Reflections of AED 200

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

My expectations were to gain a better understanding of what "art" really is. I expected myself to learn the proper skills on how to draw or paint. I also gained more knowledge in the background of art history and am happy to say I really enjoyed this course.

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

I feel that art is an expression of people's skills and how they portray a piece of work is through their feelings.

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?

 For some reason, I can't see my original posting but I'm sure I said Vincent van Gogh. I still think he's my favorite artist because his works of art have this eerie feeling and I love that his paintings consist of darker colors.

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 love taking online classes because I can do my work at my own convenience and at my own house without having to take the 40 minute drive to school. It is the same because I've always felt strongly about online classes and that is a better convenience for those who live further away from school.

Module 15: Self Portrait

I visited a Gallery virtually since I could not make it over to the Albright Knox Gallery. Here are the inspirational artworks I found.

Title: Simon Bolivar

Artist: Jose Gil de Castro

Media: Oil on canvas

Year: 1823

Size: 510 x 655 cm

Gallery: Museo de Arte de Lima in Mali

Title: Self Portrait (7)

Artist: Amrita Sher-Gil

Media: Oil on canvas

Year: 1930

Size: 72 x 92.5 cm

Gallery: National Gallery of Modern Art

Title: The Laughing Boy

Artist: Robert Henri

Media: Oil on canvas

Year: 1910

Size: 20" x 24"

Gallery: Birmingham Museum of Art

1. Why did you select the inspiration pieces?

I chose these three pictures because they are what a typical portrait of oneself would look like. I chose the last two pictures because not all portraits have to be serious just like Simon Bolivar is in the first painting.

2. Why did you select the media to create your self-portrait?

I chose using a pencil because its the media I feel the most comfortable with. I find that using a pencil is easiest for me to have control over and I have the ability to make parts of my face dark or light depending on shadows.
3. What challenges did you face in creating your self-portrait and how did you overcome them?

Whenever I draw portraits, its usually of other people. I never really looked at a picture of myself and tried to draw it. I lack the skills on how to draw people, I have a hard time just getting the shape of the face down.
4. How does this piece represent you?

My piece represents me because I'm always smiling. I take lots of "selfies" so I find myself laughing because this is a typical picture I would take.
5. What elements and principles of art did you apply in this work?

I used value because there are light and dark shades from the media I used, and I also used emphasis considering my face is the focus of the picture.
6. Did you enjoy working on this project?

Yes, I enjoyed working on this project because as I said before, I never draw myself so it was interesting to see the comparison of the real picture to my own drawing.
7. What do you think of your final artwork?

I think my final artwork was awful! I have come to the realization that I am not very good at drawing people, or self portraits. I tried really hard to make it look like myself but it did not go the way I imagined it would! I still thought this project was enjoyable.

Project 4 Reflection

This project consisted of really thinking about what I wanted my exhibit to be about. Before I picked out my theme, I thought of all the things I enjoyed--nature, sunsets and sunrises, anything that deals with water (lakes, oceans), sports, and animals. I finally decided to pick my theme of animals. I searched on ArtStor to help me decide what paintings to use that would help me build my "gallery". I decided to use mostly wild animals which included tigers, roosters, horses, a bunny, and also a dog which is not really that wild of an animal. 

When it came to my PowerPoint, I decided to keep the background of my PowerPoint slides neutral as some galleries aren't very enthusiastic with using bright and vivid colors. I had a hard time looking for the description of the painting and knowing a bit of the background of what the painting was about. The colors of my slideshow is a subtle yellow, not too obnoxious and very plain. When I think of animals I think of zoo animals like the ones I've incorporated in my slideshow.

Overall I enjoyed this project. At first I had a hard time finding animal paintings but when I would type in the artists' name and see the artwork they have done, I would come across pictures of animals. This project took quite some time and lots of thinking to complete but I highly enjoyed looking at different paintings along the way

Module 12: Video Review

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

 I chose the Andy Warhol video because I was familiar with one of his artworks such as the Campbell Soup Cans and wanted to learn more of his artworks and I randomly chose the video Abstract Expressionism and Pop.

