Art Gallery Visit #3- Self Portraits

Self portrait inspiration:

 

Self Portrait, Grimacing by Egon Schiele

Leopold Museum

Self Portrait (7) by Amrita Sher-Gil

National Gallery of Modern Art

In the Mirror- Self Portrait with Joy Hester by Albert Tucker

National Portrait Gallery

My photo:

 

Self portrait painting/drawing:

 

 

 

I selected my inspiration pieces because they were artworks that aren't your typical self portrait. The artists added a twist to it whether its color, expression or setting. I used watercolor, pencil and marker for my self portrait because I wanted to really express how creative I am through this self portrait. I really haven't drawn in a while and that was my biggest challenge. I'm a perfectionist so I would work on a painting for months if I could. This piece represents me because it portrays how I am a simple, laid back person, but with the use of color I expressed my creative side. I applied color, line and unity in my work. I enjoyed looking through many self portraits for inspiration but I don't really like my final artwork that much. I would love to fix it and perfect it over time to make something really awesome.

Reflections of AED

When this course started, I expected to expand my knowledge and get out more and explore local art galleries. These expectations were definitely met. This course allowed me to be exposed to so much art that I didn't even know was out there. I would define art as anything that went through a creative process to be made. For example, Duchamp's ready mades weren't something he created himself, but put out in the world for others to take a different perspective of them...that is art. Andy Warhol was my favorite artist in my first post and now I really cant even say who my favorite is. I definitely love Salvador Dali and any artist in the book that created strange pieces that made you think about them. Warhol and Dali are at complete different ends of the spectrum. Warhol created pop art while Dali created surreal paintings. Both artists have an interesting personality which is what attracts me to their art. 

Project #4 Process

When brainstorming ideas for this art exhibition project, I wanted to create a theme that stirred up a lot of emotion and curiosity within the viewer. This is why I went with the theme of surreal photography. Surrealism is an art that has been around for years, but technology and photography have allowed artists to create life-like images. The photos in my exhibit are all a little strange, but make you think, which is what I wanted. I took a classic art form and presented in a new, fresh way. I had to dig through online archives and blogs to find these images since the artists are all quite young and not very well known. When searching for photos, I wanted to make sure they all related to each other, but didn't outshine any of the other ones. I wanted to make sure they all complimented each other, but still expressed individuality.

Week 13 and 14: Blog Video Review

In The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art, many points are discussed about lowbrow art. Several artists are interviewed about the term lowbrow and what it means to them and what they would consider to be lowbrow art. Lowbrow art seemed to be something completely different than any other form of art. It was very wild and unusual but portrayed issues and pop culture of the time. In Tate Modern, the narrator discusses how Tate has become such a revolutionary museum. The way in which art is displayed changes the way an audience perceives it. In An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the process of developing the Moma by Philippe is the main topic. He was incredibly articulate and innovative in the ways in which he went about creating exhibits in the museum. The videos relate to the art exhibition project because they all provide different points of views on the topic of art exhibitions. Art exhibitions can be completely out of the ordinary and take a lot of thought and attention to detail to be successful and perceived well by the art world. The helps bring a lot of ideas to mind for the curation project. I think most people don't realize how much goes into creating an exhibit in an art gallery and the videos opened my eyes to how many different aspects are involved in the process.

Module 12: Video Review

Pop Art and Andy Warhol are two of my favorite things when it comes to art history, which I why I chose to watch Art Expressionism and Pop Art of the '50s and '60s and Andy Warhol: Images of an image. In the Art Expressionism film, many artists are discussed and specific artworks are introduced. The narrator of the film discusses important aspects of the artwork and why it was considered expressionism and pop art. The main idea for artists was that the artworks were intended for the viewer to think and feel. Color fields and action painting were just a few of the key terms introduced in this film. For the Andy Warhol film, the narrator discusses Warhol's use of pop culture in his screen printing. Big canvases are used and subjects are portrayed as a consumer product. Rather than being an exact portrait of the subject, screen printing gave way to a hazy portrait, eliminating contours of the face etc. These videos relate to the readings in the text because Pop Art, Expressionism and Andy Warhol are all introduced in the readings. I enjoyed watching these films especially the one about Andy Warhol since I just think he is so fascinating. The films took what was in the reading and brought the ideas and artists to life.

Module Eleven: Art Gallery Visit #2

The Exhibition

The title of this exhibition was The Likeness of Being by Philip Burke which is currently being shown at the Burchfield Penny Art Center. Philip Burke is an artist who creates portraits of publications found around the world from Rolling Stone to Vanity Fair. The portraits are colorful, warped, and part caricature. The soul of the subject is captured in each of the portraits, giving the viewer a full understanding of the subject. I think the theme of the exhibit is to express the true character of icons we see in everyday life.

