Self Portrait

1. Why did you select the inspiration pieces? I selected these pieces from Van Gogh, Picasso and Dali (in that order) because they were slightly non-traditional pieces. I wanted to emulate that style in my portrait. 2. Why did you select the media to create your self-portrait? The media I selected was colored pencil. I chose that because I wanted color to be a large part of the portrait.
3. What challenges did you face in creating your self-portrait and how did you overcome them? My main challenge was the fact that I cannot draw very well. It was difficult for me to draw out the portrait and make it look like myself. I overcame this by trying many copies and sketches and taking my time.
4. How does this piece represent you? Besides the fact that I hope it resembles me, the colors and the abstractness represent my personality.
5. What elements and principles of art did you apply in this work? I applied a lot of use of color as well as perspective.
6. Did you enjoy working on this project? It was a little stressful at first, but as the project progressed I enjoyed it more.
7. What do you think of your final artwork? I like my final piece, and I feel that it represents me. 

Art Critic

1. Which projects did you review?
2. Why did you select the Exhibit you critiqued?
3. What challenges did you face in writing the critique article and how did you overcome them?
4. How do you feel about critiquing your peers work?
5. Would you like to read the critique your peers wrote about your Art Curation Project?
6. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your finished article and why?
7. Did you enjoy working on this project?


1. I reviewed "How Bizarre, How Bizarre" by Debbie Russel.
2. I selected this one right off the bat, because I really like how different it was.
3. Some challenges I faced were figuring out what exactly I should write about, and making sure I critiqued properly.
4. I really liked looking at other people's work and seeing what their galleries looked like.
5. I would LOVE to read any critiques about my exhibit. I put a lot of time and effort into my project and I would love to get feedback about it. 
6. I would rate my article a 9 because I spent a lot of time viewing the gallery, and I took my time in writing up my review and I am proud of the finished article.
7. I really enjoyed working on this project. It was a lot of fun to visit my peer's galleries and to do a write up being an art critic. 

Reflections

1. What were you expectations for this course and where they met?
My expectations for this course were to learn more about art. I think I did meet my expectations, because I feel I am more knowledgeable about art now.

2. Now that you've been through this course, What is art? How would you define it now compared to your intial posting?
To me art is any expression that a person makes. This can be through painting, sculpting, dancing or music. There are many forms and I truly believe you cannot define art in words.

3. Who was your favorite artist in your original posting and who is your favorite visual artist now? If there is a difference, why do you think so? If you have the same favorite artist, why do you think so?
My favorite artist was Vincent van Gogh. He is still my favorite artist, he probably always will be. His paintings always stood out to me, even before I really knew anything about art. But not I am more open to new artists as well.


4. Now that you've completed this course, how do you feel about taking an online course? Is your answer the same as it was in your first posting? How is it the same or different?
I've taken several online class, and i even took more than one this summer. I enjoy the freedom that online classes offer, but I do miss that interaction of being in a classroom. But over the summer I would much rather do classes online so I have some freedom to enjoy my summer.

Video Reviews

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Criticism project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.
3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of art criticism?


Video #1: Pollock 
1. Some key concepts from this video are, that Pollock was a very controversial painter. Some critics thought he would be very successful, while others were not so sure. Pollack wanted to create art that was somewhere between 'the canvas and the mural' meaning it was both moveable and permanent. 
2. Yes this relates to my art criticism project because it gives examples of ways that people critique art, and that people have differing opinions of pieces.

3. I liked this film. I enjoy Pollock's work, and have seen many of his paintings in person, so I found the video helpful, and interesting. 


Video #2: The Critics
1. Some key concepts from this video are, that artists often wonder what the purpose of critics are and that critics offer up a unique perspective to make viewers think about the art in a new way. Critics are supposed to help improve art, in this case movies/films, and help the public understand art in a new way.
2. Yes this does relate because it explains the function of critics, and how to critique art.
3. I liked this film, it explained the function of critics, helped define what it means to be a critic and explored the world of critics.


