The End

1. What were you expectations for this course and where they met?

I had expected to learn about the history of how art got to where it is today and I was most interested on where we will be learning more about certain materials.

The subjects were touched on just not in the learning style I prefer but I guess.

2. Now that you've been through this course, What is art? How would you define it now compared to your initial posting?

Art to me is the expression of what is inside. Whether that be thoughts, sights, feelings everything. I have always felt that way.

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 has always been Frida Kahlo i doubt that will ever change because her personal life is just such a powerful story. Who can beat that?

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 have enjoyed and still enjoy taking online courses. It is at your pace and control.

Self

1. Why did you select the inspiration pieces? I love to work with paint and abstract work.
2. Why did you select the media to create your self-portrait? Because paint is what i am most comfortable and interested in.
3. What challenges did you face in creating your self-portrait and how did you overcome them? That i am a perfectionist but wanted this to be more abstract not realistic.
4. How does this piece represent you? well, its me!
5. What elements and principles of art did you apply in this work? colors, value
6. Did you enjoy working on this project?  i really did, i dont know what I will do with the canvas now though.
7. What do you think of your final artwork? it is different than what i am used to but still like it

Project #4: Art Curator Exhibition Slideshow

Project #4: Art Curator Exhibition Slideshow

This was definitely an interesting project. My theme was showing the different REALISTIC ways women are depicted in art.

I looked for images that showed our sensuality, our sadness, our body image issues and the love we have for our children.

I included some below, even some I did not add into the slideshow just because I could not find any information about the artist etc.

13 and 14

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

I liked the digital artistry and also the out of the box style of the I Dream of Jeannie artwork. I also laughed at the definition of LOWBROW: a person regarded as uncultivated and lacking in taste. 

The "Tate Modern" video has been removed off YouTube so I wasn't able to watch that.

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

I think the videos related in showing how much work goes into preparing art curation and museums are.

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?

The films don't help me too much. They just draw out a already long assignment.

Twelve

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

Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the ’50s and ’60s

The Power of Art: Rothko

I picked the first because I enjoy pop art, or at least so I thought. I misread thinking that I saw Pop Art I assumed it would be along the lines of Andy Warhol. Which that video clearly is not. The art that they showed in this video is actually the type of art I really dislike. Drawing a couple lines on white canvas in my opinion is not art and is not talent.

Similarly, with the second video on Mark Rothko... I do not find that to be art. 

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

It was interesting to hear their backgrounds and how passionate they were about their art.

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

Everything goes back to elements and principles.

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

I think the videos are a bit long and drawn out.

The Mask

To design and make my mask I used elements such as Line, Shape and Mass, Color, Texture, and Space. I also used principles such as Balance, and Scale.

These four masks gave some ideas to go off of. I love cats an wanted to make a mask with that theme. I loved the cat themes and styles that they came up with and ended up using the same type of elements.

When making my mask I decided to do a paper mache technique which is a mixture of flour and water soaked in paper. I then used acrylic paint to paint it and draw on the face of the cat.

I enjoyed the process of making the mask, I haven't used the mache technique in so long so it was fun giving it another try.

African Art and Buddhism

I selected these two videos for personal reasons. I love African Art and wish I more of an opportunity to look in to my Nigerian heritage. I also have studied Buddhism religion and find that I agree and naturally follow a lot of the beliefs that they have. So I have come to have a love and respect for their art as well.

One of the interesting things I learned from the African Art video is that the drawing of the animals was sometimes to show appreciation to the spirits of the animals that they killed for food. African art are a mix of magic and religion. In the video on Buddhism it showed the great dedication to detail the builders must have taken in order to make such masterpieces that gave step by step images of the Buddhas life.

The videos are the most frustrating things to watch. They are narrated by the most painfully slow speakers and are unnecessarily long.