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

In the Andy Warhol video I learned that Warhol worked as a commercial artist until 1960 shortly after he began working with advertising images. One of his artworks called 32 Campbell Soup Cans is in artwork that is located here in Buffalo at one of the art galleries. I learned that Warhol had an interest in Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, making artworks of them using repeated images. He uses photographs that are then blown up and developed onto silk screens. They are then transferred to  paper and canvas, using ink and paint. Andy Warhol really saw the repeated silk screen images as a way to make his money. Warhol practiced photographing his friends as a way to experiment with his artwork and later began to add paint to emphasize his screen images.

In the Abstract Expressionism and Pop video I learned that this type of nonrepresentational art became increasingly popular since the 50s and 60s. I also learned that Pop art's focus on imagery in the mass media inspired artists to look more closely at photographs. Abstract Expressionism, I learned, was born from a joining of attitudes in American art and European avant-garde art, but was then rejected for its non-figurative character in favor of the phenomenon known as Pop art.
In comparison to the two videos, I learned that Rauschenber and Warhol became major art icons of the 60s by paving the way for pop artists in their use of everyday objects.

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

These videos related to the readings in the text because we learn of surrealism, impressionism, and art movements that evolved in the 1900s and are still being taught today.

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

I enjoyed watching these films because they give me a more understanding of what the readings are about. The videos give a more detailed description of what I'm learning in Chapters 22 and 23.

Module 11: Art Gallery #2

1. What is the title of the exhibit?

David Adamo Exhibit

2. What is the theme of the exhibition?

Hand-carved cedar sculptures

Step 2: The Gallery

1. What type of lighting is used?

It seems that there was light coming through the panels up above but some small lights were also brightening the "Sculpture Court" room.

2. What colors are used on the walls?

The walls and the big pillars along the side are white.

3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space?

The interior architecture of the space include big and tall pillars lining the sides of the room. There was also some grey paneling on the walls.

4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?

The wooden sculptures were spread out enough for viewers to move in and out between them.

Step 3: The Artwork

1. How are the artworks organized?

The artworks organized in this part of the gallery were in glass enclosures, side by side, filling up a small room.

2. How are the artworks similar?
The artworks were similar in that they were "staples at family weddings and birthdays, and as sculptures they recall the end of a party".

3. How are the artworks different?

The hand-carved wooden sculptures are much larger and more focused in a big room, and in the smaller room, there are the glass enclosures separating each of the different artworks.

4. How are the artworks framed?

The wooden carved sculptures are out in the open while the other artworks in the exhibition are in glass framed enclosures.

5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?
I didn't noticed any real labels of the artwork.

6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other?

 The wooden sculptures were in the Sculpture Court and the other works in the exhibition were located in a room located off of that room.

Module 10: Mask Making

As I was searching for masks on the web I came across these 3 images that helped me create my final mask. Masquerade masks are my favorite types of masks but the mask in the middle and on right remind me of what the typical mask is supposed to look like. 

I tried incorporated texture by allowing the paper towel (one of the things I used to make the mask) to be noticeable and not fully covering it with paint. I used blue and red paint only to make the color of the mask look simple but as I was painting it I was able to include both dark and light shades of both the colors I used.

 

 

Overall, I did not like how my mask turned out. I used foil as the base to make the mask and molded it over my face to get the texture of it. Then I mixed water and flour together and dipped strips of paper towel into it and laid it over the foil. Once it dried and hardened I painted it blue and red. I was disappointed with the turn out though I have never had to make a mask before. Had I made the mask differently or used different materials, I definitely could make it a lot better!

Module 9: Exploring Line (Hand drawing)

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

It was interesting drawing my hands because when I normally have a pen or pencil in my hand I usually draw hearts or flowers (something of interest) but never my hands! You never realize how detailed your hand is until you look closely and see all the lines.

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

I chose pencil because I have never really drawn with charcoal and I'm more familiar with drawing with a pencil.

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

My dominant hand is my right so drawing with my left hand I noticed that I had a very tight grip on the pencil and couldn't draw very easily. I also noticed that the lines I drew were darker.

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

I definitely have a better grip of a pencil with my right hand than my left. Overall, my "left hand (facing up)" picture is better than the other. This was an interesting drawing to do because it really puts my left hand to the test to see if it really can draw. I also noticed that my drawing of my right hand is smaller and for some reason I just couldn't get my left hand to flow the way I wanted it to. 

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

I would not consider using my non-dominant hand to create any artwork in the future, unless of course it didn't involve drawing. With my dominant hand, I have a better grip and sometimes don't have to look down at my paper when I am focusing on drawing something.