Stylized cream-colored bird in flight inside a dark green circular emblem

Studio Journal

A collection of creative work, critical reflections, brief research, and notes from my practice as a Studio Art student and writer.

Here, I document the ideas, experiments, and questions that shape my work— from studio projects and art-historical research to poetry, fiction, design, and the creative process behind them.

Art History, Art History Research Milla Farrington Art History, Art History Research Milla Farrington

Art History Research #01: The Conception of Perception…

The Construction of Perception: From Romantic Sublimity to Impressionist Immediacy

A comparative study of J. M. W. Turner's The Slave Ship (1840) and Claude Monet's Impression, Sunrise (1872), examining how color, light, and atmosphere shape the viewer's perception. Through formal analysis and historical context, this research explores the relationship between Romantic sublimity and Impressionist immediacy, considering how paintings transform visual experience into something felt as much as seen.

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Art History, Looking Closely Milla Farrington Art History, Looking Closely Milla Farrington

Art History #03: Looking Closely

Gerard Sekoto, Cyclists in Sophiatown

A closer look at Gerard Sekoto’s Cyclists in Sophiatown reveals the quiet rhythm of everyday urban life. Through contrasting warm and cool tones, shifting light and shadow, and lines that guide the eye down the street, Sekoto creates a sense of depth and movement within the neighborhood. What appears to be an ordinary moment becomes a study of atmosphere, perspective, and the lived experience of a community captured in time.

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Art History, Looking Closely Milla Farrington Art History, Looking Closely Milla Farrington

Art History #02: Looking Closely

Sally Mann, Candy Cigarette

A closer look at Sally Mann’s Candy Cigarette reveals a tension between childhood innocence and the appearance of maturity. Through the contrast of posture, gaze, and gesture, Mann draws attention to a young girl whose guarded expression and cigarette distinguish her from the carefree children around her. What initially appears to be an ordinary moment outdoors becomes a more ambiguous reflection on growing up, self-presentation, and the ways we interpret childhood through the lens of adulthood.

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Art History, Looking Closely Milla Farrington Art History, Looking Closely Milla Farrington

Art History #01: Looking Closely

Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Swing

Beneath its playful, idyllic surface, Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s The Swing reveals a carefully orchestrated scene of pleasure and privilege. Through contrasting colors, dramatic lighting, and the figures’ gestures, clothing, and positions, Fragonard places the woman at the center of a world that seems to revolve around her. What initially appears carefree invites a closer examination of the relationships between wealth, gender, and social hierarchy.

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