HAND DRAWING

1. What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing?

I ACTUALLY HAVE HAD TO DRAW MY HAND AND FOOT BEFORE SO I WAS COMFORTABLE WITH IT BUT I DID NOT HAVE TO DO IT WITH MY NON DOMINANT HAND BEFORE.

2. What media did you select - pencil or charcoal? Why?

PENCIL, I KEEP TRYING CHARCOAL AND I HATE IT, I AM NOT VERY GOOD AT GETTING THE SHADING RIGHT. IT ALWAYS COMES OUT TOO DARK.

3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand?

IT FELT LIKE I WAS TRYING TO USE SOMEONE ELSE'S HANDS TO DRAW. IT DID NOT EVEN FEEL LIKE IT WAS A HAND ATTACHED TO ME.

4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they are successful studies?

THEY BOTH LOOK GOOD TO ME ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW HARD IT AND OUT OF BODY IT FELT TO USE MY NON DOMINANT HAND I THINK IT TURNED OUT OVERALL PRETTY GOOD.

5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Michelangelo and Da Vinci

The videos I picked were  The Drawings of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance I picked these two because the two artists that were the topic of the videos are the classic artists that everyone knows and look up to. They are famous for their talents and for their history.

Michelangelo and Da Vinci both are so talented and yet have completely different tastes but sometimes similar styles in art. With having an age gap between them it makes sense that they would have different styles and paint and draw different things because they came from different generations. An interesting fact that I did not know is that they had met before and did not get a long very much. Michelangelo drew nudes all the time but Da Vinci never painted them.

Module 8 Videos

I selected Greek Art and the Human Figure because I love Greece and hope to travel there one day. I love their art and how they depicted their lives and their gods.

I learned more in regards to their Olympic games and pottery. So much so that I have signed up for a pottery class to try out next week.

The videos relate to the readings in how art imitates life. People draw and carve and paint what they have seen and what they know. They use art as a way of sharing with others what they want people to remember.

My opinion of the films is that I learn better through the book.

Two Videos on Architecture

Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art

Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture

In these two videos they both spoke about using what is already around us. Using the earth and the environment and our emotions to make art.

Chapter 13 in the book speaks the same in regards to using what we naturally have. The idea of blending in to what is around while still making a statement. Specifically on page 316 where it speaks about Green Architecture.

As I have mentioned before the films do not help me very much because to be blunt they simply are just way too long, at 15 to 30 minutes in they start to just repeat the same points they have more than clearly already made. An hour and 15 minutes is saying the exact same thing that four or five pages said in the book. It causes me to lose focus and some what interest.

The book is what has actually helped me understand the topic of this chapter and I really enjoy how they break everything down.

I chose these two specific films out of the list because the name Gehry sounded familiar, and I am very earth friendly and conscious so thought the second video would speak to me.

Blog Commenting

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog

https://rickarka01.blogspot.com/

https://escapein2art.blogspot.com/

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?

They came with examples in completely different styles but still were both correct in their examples.

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?

Yes, in both blogs they used one of the examples I used. Which were Niagara and the new installation in the center.

4. What do you think about  the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?

I liked reading and see things from their similar yet different examples.

5. Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful?

I liked reading the comments and see that they agreed with someone of my points.

Sculptor Glass and Ceramics

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

In the film where we followed sculptor Emmanuel the things I learned were:

• The limestone is always kept at 12 degrees
• Every stone has its own smell
• Limestone is formed at the bottom of oceans and seas of the world
• That they keep "bridges" which are little pieces left in between to keep it safe during shipping

In the film where we learned about Glass and Ceramics:

• That the heat breaks down the molecules of sand to form glass
• For some reason when thinking about stained glass I never realized it is actual stained glass

The specific thing I enjoyed most in the videos were when they did live in 3D what a book can only show in maybe 2D at most. Such as watching Emmanuel do his casting was definitely interesting to compare to page 245 photos of casting.

The films are helping in giving me more back ground information.

