to interpretations of her work through other instructors. It was an incredible experience to learn the perspective of her work from her.
The art book project was a wonderful part of the course, and contributes to my fondness for class. It was much fun to draw my hand in the different ASL Letters; I now pay attention to little details, not only on my hands since we focused on the small details on our hands when drawing, but I am aware of the things around my environment. I especially enjoyed the "not-looking-at-the-paper-when-drawing-your-hand" assignments. I was glad to not be expected to make the drawing look like a hand, but what I saw. That is definitely how life is in my opinion, and I was relieved to let go, to not worry. The Chicana Art and Artist course made a tremendous positive impact in my life. I am very thankful, for it came in a very tough time in my life, and the art book project acted as an outlet for me and my daily tasks. I will definitely continue drawing even after this class is over, and only hope I can improve my skills, especially shading.
Lastly, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Professor Alma M. López for all of her dedication and effort in making this class enjoyable and informative. Her enthusiasm for the course content contributed to my interest in Chicana Art and Artists, which is not going to go away any time soon. I appreciate that she motivated every student, even us non-drawers, and welcomed us to the world of art with open arms, encouraging us that with practice we can be proficient artists. That kind of support is difficult to come by, and I cherish it very much. Many thanks for a wonderful Fall Quarter Professor López! Hope everyone has a wonderful Winter Break!