Final Work
The materials used for this is acrylic paint, paper, black paint marker, white paint marker, and magazine paper. I used acrylic paint to create the background. I drew out the tree on three separate pieces of paper then used an exact knife to cut it out. I then pasted it onto the background. 
This is not the complete final development of this project, I intent to add a white backing to it so it can be held as one.
This is not the complete final development of this project, I intent to add a white backing to it so it can be held as one.
For this piece I chose to focus on growth. Growth can mean a number of things but it always means changing and going forward in some way. Growth can be mental, physical, emotional, or relational. You can mentally grow, change your mindset, break through, or looking deeper. You can physically grow by becoming more active, grow in height, or building discipline. Emotionally facing trauma or breaking through being uncomfortable. Finally, you can grow in your relationship with others, with yourself, and with our Earth. I think it is very interesting how our physical and mental characteristics mirror heavily in our environment. I have always thought that growth was never linear, it takes 'planting seeds' as my mother says. Making small changes, learning new information that changes your way of thinking, and actually taking steps to grow.
To achieve the goals you may want to accomplish, you will have to make many of these changes, which is signified by the roots. Roots are one of the main signs or growth (the icon) as a plant has to have roots to grow. As they build up you find how they all connect and interlink. They begin to morph together or intertwine. The rings that make up the foundation of your goal may be an indicator or index as you take more steps. Plants create leaves and the leaves may fall and flow through the wind as seasons change. Leaves are not directly linked to growth itself but can be a symbol of growth. I also created a butterfly and swirl using the leaves because those are both also symbols of growth and change.
Progress Photos
Questions for my peers
Do you think that the message about growth is well represented in this piece?
Though it may seem indirect, you think the three different segments of this piece reflect the icon, index, and symbol?
Do you think that adding a white background to this piece will take away from it?