Making My Logo

1. Discuss what you thought about creating your logo.

I did not really enjoy this to much, to be honest. I own a business that I had to create a logo for and also have taken classes that this was assigned. So it was pretty hard to think of another logo that I have not already done.

2. Describe the process: creative thinking skills and ideas you used in the logo creation.

The recommendation was to think of something that represents myself, so I immediately thought of my name and a few of my favorite things. Flowers, cats, and food. So I tried working on combining a couple of those together.

3. What was the most important discovery you made in the creation of your logo?

That I need more direction. I pride myself on being creative and spur of the moment. But I needed a bit more specific direction on what I should have been aiming for.

Art Gallery Visit #1

I love this museum and am so glad that for this class I'll have an excuse to go there three times!

Two pieces of art that made an impact or impression on me was first Etude pour Le Pont de l'Europe by Gustave Calliebotte. In is an oil on canvas from 1876. It jumped out at me because it reminded me of times where I was in family situations without a family, or romantic moments where I was surrounded by couples and I was all alone. The man standing on a bridge all alone while couples surround him.

The next piece of art that caught my attention was a Mixed Media called Nana from 1965 by Niki de Saint Phalle. I loved the way the museum put this piece on display, hanging from the ceiling. I also loved that each piece on the structure was in the shape of a heart.

The works of art that I felt a connection with is to start the oil on canvas called Niagara from 1995 by Frank M. Moore. My mother is a scientist and I grew up knowing element names and formulas. When you stand back all you can see is a beautiful realistic image of the falls but as you get closer you see the formulas of the elements make up the image. That is smart unique and super talented I loved it.

My favorite in the entire museum would be The Marvelous Sauce from 1890 which is a oil on wood panel by Jehan Georges Vibert. I don't even know where to begin with explaining when this painting is the best thing you will ever stare at. From the reflection of light on the chefs shinning black shoes to the dents in the copper pots hanging on hooks on the wall of the kitchen to the rings of fat in the slab of meat sitting on the counter THE DETAIL IS INSANE! I love this painting and purposely look for this painting every time I am in the museum, and you should to.

The artworks that I would like to know more about would be the artist and the display that is still being worked on currently. What is it all supposed to mean? And is she using paint or a big sharpie marker?

The other piece of art that I stared at for I don't even know how long is Bois-tiges de fer from 1964 by Jesus Rafael Soto. It was a exhibit made with painted masonite and wire. I could not quite tell if it was supposed to spell out a word? If so I do not think it is in English, so what does it say?

Value Scale and Color Wheel

I really enjoyed creating the Value Scale and Color Wheel. I thought that using charcoal for the Scale would be fun because I have not used that medium since middle school. However, maybe I am out of practice or something because it did not blend smoothly as much as I would have liked.

I love working with acrylic so I enjoyed the Wheel as a media better than the Scale. I also enjoy mixing colors because you can never be certain which shade will come from it. Not to mention I just have more joy from colors than from black.

What I think is the most important discovery is as i just mentioned above the effect that colors have on our emotions.

The videos for me are a bit dry and are hard to keep my interest. They seem to focus too much on trying to tell the story than just that itself. Telling the story and getting on with the lesson. I did feel a bit jealous of her that she was able to travel to Italy just to find something to motivate her art. I hope that one day I will be able to do the same.

Photobucket Slideshow

http://s61.photobucket.com/user/shoatsca01/library/Elements%20and%20Principles

Examples of Elements and Principles

When looking for items as examples of Elements and Principles, some were easy to find and others were not. Right now I am unable to leave my house (doctors orders) so it limited the items I was able to get a hold of.

I found finding something that fit the definition of LINES the hardest. Although the book gives a great example and explained it well, I just do not think there are that many things in life that fit the description.

For SHAPE I used the example of a canvas of an ampersand. The contract of going from white to gold. Where as the MASS I used an actual three dimension of an ampersand.

For light I took a photo of my roommate's cat Izzy with the light shining to the side of her.