CriticismVideo #3: Greenberg on Art
1. Some key concepts are, that is difficult to write about visual art. Critics must be well informed and relevant in order to properly critique. After WWII there was a cultural boom, and lots of new art was created.
2. Yes this relates because it is another opinion about art critics, and what their job is in society.
3. I liked this video, it made sense of a lot of things about critics and what their function is in the art world. It also talked about the culture boom after the war, and I found that to be very interesting.
1. 

Art Curation Project!

I just finished up my final art curation project. The project took me a VERY long time to complete. I did however, enjoy doing this project. I liked picking a theme that I enjoyed and searching for art that went along with the theme. It allows you to pretend that you own a gallery, and that you can pick different pieces to put in your gallery. I would want my gallery to be simple, with wooden floors and creme or white walls. This would allow you to focus on the art as opposed to the decor. I would want lots of natural light in my gallery as well. I had a good time doing this project and I liked all the freedom it allowed me to experience. I learned a lot about what it takes to be a curator, and how to put together pieces to make a cohesive gallery. Overall, even though the project took many many hours, I am glad I got to experience it and I enjoyed putting my 'gallery' together.

Art Curation Videos

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.

3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of the art concepts you practiced while creating your curation project?

1. The video on Lowbrow West Coast Pop Art was very interesting. Some key concepts are that lowbrow art was created to go against the 'highbrow' "color blocks and urinals" in art galleries. This type of art is often looked down on. It is sometimes looked at as surreal art as well. It has a very 'anyone can play' attitude. 
2. I liked this video a lot, and it could go along with my exhibit. I would have to find art about nature that was done in this style. 
3. I loved this film. I thought it was so fun and interesting, and it really helped me understand this art form.


1. The video about modern art's key concepts are how curators figure out how to display modern art. There are a lot of challenges that go along with modern art. You must make sure that the art is safe, and that it can be viewed as it was meant to be seen.
2. Yes, I think that this can relate to my curator project because it goes into the mind of a curator and it showed me all the work that goes into an exhibit. 
3. This video was great because it showed the evolution of modern art, and how curators learn how to properly display exhibits. 


1. In the Native American video some key concepts were who has the right to certain objects that could be considered art? This is a very interesting subject. Do museums have a right to them because they are historical, or do the ancestors have the rights because it belongs to their culture? This is something curators need to take into account when creating exhibits. 
2. I don't think this was too helpful for my project. Although it is about nature in some way, I don't think I will be including sacred remains in my exhibit.
3. I liked this video and found it to be interesting and informative.


1. In the video "Picture Perfect" some key concepts are George Eastman created the first affordable camera, which brought photography to the masses. Through his invention this art form became accessible to many different people. 
2. I think that his is useful to me because I might be displaying some photos are art in my exhibit and this gives vital information.
3. I found this video to be very interesting and informative on the subject of photography. 

More Videos!

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

1. The first video I chose was the one on Andy Warhol. I have seen his painting in various museums and always found them to be interesting. 

2. Some key concepts from this video are that Warhol was inspired by pop images, as well as color. He often used repetition in his art to create a statement piece. 

3. This relates to the text because it discusses postmodern art.

4. I think that this film was direct with its information and very interesting to watch. 

1. The second video I chose to watch was Expression in the 50's and 60's. I find hippie culture to be so interesting and I thought that this video might have some of those elements in it. I also really enjoy abstract art.

2. Some key concepts from this video are that abstract art was born from avant-garde European and American art. however, it was rejected by many people. Many people do not understand abstract art. Abstract art encourages thinking and feeling. 

3. This relates to the textbook because it discusses further postmodern and modern art.

4. I think that this video was interesting and it explained the information well.

Videos

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

1. The first video that I chose was Surrealism and Dada. I found this to be very interesting because I love surreal paintings and I wanted to learn more.
2. That we might find things like string and cardboard in museums now a days. But there was a time when it was rare and innovative to use these materials. The Dada movement was born after World War I. Art can be made from found materials and recycled materials. 
3. This video relates to the text because we read about surrealism as well as about Dada this past week.
4. I loved this video. I think that it presented the ideas in a clear and concise manner. It was easy to understand and informative. 