The Gallery

The lighting in the gallery is very bright. There are a lot of windows which was letting in bright, natural light. The portraits are done on large canvases which are hung all along the length of the walls. Every small wall is painted with bright colors, some displaying quotes from icons that were painted. I didn't see much use of materials being used in the interior architecture besides the walls where the pictures were hung. The movement of the viewer through the gallery space is very random. Since there are so many colorful portraits it's easy to wander about and go back to a previous one to look again.

The Artwork

The artworks are organized in a very clean but expressive manner. The pieces are all very colorful so they don't need a crazy display, they speak for themselves. The artworks are similar in the sense that they are all portraits, but they differ greatly. The subject of the portrait varies as well as the vibe each portrait gives off. The artist emphasizes their personality, therefore each one is different. The artworks are not framed but hung just as canvases on the walls with a small label next to them, leaving about a foot or less in between each piece.

Art Criticism

 

Audrey Hepburn, 2003

Oil on Canvas

Unpublished

 

This painting is a colorful portrait of Audrey Hepburn. To me, she is a woman who can carry herself well and possesses a lot of poise which is expressed in her portrait. Using a variety of colors, the artist paints a side profile of Hepburn. One side of her face seems to be painted using regular flesh tones, while the other side is splashed with yellow, green, blue and red. Her neck is elongated and her facial features are emphasized. The artist uses emphasis, color and proportion in this piece. This portrait is a symbol of class and poise that many women of Hepburn' generation had. I think the artist was trying to reflect this in this piece. Audrey's features are over exaggerated to draw attention to the parts of her that make her who she is.  

 

Prince, 1993

Oil on Canvas

Rolling Stone

 

In this portrait, it is done of Prince. Compared to Audrey Hepburn's portrait, this on is a little closer. Many colors are used to emphasize his facial features and expressive eyes. The portrait has a white background rather than a color like Audrey's. The artist again uses color, proportion and emphasis. In a way balance is used as well. Prince is a musical icon who gives off a very unique aura, and this portrait completely embodies that. The artist's intention was to show the viewer a unique, personal side of the subject. Rather than a regular photograph, the portrait is expressive and somewhat cartoon like.

 

Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, 2008

Oil on Canvas

Vanity Fair- Germany

 

I love the Rolling Stones so this was one of my favorite painting in the exhibit. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are such amazing musical icons that completely embody rock and roll. You can definitely feel that vibe from this painting and well as their laid back attitudes. Unlike most of the other portraits in the exhibit, this one has two subjects rather than one. Mick is painted in the foreground while Keith is in the background. The artist uses color, emphasis and balance in this piece of the two subjects. The artist once again emphasizes their features by making Mick's head and lips the focal point of his portrait, and emphasizing Keith's smile and ears. Both of the men have their hands in their pockets which also gives off a laid back vibe. I feel that the artist was trying to take what he thinks makes these men unique, and emphasize them in a beautiful and different way.

 

 

From This Visit

 

Looking at this exhibit from a different point of view really opened up my eyes to the importance of a display of artworks. The pieces along with lighting, props, furniture and color all are incorporated in making an exhibit complete. For this exhibit, using colored walls and quotes from some of the subjects in the portraits, the viewer was able to get the whole experience. 

Module Eleven: Video Review

The two videos I selected were Expressionism and Dada and Surrealism. I chose these two because out of the reading, those two art styles interested me the most. In Expressionism, the video goes into detail about the birth of expressionism and its emphasis on color and its relation to emotion. Expressionism was a style where feelings took over rather than observation. In Dada and Surrealism, these art movements were a result of World War I. Rather than focusing on the norm, Dada and Surrealist artists focused their attention on what could be done with the unconscious mind. These art movements were more strange and provoked thought. The videos relate to the readings in the text because they elaborate on the art movements discussed in the book, but offer more examples from artists. I enjoyed watching these films since they were of art movements that intrigued me and wanted to know more about. They added depth to my understanding of the readings because they introduced the art movements with incredible detail and showed many artists who were represented in those movements.

Module Ten- Art Making/Material Exploration Blog: Mask Making

For the images I selected, I browsed through images of masks and was really drawn tot he ones that were unique. I loves the color and mosaic style of the first mask. I also liked the use of cardboard in the animal inspired masks. They come across as being a little strange, but that's why I like them. For the last mask I found for inspiration, it was a day of the dead mask. I always loved the look of day of the dead skeletons so naturally I was drawn to it. I also loved the use of flowers and leaves which was a huge inspiration for me.