For COLOR I used a painted I did which is a mixture of colors on canvas in acrylic paint.

For TEXTURE I used a photo of our fireplace which shows texture on the brick along with the up and down and in and out of the cement in between.

I took a photo of a tray in as PATTERN.

The photo of the two cats I thought was a good example of SPACE because it is the space between the two of them that gives you the viewpoint that one is closer than the other to me and the camera.

I used a shelf in my room as the example of UNITY AND VARIETY because it is a mixture of the same colors but completely different photos and things.

On canvas I painted two faces facing and mirroring each other which is a good example for BALANCE.

The canvas hanging in our living room of Paris I used as an example for EMPHASIS AND SUBORDINATION. The lighting and colors used make emphasis on the main focal point of the photo which is the Eiffel Tower.

Recently I ordered a photo that shows the different depths of Finger Lakes this I used as an example of PROPORTION AND SCALE.

For the example of RHYTHM I used another canvas that I painted because of the motion and repetitive strokes of color and brush.

Colors and Feelings

Color effects each of our emotions differently. A great example of that is the "winter blues", the depression, that most people feel during the winter months when we are surrounded by white, blue and gray. Compared to how you feel in the summer with the bright warm yellows and oranges and reds. It effects our emotions in that it sets a mood for our day before anything may have happened yet.

Warm colors make us feel warm and awake, where cold and cool colors make us feel just that.

What I find most interesting about the theory of color is the same as what Titian did in the Assumption using oil. Light does not just stay in one spot or stay within specific lines. Just as he made sure to mimic real life in the way he painted the light of the red off of her robe reflecting on to her hand. I love that light makes colors lively.

The biggest impact that the video Colors had on me in regards to color and it's effects on emotions is that it is ok to get "distance from your painting." There are a lot of times where I get so very frustrated by the colors not looking how I imagine in my head, that I will throw the whole canvas out and start over. Or I get upset when I love a painting in one room but when I take it to another room I hate it because the light has changed my painting and the shades. I appreciate the struggles and the errors that others have made in order to make making art better for people now.

In the Feelings video, the biggest impact it had on me in regards to color and it's effects on emotions was that the details and the passion that an artist puts into a painting can make someone have every feeling known to man. Looking at a painting just like a photo and just like watching something happen in real life, all can make us feel happy, sad, proud, powerful, scared, or whatever the artist wants.

Watching Videos About Aesthetics

Watching the Aesthetics Videos for Module 2 was pretty tough for me. Not only am I fighting a bad cold I also get lost when learning about the times and eras and times in history. I loved hearing quotes from different philosophers and seeing how they have impacted our current styles.

It made me think, "Have we always thought this way? Or have we thought this way because of these philosophers?" They spoke about art in the same ways that we do today.

Everyone coming from different perspectives and with different opinions on which methods were best and how to interpret a work of art.

Setting up GMail and Blogger

1. How was the process of creating the GMail account and setting up the Blog?

My process was pretty annoying and nerve wrecking. GMail kept giving me an error, and saying I was not an administrator and that I needed G Suite. But I watched YouTube to help me getting around the errors and am excited about the idea of using a blog for class.

2. What do you expect to learn in this course?

I expect to learn more about the history of how art got to where it is today and I am most interested on where we will be learning more about certain materials.

3. How do you feel about taking an online course?

I used to hate online courses and thought I would not have the motivation on my own to get up and do the work. But now I love it. I love that there is no stress about getting to class on time or driving through our inconsistent weather. I like that it is based on my schedule and what works best for me rather than the school and professor.

4. What three things in the Growth Mindset videos do you believe most apply to you?

• I like how they mentioned that students are working as well. Although education is extremely important for me it is also important to be employed and pay for my expenses. I have met professors who do not respect that not all students live on campus and have no job and it was extremely discouraging.
• I liked that they also mentioned the students who came in with an assumption that everything would be easy and found it was not, but overcame.
• "there are no short cuts to success"