1. The next video I chose was The Impact of Cubism. I wanted to watch this video because I do not know a lot about cubism and I was curious to know more.
2. Some key concepts from this video are that Picasso made Cubism 'famous'. But there are many other artists who use this technique. There is an emphasis on shape and space as opposed to color. Color can be monochromatic or use multiple colors. 
3. This relates to the text because we read about cubism this week in our textbook.
4. I thought that this video was very interesting and informative. It presented the information in an easy to understand way. It helped me grasp the ideals of this movement. 

Extension Week 8- Videos

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

1. The first video I chose to watch was the one titled Buddhism. I chose this video because I think that Buddhism is very interesting and I took a class on this subject and really enjoyed it. 
2. Some key concepts from this video are that this religion began in India. It told the story of how the future Buddha lived and how his was a prince. He quested to answer the question 'is that all there is?'. 
3. The video relates to the text because this week we read about this religion and how it affects art.
4. I really thought that this film was interesting and shed light on this topic. 


1. The next video I chose was on Hinduism. The reason I decided to watch this video is because it was mentioned in the first video and I wanted to learn more.
2. Some key concepts of this video are that Hindu gods/goddesses function a lot like saints do (from the Christian religion). Many people especially westerners see Hinduism as exotic and mysterious.
3. This video relates to the text because in our book it discusses how religions affect art, and this is one of the religions of the areas we were reading about this week.
4. I think that this film delves deep into this religion as is able to shed some light on the topic. This allows us to better understand the are from this area. 


1. The third video I chose was called African Art. I chose this one because it was a departure from the Indian/Asian videos that I had chosen prior to this. 
2. Some key concepts from this video are that African art uses natural materials. African art also uses patterns and bright or natural color schemes. A lot of African art is also ritual pieces. 
3.. This video relates to the text because it highlights the culture and art that we have been reading about in this week's chapters.
4. I think that this film did a great job of explaining African art and culture. It further enforced what I had read this past week.

Art Videos!

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

1. The first video I chose was The Drawings of Michelangelo. I chose this video because I find Michelangelo to be very interesting and I wanted to learn more about him and his work.
2. Some key concepts of this video was that Michelangelo would be 'horrified' if he knew that we were going to view his sketches, they were considered private. He sketched individually parts of the Sistine Chapel.  He started his sketches with the human form, and the details followed. He often destroyed his sketches. He was a perfectionist.
3. The video relates to the textbook because it further explores one of the Renaissance artists. It shows us his works/sketches and brings them to life. It also gives background about his life as well.
4. I found this video to be very interesting. I liked getting a glimpse into the mind of Michelangelo. It was a good resource to the text. 

1. The second video I chose was The Night Watch. I chose this video because I found the title to be interesting and I wanted to learn more.
2. Some key concepts of this video are that the Night Watch is a very heavy painting which I found interesting. I also learned that to the Dutch this painting has a great deal of feeling attached to it. This painting has been through a lot. It has been slashed, burned, had acid thrown on it as well as water.  The painting has a lot to look at, and it very detailed and complex.
3. This related to our textbook because it talks about various elements of art, and the story behind the painting. 
4. I liked this video, and I was also intrigued by the painting as I watched. It helped cement ideas put forth in our textbook. 

1. The third video I chose was Velazquez. I chose this video because I had never heard of this artist, and it spiked my curiosity. 
2. Some key concepts from this video are that Velazquez was a court painter to King Phillip the Fourth. He chronicled the life of the King, and created many paintings for the King. He was born in 1599 in Seville. He made trips to Italy. There is little known about him.
3. This video relates to our textbook because it takes a look at how paintings and politics can mix.
4. I liked this video a lot. It talked a lot about how political figures could benefit from artists, which we read about in our text. 

