Author: Samantha Landolfi

Samantha Landolfi – Intersteller

In my Interstellar Drawing, I will portray the profound paradox of Progress and Destruction in the world. For example, humans have made many advances in medicine, technology, the sciences, the humanities, etc. However, we have also majorly contributed to the destruction of the planet. We have been one of the major contributors to climate change and its worsening effects. As we progress, we are also damaging the planet in so many ways. For my drawing, I will show one half of the Earth with booming cities and lots of innovation. On the other side, I will show destruction, pollution, and barren landscapes. 

Self Portrait and Pattern Drawing – Samantha Landolfi

The oil painting I chose is titled Maria Hamilton Beckford, which was painted by Benjamin West in 1799. This oil portrait shows Maria Beckford, who was the wife of William Beckford, a wealthy and famous English figure. Maria also came from a wealthy, prestigious Scottish family. In this painting, West displays Beckford with much grace, power, and dignity. He emphasizes her elegance, beauty, and social class. This realistic painting represents Maria in a sophisticated way through her posture, expression, and clothing. In addition, it can also represent wealth, youth, and lineage, which were common themes for elite families in the late 1700s. 

In the painting, Maria has a poised expression on her face, and she is sitting with an open book on her lap and an instrument sitting next to her. Her hair is beautifully styled, and she has on a dark blue dress with pearl accessories and earrings. The background seems to include a painting in the background, and she is sitting on a chair with red velvet cloth behind her. Overall, this painting shows strength, grace, and dignity, which I also want to represent in my painting. For my portrait drawing, I want to create a bold geometric pattern that emphasizes the inner strength shown in the drawing as well. This pattern will represent balance and structure as well as dignity and sophistication.

Samantha Landolfi – Current Events Drawing

The topic I have chosen is climate change, which is a pressing issue worldwide. Due to human and environmental factors, extreme weather events have only continued to worsen with government officials doing little to stop it. Some main characters that I could include in my drawing consist of people being affected by these natural disasters or protesters holding up signs for an event on climate change. I could also include people disregarding nature or a factory in the background with smoke coming out of it. In addition, I want this drawing to represent a rhetorical view that urges these government officials and industries to do something about climate change. Some emotions that will be most present in this drawing are anger and frustration as well as disappointment and fear. I want to make sure that this drawing shows strong emotions and evokes a sense of urgency or call to action. Overall, climate change is a major issue all over the world that needs to be addressed and talked about more.

Samantha Landolfi – Proteus

Radiolarians are microscopic marine organisms that have unique, complex shapes. When closely viewed, their tiny bodies are intricate and designed so beautifully. This goes to show that even if something is small in form, there still can be so much meaning behind it. It was interesting to learn about how Haeckel was both an artist and scientist because you don’t really see these two fields connect a lot. He intertwined the two subjects and sketched drawings of these radiolarians. It was also interesting to learn that he viewed all life and living things as connected in one big continuous cycle. In addition, I never really thought about how art can help people better understand science. Art can break down these complex ideas of science and make them easier to recognize and observe. Furthermore, it was thought-provoking to think about how the mind and the body are both separate but connected. As well as how the mind might not need the body to exist which is a complicated concept. Overall, I really enjoyed this film and thought it was interesting to learn about how humans, nature, and technology are all interconnected in a variety of ways. Also how art can be used to better understand the world around us, especially science. 

Samantha Landolfi – Strategic Slipper

In this story twist, Cinderella is not just a naive princess but a strategic and smart one. As Cinderella heads to the ball, she knows that once the clock strikes midnight her beautiful ball gown will turn back into rags. Once she meets the Prince and dances with him she knows that she will want to see him again. However, she realizes that her evil Stepmother will not let this happen and will do everything in her power to stop this. As midnight approaches Cinderella comes up with a plan for the Prince to find her. When the clock strikes twelve, she runs down the steps off the palace and purposely leaves her glass slipper on the ground. Cinderella knows that the Prince will see the shoe and locate her. Even if her Stepmother tries to hide Cinderella from seeing the Prince she will not be able to do anything once the slipper fits Cinderella perfectly. Overall, this story twist shows Cinderella as a intelligent and wise princess that is going to get what she wants and truly deserves. She does not want to live in the shadow of her Stepmother and step-sisters her whole life but rather achieve her goals and dreams.