AP Art of the Week
Spotlight on Artist Nathan Celaya
Welcome to The Elective’s digital art museum, dedicated to the incredible work of AP Arts students. This week we feature a Prismacolor-pencil-on-chipboard work made by Nathan Celaya from Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ.
Welcome to The Elective’s digital art museum, dedicated to the incredible work of AP Arts students. Each week we highlight a work or series created in one of the AP Arts concentrations—AP 2-D Art and Design, 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing (the AP Program also offers Art History and Music Theory)—as well as a statement from the artist (and, occasionally, their teacher).
From the first cave paintings to contemporary breakthroughs in virtually reality, art, in all its forms, has been a crucial way for people to process, make sense of, comment on, and grapple with the world around them. In 2020, there is a lot to process and grapple with—and AP Art students have risen to the challenge. The work many of them submitted in their final portfolios is explicitly of the moment, from commentary on the covid-19 pandemic to the celebration of people of color to the nature of heroism in perilous times.
The work is often challenging and provocative but always insightful, inspiring, and expansive.
This week we feature a Prismacolor-pencil-on-chipboard work made by Nathan Celaya from Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ.
Here’s Nathan’s statement on the work:
"The question that guided my sustained investigation was: How can I put a fantastical or exaggerated spin on the variety of sub-cultures that I observe every day in the Southwest through the use of different mediums?
To accomplish this, I used my medium of choice—Prismacolor colored pencils—to achieve different effects. The reflections, textures, and depth I created within the compositions, helped to enhance the cultural importance and cartoonish fantasy, like in this piece that was inspired by motorcycle clubs.
My works were revised by creating multiple preliminary sketches and by revisiting my guiding question. For one work, a cowboy, I added faux fur and fabric to give it that Wild West look. Further experimentation with ink, collage, and printmaking helped to expand on my artistic abilities and guide me through this process, creating Southwest-inspired compositions."
Here are a few more pieces from Nathan’s portfolio:
This was inspired by classic cowboy films. Prismas and recycled components (faux fur, leather, fabric) glued to chipboard give it a 3D feel.
This was inspired by 1970s counterculture. I reprinted images to create an intricate pattern that is duplicated.
This was inspired by the writing of Hunter S. Thompson. Prismas were used to create reflections of light.
This was inspired by Arizona landscapes. Black ink and prismas are used to create contrast.
This was inspired by fashion photography. Prismas were used to create a sense of depth and perspective.
The idea behind this was to create a piece that deals with a social issue, in this case, pollution. It was inspired by the Gorillaz album "Plastic Beach." Recycled materials are used to create a tactile effect.
Student statements are lightly edited for clarity.