1. The final video I chose was La Primavera. I chose this video because I wanted to know what it was about, and it sounded interesting to me.
2. Some of the key concepts of this video are La Primavera (spring) is a very hotly debated painting. Some people view it as an allegory. Some view it as a sexual painting. Some see it as a botanical painting.  There are many different ideas as to what it's true meaning is. It is a large painting 10 feet tall, painted on wooden panels. There are 9 figures in the painting, and all of them are from classical myths. 
3. This relates to our textbook because we saw Bottecilli's painting "The Birth of Venus", and this is another one of his paintings. 
4. I liked this video, it explored a complex topic very well. I liked how everything was explained, and many viewpoints were shown. 

More Videos!

1. Explain why you selected each of the three videos you choose from the selection listed above.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

1. The first video I chose to watch was "Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany". I chose this video because I find the black plague to be extremely interesting. I wanted to learn more, and learn how this affects art.
2. Some key concepts were that the black death came at the end of the 'dark ages'. A lot of the world was in a rebirth, and it occurred right before the Renaissance.  That at the end of the plague there was a shrine erected to the Virgin Mary to thank her. Art became more macabre to reflect that of the times. 
3. The video goes into detail about how culture came out of the dark ages, faced the Black Death and went on to the Renaissance.
4.  I really liked this film, it gave a lot of great details about the black death and what went on during that time period. 

1. The next film I chose to watch was "Cairo Museum". I decided to watch this because I love Egyptian art, and I figured this would be a great video to watch.
2. Some of the key concepts are that the Cairo museum houses tons of rare Egyptian artifacts that can only be seen at this museum. Some of the artifacts are hidden underneath the floors, only half are actually out on display. It has the most ancient artifacts on Earth.
3. This video shows a lot of the things that we read about in our textbook.  It discusses Egyptian history and shows some of the pieces we saw in our textbook.
4. I loved this video! I really enjoyed seeing below the surface of the museum. It felt so secretive and the amount of artifacts are overwhelming.

1. The final film I chose to watch was "Playlist: A World Inscribed: The Illuminated Manuscript". This stuck out to me because I have seen the Book of Kells when I was in Ireland, and I remember thinking how beautiful it was. I wanted to learn more.
2. Some key facts went into the history of the manuscript and all the techniques involved. It also gave background knowledge about how people lived in that time period. I also learned that most of these people could not read or write. So an illuminated manuscript would be useful for the masses.
3. This related to our textbook because it goes along with typography and how artistic
of a process it really is.  
4. I always feel like Illuminated Manuscripts do not get enough credit in the artistic community.  They are beautiful in their own right, and should be more appreciated. 

Peer Review

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog
Blog #1
Blog #2
2. When looking at Project #1: (Elements and Principles), did you agree with the element or principle the artist listed with the images? Did you see other elements and principles in the images?
Yes I feel that my fellow classmates did a valid job of representing the elements and principals in their photography. Yes some elements/principles could be applied to multiple categories, but I felt that the artist usually chose the best one.

3. When looking at Project #2: Where there any images in the Peer Blogs the same as your own? If yes, what were they? Where the reasons the image was selected the same or different as your own?
I didn't see any pictures that were the same. But I did see a lot of variety in the artworks chosen which was nice to see. I liked my peer's reasons for choosing what they did, it was interesting to see art through another person's eyes.

4. Where there any images that your Peers selected that pique your interest now? If yes, what are they and what is your connection with them? What would you want to know about them?
One piece chosen by a peer was Yves Tanguy, “Indefinite Divisibility”, 1942. Oil on canvas. 101.6 x 88.9 cm (40 x 35 in) I found this piece very interesting and I would love to know more. It reminds me of a Dali painting and that is what initially drew me to it.


5. What do you think about  the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?
I think that this is a valuable experience. It is important for us to see how our peers are reflecting in order to gain different perspectives on art. 

6. Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful?
I do find the comments to be very helpful and fun to read. They help me better reflect and relate to art.

A. What is installation art?

Installation art is any kind of art that is taken out of it's element. It takes over a space. 

B. What materials are used installation art?

Anything can be used in installation art. 

