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
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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
Aerial view of St. Paul’s Cathedral
and Millennium
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral
Hiro Sakaguchi
Artist 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”
“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."
Great Wall, 2009, acrylic, oil on
canvas, 72” x 96”
Boat with Pin Wheel & Hibachi Engine, 2009, graphite,
ink on
paper, 42” x 58”
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.
Artist: ERIN BARGER
Ani face
Single line drawing while listening to music.
Colored ink applied to add depth and emotion.
Ani Modified
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.