Caliee Sawochka
Every AP 2D Art and Design student is assigned with the task of constructing an inquiry question, or a theme, to investigate within their portfolio. After a summer of pondering about what mine should be, I eventually decided on one that felt personal to both myself and my art style: How does modern day society influence women and in what ways does it force them to accommodate to societal expectations?
"El Fregadero"
Dimensions: 14.5x19 inches
Mediums Used: Watercolor, Colored Pencil
Description: This piece depicts a girl in her kitchen washing the dishes while, behind her, her school work and extracurricular activities longingly await on the counter for her attention. This artwork illustrates the impact traditional gender roles have in modern society. The bright, vibrant colors are meant to contrast with the mundane nature of the girl’s dishwashing; emphasizing how, despite the opportunities that surround her, she is reduced to the mere household duties that are often assumed for women.
"Obsession"
Dimensions: 11x14 inches
Mediums Used: Colored Pencil, Marker
Description: My next piece shows a close up of a girl applying mascara to her lashes. Black wads gunk up her eyes as she keeps scooping mascara on, meanwhile the rest of her skin is oily and filled with acne. The pop culture style and exaggerated colors are meant to represent the unreal and obsessive nature of the girl’s makeup routine, emphasizing how pressured women are to enhance themselves in order to feel acknowledged and seen in society.
"The Survey"
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Dimensions: 11x14 inches
Medium Used: Colored Pencil
Description: This piece depicts a girl hunched over at her desk, completing her rigorous math homework. As she works, a number of pages hang behind her—written on them are her scores from previous tests and assignments. This image is meant to represent the expectations women have to live up to in order to be viewed as “smart” or academically gifted in society. The fading blue background mimics the night sky, highlighting how exhausted she is from studying late into night. Ironically though, even though her As are proof of her intelligence, the survey shown on her homework represents the opposite—no matter how qualified she is, society will always favor the man over the woman, even if their capabilities are exactly the same.
"Transformation"
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Dimensions: 18x18 inches
Medium Used: Watercolor, Colored Pencil
Description: This piece shows a woman straightening her curly hair to look smooth, soft, and flattened. Having blue, beautiful hair and a straightener in hand, her straightening her hair is her way of conforming to society’s beauty standards. Despite its natural beauty, her hair is seen as too masculine and undesirable by society, hence why it holds deep, dark blues throughout. Meanwhile, her straightened hair is a silky pink, highlighting how it is viewed as a more “feminine” and idealistic hairstyle by society’s standards.