C. Why make installation art?  

To express an idea or a concept that is bigger than a canvas. 

D. Which artist/installation did I find most interesting?

I found the piece about the windows the most interesting. Where the artist took the windows from the outside of a museum and brought them inside.

A. From the material reviewed, is there a inspiration piece that I feel a connection with?

I felt a connection with the piece with the oil and the windows. I felt that it was a comment on civilization and it was very interesting that it was all up ti interpretation.

B. What theme do I want to explore in my installation? Refer to your textbook if you need to review Themes of Art. (chapter 3 in text)

(Nature, Environment, Self, Mass Media, Consumerism, etc.)

I wanted to explore a combination of nature, consumerism and self. 

C. What materials will I use?

The materials that I used were socks, clothespins, a clothes line and a garden gnome.

D. Where will this installation be located and why?

The installation was located in my backyard because I had all access to it, and I would not be restricted by any rules (such as if it was in a public place).

The Title of my piece is : The Sock Gnome

It was created this week by myself.

It is basically just socks hanging on a clothes line with a gnome standing under it. The idea behind it was that sometimes socks just disappear and where do they go? My idea was that there was a sock gnome who took only one part of a pair of socks. So on my clothes line there were no pairs only single socks. 

I liked the lines of the clothes line and I tried to create some asymmetry by hanging socks at differing heights. I did this to create visual interest in the piece. I also used things that were different shapes and sizes to create a dynamic piece. 

 

I had a really great time installing this piece. I like that it was not confined to a piece of paper, and we had unlimited space to create art. The process was fun and fairly simple once I came up with an idea.

More Videos

Prairie Style

1. Some key concepts from this video are Frank Lloyd Wright invented picture windows and open living spaces. I was surprised to find out that the prairie style does not solely mean a style like 'on the prairie' like I originally thought, it means so much more. It is an open floor plan, that has rooms that flow into one another as well as floor to ceiling windows.
2. This relates to our textbook because it goes into depth about styles of architecture and a designer (Frank Lloyd Wright). It showed the floor plans and ideas that go into building/designing a home.
3. My opinion on this film was that it enriched my knowledge of architecture, and the evolution of the prairie style.
4. I chose this film because it had a very interesting title, I was curious as to what the video would be about. 

Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art

1. Some key concepts from this video are that Frank Gehry does not plan, he responds to the place/time/people and comes up with something on the spot in his art work. He also tries to connect emotions to his work. He wants to change the face of modern architecture.
2. This relates to our textbook because this video further delves into the field of architecture, and discusses how art=architecture. It explains more than our textbook does about modern architecture and it also gives visual examples of architectures, as well as an interview with a famous architect.
3. My opinion on this film is that it was very interesting. I liked 'being inside the head' of Frank Gehry, and getting to see his art through his eyes. I think it helped me understand architecture and the structural elements involved more than just the textbook did.
4. I chose to do this video because art and architecture to me are very similar things. I wanted to explore how they are one and the same, and I felt that this video would help me do that, and teach me some things about how art and architecture are intertwined.

Videos

Through the Eyes of a Sculptor

1. Some of the key concepts that I learned while watching this video are that there are a series of ranks for becoming a 'sculptor'. There are positions such as apprentice and master. I learned that in order to make beautiful sculptures you must have a love and understanding of the material you are working on. You also have to have a strong sense of culture, and ideas of what to sculpt. 
2. This video relates to the reading in the text because it delves deeper into sculpting and the techniques involved in sculpture. It gives voice to a real artist, who shares his ideas and thoughts on sculpting.
3. My opinion of this film is that it really helped to supplement the reading from the text. I found it so interesting to see how long it takes to create a piece, and all the steps that are needed. From the clay, to the plaster to the final marble. It is amazing to watch.

