Lines- The Hand

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

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

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

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

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

1) I thought it was hard to use my hand. I usually use my opposite hand to hold down the paper I am working on so it doesn't move around. Also I kept twitching from trying to keep my hand still so it was hard to pose my hand. There are also so many curves, lines, and marks on my hand it is hard to capture it all in detail.

2) I chose pencil because it is not messy, erasable, and I don't own charcoal (yet). I am familiar with how my hand works with a pencil.

3) To create the drawing with my non-dominant hand was rather uncomfortable. My hand seemed so flimsy and I had no control. My left hand is so unused to doing the work so I did not like using it but it was a fun challenge.

4) Looking at my 2 drawings it is not hard to tell what one was drawn with my dominant and non-dominant hand. I do think they are successful studies. My dominant hand drawing looks more like a hand and has more detail. Since I was comfortable in using the hand I took my time drawing my hand so it looks more realistic.

5) I would not consider using my non-dominant hand to create work in the future because the outcome would not come out eye catching or pleasing. If I were to have to do one with my non-dominant hand I would hope it would be an abstract piece so it can look crazy but still be art!

 

Video Reviews

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.
3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
4. 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 selected was The Drawings of Michelangelo. This is because I like Michelangelo's work...and his last name sounds like mine!
The second video I chose was  Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance because he is a well known artist. I wanted to see more of his works through a video rather than just reading the same redundant information on him.
The third video I chose was  Albrecht Dürer: Image of a Master. His last name seems German and I don't recall ever learning about him so I was interested in learning about someone new.
The fourth and last video I chose to watch was The Night Watch (Rembrandt) because I was hoping it would kind of be about darker art just from the name of the video.

2) Michelangelo video: Michealangelo taught himself how to sculpt. When examining Michealangelo's artwork, his drawings emphasise on the solar plexus of human figures. in 1516 the Pope asked Michealangelo to design the Medici family church of San Lorenzo. Michealangelo was passionate about the male body and felt that Christian faith were driving forces of his work. Another very interesting thing to learn was that his crucifixion drawings were Michealangelo's way of contemplating his own death and a way for him to deal with these feelings.
da Vinci video: Leonardo da Vinci was known as a true Renaissance man. He was a sculptor, painter, architect, engineer, and a student of anotmoy, physiology, aeronautics, and other disciplines. He mastered proportion of man and animals and draws from life. He studied the machines from his day to help imporove them. In the court of Milan he coordinates the entertainment and becomes the courth painter. He also developed grand urban projects for the city of Milan. da Vinci became appointed chief engineer in the service of Cesare Borgia. When he returns to Florence he shows off his painting of the Mona Lisa! Before he died he became the first painter, engineer, and architect to the King.
Durer video: Albrecht introudces Germany to the Gothic and Italian Renaissance art. He is considered as a landscape artist. He mass prints his work.He first made cuts on wood then starts to make marks on copper.
Rembrandt video: The Night Watch is the name of the painting that became an object of pilgrimage for the Dutch as well as visitors. The painting has been stabbed with a knife, drenched with water...and even with acid!!! This painting is filled with history, action, and movement. There is also a use of light.

3) The videos relate to the text. We have brushed over in the text about Michealangelo, and da Vinci. It is not like the videos are completely off topic to what we are learning, they are just going more in depth than what is in the text. We learned what the current art era was and we learned the pieces of art that fall in that era according to the text.

4) There was definitely more facts about Michealangelo and da Vinci in the videos than what I have read in the text. In the text you just read their most famous pieces of art and a small example of how it fit the era of art. Also I am not sure if I brushed over reading about the other 2 artists in the text but I thoroughly enjoyed learning about The Night Watch. It is so surprising that a painting can stir up that much controversy where people actually try to destroy the painting.

Video Reviews

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) I selected these three videos from the choices:

Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany because it sounded like it would have an interesting story behind it.

The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure because when I read it I figured it would be about sculptures and I think that the Greeks added so much detail to their work

Beyond the Classical: Byzantine and Later Greek Art I didn't have a specific reason to as why I chose this one, I just picked it to have a third choice!

2) Catacylsm: The Plague is carried from China to Europe. Florentine banks collapse in mid-thirteenth century. The plague reaches Tuscany in 1348. Death is everywhere. The Plague lasts seven months and kills up to one-half of Europe's population. Painting changed in significant ways after the Plague. Figures emerge flatter than in the previous century. Taddeo di Bartolo paints gruesome images of hell. Post-Plague art is less realistic than the earlier masters such as Giotto. 

 

Greek Art and the Human Figure: The Acropolis is a visual reminder of the politics, philosophy, art, and architecture of ancient Greece. Artists portrayed humans in a realistic way and were obsessed with perfection of the body. Greek artists depicted balance and movement in the fifth century statue of Nike and the fourth century state of Hermes, a god in an everyday, human pose with his divine nature still intact. 

 

Byzantine: The next step in the development of Greek art was influenced by other countries, especially Italy. This art focused on form and movement, as seen by Damaskinos' "Last Supper" and El Greco's work. In the 18th and 19th centuries, intellects like Lord Byron followed the footsteps of the Renaissance. Modern Europe adopted the ancient styles, as seen in the London Royal Exchange and British Museum. Neoclassic architecture mimicked Greek rationality and blended the myth and reality of the ancient world, as seen in the sculptures and frescoes in the Academy, including the Myth of Prometheus fresco. 