Glass and Ceramics

1.  Some key concepts that I learned is that glass and ceramic are some of the oldest materials that are man made.  I also learned that glass is made from sand (which is one of the most abundant materials on earth). I found it interesting the sand goes through such a dramatic change when heated. I thought it was so interesting to watch someone create blown glass, it is a beautiful process. I found that it was interesting to know that ceramic is stronger than steel and all of its uses (medical, auto and other things).
2. This video related to the text because it went further to explain and show exactly how glass and ceramics are created. We would not have been able to have such a solid understanding of the creation process without the use of a visual video.
3. My opinion on this film is that it helped me to visualize where glass comes from as well as ceramic. It makes me have a better appreciation of the skill needed to create this materials, and through this it becomes an art form.


Installation Art

1. Some key concepts I learned from this video are that there are many different definitions of installation art. My favorite was that the art takes over the space. I learned that the art may change the building itself or the space that it is in. One quote said that 'installation art does not fit neatly into museums'. I never thought about this, but the art changes the space, and sometimes it is too big for a room to contain.
2. This video related to the text because it took the topic of installation art, got people's opinion of it, and showed many various examples of it.
3. My opinion on this film was that it helped me understand installation art better. I was confused about exactly what installation art is. We have a project on it this week, so I was grateful to have this video for reference.

Art Gallery Visit #1: MoMA

This past week I had a great opportunity to visit the MoMA in NYC. There were a ton of great paintings and sculptures, it was hard to choose just 3 for each question!

Which artworks would I like to know more about? Why?

 

 This painting by Sergei Jensen was really interesting. It is described as being 'synthetic polymer paint on hemp' it was created in 2008. This was one of the first pieces of art I saw, I was drawn to it simply because it challenges what art 'should' be. I want to know more about what the artist was thinking, and what his intentions were with this painting.

  I would also like to know more about this piece of artwork. This is a piece by Felix Gonzalez-Torres. It is titled Untitled (USA Today). It is made up entirely of wrapped hard candies. It says on the description that is is a 'never ending supply'. I am very curious as to what that means, and what he is trying to say in this piece. I thought he might be commenting on American consumption due to the never ending supply and the comment that the medium is food.

This is a piece that I would also like to know more about. It is by Dorothea Tanning, and it is a painting. It is titled "On Time Off Time". Although the medium is very common, I found this painting to be very uncommon in it's subject matter. It depicts many different things in one painting. I would like to know more about why/how this painting was created, and what the artist was trying to convey with this piece. 

Which art works do I feel a connection with, Why?

I felt a connection with this piece which is titled Meeting of Two Cultures and is by Sandilo Goje. It is made of a linoleum cut. I felt that this piece really speaks to modern culture. It shows the mixing/meeting of two distinctly different cultures. One culture is a traditional hut, while the other is a more modern house. We can all relate to seeing a different culture for the first time. I also like how the two houses are shaking hands showing they are friends.

This is The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. This is my favorite painting. I love the colors and the swirls and how it is up for interpenetration. I love the glowing orbs in the sky and how it seems calm and peaceful. I have a strong connection to this piece, and I always find myself drawn to it whenever I visit MoMA. 

This piece of art is called "You Can't Lay Down Your Memory Chest of Drawers" by Tejo Remy. I thought that this piece was so interesting. We all have a 'memory chest of drawers' where we store our memories and feelings. All the drawers are different and have happy/sad/angry etc emotions stored in them. We carry around all these emotions and we can't lay them down. I felt that this was such a beautiful and special piece, that you just don't come across so often. 

Which art works made an impact or an impression on me, why?

This piece of art by Joseph Kosuth shows the word definition, and then the definition of definition. I thought that this was very interesting and striking. There is no other art around this piece, and it hangs on a large white wall. It makes you really stop and think for a second.

For a second, I thought that this piece of art was someone's walking stick or umbrella. But upon further examination, I came to realize that it is actually art! This piece is called "Psychedelic Soul Stick no. 55" by Jim Lambie. I thought that this piece was so interesting because it is just unassumingly perched up against a wall. Many people just walked past it. I'm also curious to see the other 54 soul sticks. I loved this, I felt that it had a tribal feeling, and it felt powerful. 

This piece by Joseph Cornell entitled "Central Park Carousel in Memorium" is very interesting. It appears to be pieces of a carousel encased in glass. The netting created a trapped feeling to the whole piece. It was also unsettling to look at for too long. I thought it was very interesting to see, and look at how everything was contained inside this small glass case. I would like to know more about this piece, and find out what it has to do with Central Park.

Logo Project!

1. Discuss what you thought about creating your logo.
I really had a great time coming up with an idea for a logo, and the creating the logo itself. At first it was hard to come up with something that was simple and could describe me. But after some thought and sketching, I am really happy with my end result.

2. Describe the process: creative thinking skills and ideas you used in the logo creation.
At first I made a list of possibilities, this list included music, dance, ice coffee, books, sleeping etc. Then I narrowed it down to music. I started to sketch from there using my tattoo (treble clef) for inspiration. As each drawing progressed I figured out where I would like to place things, and how it should flow.

3. What was the most important discovery you made in the creation of your logo?
I would say the most important discovery was the fact that a logo needs a central theme and it needs to flow. You can't just throw together your favorite things and expect it to look decent. You need to narrow down your ideas, and make sure that everything works together, and that it is simple and visually appealing.

4. What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos, powerpoint, and reading material  for this project? What is your opinion of the videos?
I think  that the most important thing I learned came from the video. I was thinking to myself that this client was really hard to please. I loved the design that looked like splattered paint. But when the client said that it needs to work across a spectrum of mediums and needs to be more simple, it made sense to me. Sure the paint splatter looked awesome, but it was not business like, and a logo must fit the company/person/idea that you are trying to market/express. I really liked the video, and I felt that it really helped me understand the importance of creating a logo, and how to go about it.

Color Wheels and Value Scales!

I really had a great time creating my color wheel and value scale. It was exciting for me to get a chance to be creative, and to work with new mediums. I liked making the color wheel the best because I love using paints of any kind, so getting to mix paints was really an adventure for me. I think however that I might have purchased the wrong shade of cyan at my local art store. I had a great time experimenting and through trial and error on both projects, I was able to achieve a product that I know I tried my hardest on.
I think that the videos were really helpful. Without the videos I would have been a little lost on what to do. I had a rough idea of what a color wheel should look like, but the video really helped me get started. The most useful thing I learned from the video was to put the colors you are going to mix next to each other, it makes it easier to blend. I had no idea what a value scale even was until I saw that video, so it was really very useful to me.
I gained a true appreciation for mixing and blending colors through doing this project. It helped me realize where colors come from, and how adding more/less of a shade can greatly affect the color outcome.
Overall I enjoyed doing both of these projects and I look forward to more experimentation with art in the future!

Project #1

My Photos!

This week we had an interesting project to complete. After doing our assigned reading, and learning about certain elements of photography, we got the chance to actually take photos to correspond to each element.
I really enjoyed having the chance to take what we are learning, and go hands on with it. By having to find my own examples of things such as lines, form and variety, I was able to get a firmer grasp on the concepts.
I decided I wanted to have a common theme of outdoors in my photos. So I went out into my backyard, and took shots of plants and various things around my yard. I had a lot of fun getting out there and taking pictures. I felt that this activity really solidified my understanding of this topic.
At first it was a little difficult to find something to correspond to each element. I had trouble finding something for form and variety. I found these two to be the most challenging of the list. I kept thinking of ideas, but they seemed to not fit the description just right. But I gave it my best shot.
I enjoyed being able to apply what I was learning on my own and in a fun setting. I hope we have more projects like this in the future.

Photography Project!

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Color and Feeling

Color is an interesting thing. To different people, it will evoke different emotions. To someone, red might make them angry, but to another person it might make them think of love. This past week we watched two videos that explored emotions in color.

Color can have many effects on emotion, however this can often be unpredictable. Color conveys a feeling of being alive. Bolder colors equals stronger emotions. Vincent van Gogh in his painting of a cafe, attempted to convey feelings of depression and that 'men could make bad choices' in this place. He used contrasting colors of red and green to highlight these emotions. Artists make deliberate choices when choosing colors to work with in order to portray certain emotions and messages through their art. Warm colors can evoke feelings of happiness, while cool colors may bring feelings of sadness.