 

More Human than Human: Whatever their use and wherever they appear, the world's most popular images of the human body share one common feature: none of the images actually resembles a real human being. Human ancestors' brains may have been pre-programmed to exaggerate features of the female figure that were of greatest importance. 

 

3) These videos relate to our readings. In our readings we read about sculptures and watching how different cultures focused on different aspects of the human was interesting. Also we read the history of the Byzantine but the readings don't go as in-depth as the videos. 

 

4)  I enjoy the films because they do add more in-depth than what we learned. I liked learning about sculptures this time around and I  enjoyed learning more about the Greeks and their sculptings. I knew they exaggerated parts because they were big on the perfect image but it was better to learn the facts.

 

Video Reviews

1. 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 Architecture?
4. From the group of four that you had a choice: Why did you choose that film?

1) Prairie Style: Frank Lloyd Wright influenced many single family houses and influenced open spaces and windows and used time, place, and landscape when designing. He also used bands and lots of horizontals.

Science of Design: Concrete and steel made skyscrapers possible. Wind posed a problem. Concrete can be found to be used in all architecture.

Classical Architecture: Roman architecture was an influence in buildings in the Renaissance. Currently architectures are still trying to incorporate ancient architecture techniques and principles. Public buildings use classical architecture.

2) The videos relate to the readings. The last video is a great example because in the text we learned and read about the 3 column Greek styles: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. These were discussed in the video and are considered ancient principles that modern day architects still try to incorporate.

3) The films add greater knowledge and detail to the readings. They also add depth and understanding of Architecture. In the text it covered a lot of basics and ancient architecture. In the videos we got to watch different architecture styles and principles being used in this day and age. Also the video added more depth about Frank Lloyd Wright and how he had a great influence on open space. This added to what we learned in the text about Falling Water and how he used the environment as an influence on his design and building.

4) I decided to watch Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture. Some key facts were architects believe that it is easier to build a building that uses less energy. Some French office buildings can demonstrate energy-saving designs which is great because global warming is a growing problem. Geography, climate, and local resources are a few things that architectures take in to account when designing something sustainable.
I chose this video because the "Planet Earth" in the title caught my eye. After learning about green architecture I figured it would be about how to make more environmental friendly buildings so I wanted to learn more.

Installation Art

A. What is installation art?
B. What materials are used installation art?
C. Why make installation art? 

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

a: Installation art is a three-dimensional that are site specific and often transform the perception of space.

b: Any materials can be used in installation art such as metal, buckets, picked over garbage, or if the installation art is only temporary ice can be used (for example).

c. Installation art is made for many reasons. One is to create an experience in a certain environment. With a three-dimensional piece this intrigues the whole body for the viewer. And as always, art is a form of expression.

d: Hamilton was the most interesting. The materials used were the most random and actually kind of gross like hair from a horse, and molding yeast dough to create an installation!!

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

 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.)

 C. What materials will I use?

 D. Where will this installation be located and why?

A. The piece i most felt a connection with was Jumbo Spoons and Big Cake by Thomas Hirschhorn. This is because when I looked at the picture of it, it looks like a messy room and well..my bedroom stays pretty messy.
B. I would want to explore environment or nature in my installation.
C. I am unsure of what materials I will use so far. I am thinking along the lines of using nature such as rocks and sticks,
D. I am also unsure of where I will make this installation. I live off campus so I can't put it anywhere to be viewed by the campus so maybe somewhere in my yard. 

Peer Response Review

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog
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?
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?
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?
5. What do you think about  the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?
6. Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful?

Blog 1- http://caralieforartinquiry.blogspot.com/
2) I agreed with all of the elements and principles listed with the images. The shape image could have also been considered art, or even variety because the heart kind of seemed random and floating in the sky!
3) There were no similar pieces because I went to Albright Knox and this peer went to an art museum in Sweden!!!
4) Jan Massy’s Venus Cytheria peaked my interest because there was so much detail going on. In the background very small there seems to be so much action going on.
5) Reading the reflection helped me understand why the pieces were chosed.


Blog 2- http://jbsaed200.blogspot.com/
2) I also agreed with all the elements and principles listed with the images. The color picture was indeed very colorful. I believed the space picture could have also fallen into the balance or line category.
3) There were no similar pieces however when I was going through the museum one peaked my interest the peer had wrote about.
4) L’Ambitieuse is a piece the peer shared that had my interest. In a different way as the peer, I looked at it and saw a beautiful young woman arm and arm with an old man. To me this says she is a gold-digger and the artist is trying to portray that even back then some women just wanted the fame and riches.

6) I read the comments on my blogs. I was happy to see that someone enjoyed my slideshow and even considered it to be creative! After looking at other peers' I noticed that some people really have a knack with photography and can take such unique and fantastic photos!

Week 6 Video Review

1. 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 topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?

1) Sculpture Vid- During restortion work a stone carver uses geometric shapes and a plan.
Glass and Cermaics Vid- Ceramic materials can be stronger than steel and are capable withstanding extremely high temperatures. Glass is made from sand!
Installation Art Vid-  with installation art you can use random items that are used every day. Installation art is controversial. It can be sculpted places that take up a whole room or a small area.

2) The videos go more in depth than the information given in the text. In the text you can read a page or two about the general idea of sculpting but to actually see someone sculpt and explain it to you via videos this adds to the text.

3) I learned a lot more with Installation and am now confident that you can use literally anything in making a piece. I'm a visual learner so I enjoy the videos rather than reading a text.