A theoretical aspect of color that intrigues me is the fact that we all respond differently to colors. Each individual person brings all of their own experiences and emotions to a piece, and this in turn effects how the view colors. Also I was very interested in how colors for paint were made. How only certain parts of the world had special colors, and that some colors were made from crushed beetles!

In the Color video, what had the biggest impact on me was that the artist depicted focused on natural light. She kept going back to her painting in order to get the natural light just right. She had a unique style of painting and a special interest and passion for color that really shone through in her work.

In the Feelings video, I found that the quote about how art impacts civilization had the biggest impact on me. The fact that there was a turn around in thinking and people stopped looking to God for answers on how to be more civilized and started to turn to art was very interesting.

Art Videos

This past week, I had the opportunity to watch two very interesting videos about art and the aesthetic of art. One video focused mainly on the philosophers of the ages, and how they viewed art. While the other showcased art and science working together.


Aesthtics: Philosophy of the Arts
Some of the key points in the video was the fact that there has been a great difference in opinion about art over time. Some people see art as rational, while others see it as a form of beauty and expression. 
The philosopher that I agreed with the most would have to be Nietzsche. He was a philosopher in the 1800's and his main idea was "will to power" and "Art is a resounding yes to life...it goes beyond the rational". I agree with his idea that art is a yes to life. By creating art, we say yes to life. We accept the challenge to create things that have to do with the complexities of everyday life. He counters the ideas of Plato about aesthetics, because he sees beauty not only in life but in art as well. 


In the second video CARTA, two researchers discussed in depth how art and science are related. This is usually an area that is avoided in art. You never really hear too much talk about how art can be a science. However, this is the main focus of this video. It shows a link between art and science that I have never been exposed to before. It made me look at how art is perceived in a whole new light. 
I found Changeux's view of art very interesting. He showed tools and cave paintings dating back 100,000 years, and showed how they were artistic pieces. He showed that even thousands of years ago people were using 'artistic composition'. I thought he made an interesting point how there is a 'genetic envelope' of art. He said that all people are predispostioneid to create art in one form of another. 


Ramachadran also introduced some fascinating points in his lecture. He argues that science and art meet in the brain. He studied why certain pieces of art have such profound effects on people. I liked his example of the statue of the Hindu Goddess. There is a famous statue of a Hindu Goddess that Indians enjoyed very much and thought was beautiful. However, once Western people saw this statue, they decided that it did not look like a woman should. It had breasts that were too large, and a too small waist. On the other hand they enjoyed Pablo Picasso's work. Ramachadran argues that Picasso was creating an exaggerated image, that was not life like at all. But the Western people said Picasso was being deliberate when he painted that, and that is what makes his painting more acceptable.  His main point was that the 'goal of art is to deliberately distort images in some way to produce a positive effect on the human brain'. 


Both of these videos relate directly to the text that we are reading in class because it delves deeper into the understanding of what aesthetics means, and how we can define it. This video gives insight into a complicated issue and shows it in a new light, so that we as observers of art can look at art with a new critical lens. By doing this, we can gain depth of understanding the many complex layers of what aesthetics means, and that we should take this new information into account as we continue on in this course. 

First Post!

1. How was the process of creating the GMail account and setting up the Blog?
Setting up the GMail account was fairly simple. Other than the fact that my username was already taken, I had no issues with this. Setting up the blog was equally as easy and simple. I ran into no problems at all. 


2. What do you expect to learn in this course?
I hope to gain a better understanding of art and great artists. I also want to develop a better sense working with artistic mediums. I wish to be able to go into a museum and talk about art in an intelligent manner. 


3. How do you feel about taking an online course?
I've taken several online classes before. I like being able to go through and do things at my own pace. It is especially nice in the summer to not be stuck in a classroom. I am interested to see how art and technology are put together in this course as well.