For my sketches I pretty much just sketched anything that came to my mind, some elements drawn from my inspiration photos. For my final mask I incorporated color, pattern and line to make my mask. I also used the idea of the flowers on the day of the dead mask and made some navy blue fabric flowers to attach to the mask. I really enjoyed this project because I was able to take whatever inspired me to create something new. The interesting thing about masks is that you can really be inspired by anything whether it's meant to be for decoration or ritual purposes, the options are endless.

Module Ten - Blog: Video Review

For this module I chose the videos Buddhism and African Art. I chose these because they were topics in the reading that I found to be most intriguing. For the Buddhism video, the narrator elaborated more in depth the topics that were introduced in the text such as Buddha's beginnings and the basis behind the religion. The video about African art discussed the beginning of their art and why it was so different than other art forms. Both of the videos related to the readings in the text because they took topics that I knew about briefly from the reading, and went more in depth with explanation. The video of African Art discussed a lot and was very informative. The video about Buddhism did the same as well as showing art involving Buddha such as sculptures which I thought was interesting.

Module Nine - Art Making/Material Exploration Drawings

 

 

I did quick sketches using a charcoal pencil for this assignment. I've actually done some quick sketches of my hands before and it is a fun subject to use since there's so much movement in the hands and folds and shadows. It was very difficult using my non-dominant hand I almost felt like I had no control over that drawing (the bottom one). Using my dominant hand I was able to add more shading and definition and with my non-dominant hand I really wasn't able to do any of that. I think my drawings are successful studies. I drew to the best of my ability and tried my hardest when using my non-dominant hand. I probably wouldn't consider using my non-dominant hand in the future because like I said I felt like I had no control of the drawing, but it did give the drawing an interesting effect.

Module Nine- Video Reviews

I selected the two videos randomly really and because I wanted to watch two videos about things/people I know nothing about. It's more interesting to watch something new to learn more. The first video I watched was about Albrecht Dürer, an artist during the Northern Renaissance. The video follows his life and his most important paintings such as portraits. In the second video I watched it was about Velázquez who was an important artist of the Spanish Golden Age. He created many important pieces as well that paved the way for art to come in the future. The videos relate to the text because they show the lives and paintings of artists that I don't think were mentioned in the text, and if they were it was very little info. Actually seeing more pieces of a specific artist during a specific time makes it easier to understand the popular techniques and subjects used during that time.

Module Eight: Video Reviews

From the list of videos we could choose from, I chose The Measure of all Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure. I guess I have always been intrigued by Greek art and their attraction to the human body, which inspired me to choose that video. From More Human Than Human, the main concept addressed was the idea that the human body is all around us, including in the art world. Throughout time, and according to different cultures, the human body was defined in different ways. Some cultures such as those in Austria and Egypt made images of the human body unrealistic, by exaggerating certain parts or creating unrealistic body movements. For the Greeks they evolved to become incredibly realistic in their interpretation of the human body. Their sculptures were realistic and life-like. The idea of humans having an instinct to exaggerate the human body was described as being wired in our brains. In The Measure of all Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure the Greek interpretation of the human body was elaborated on. Sculptures of the human form done by the Greeks are shown over time, but one thing remains constant: the Greeks were obsessed with the human form. In the beginning, sculptures were not as realistic, but as time went on, Greek sculptures of the human body became realistic. Some of the chapters we have read in the text all have something pertaining to the human body in it whether it is sculpture, painting or photography. This just shows how all art forms and artists evolve around the beauty and the ever changing interpretation of the human body. I actually enjoyed watching From More Human Than Human because it began with describing different Venus sculptures, then to Egyptian sculpture, then to Greek. Finally the author wrapped the whole concept together by relating it to the experiment with the birds and the yellow stick with red stripes. I agree with the experiment seeing as it makes sense to think that we have an instinct to be drawn to an exaggerated view of something we see in every day life.

M7 - Blog: Video Review

For this assignment, I watched the videos Prairie Style and Architecture: The Science of Design. In the Prairie Style video, Frank Lloyd Wright was introduced and his impact to design was described. He had a very specific style when it came to construction of houses. Wright was very interested in creating houses that blended into the environment rather than sticking out. Wide open, horizontal spaces were used quite often as well. For the video about architecture, the popularity of high rises and vertical spaces was discussed. The narrator talked about the structure of high rises as well as an increase in the use of concrete. Also, the evolution of living spaces was talked about including the smart apartment, which is a living space where everything is controlled from a computer. The videos relate to the readings in the text because they both go more in depth about topics that were introduced in the readings. In the text Frank Lloyd Wright is talked about briefly, but the videos discuss more about his design concepts. The films were both very interesting and informative which added to my understanding of architecture. I did not know much about architecture before this module so it was interesting to learn all of these new concepts. I never really knew how much went into architectural design, including materials and issues like wind and weight. I chose these films randomly from the list of videos to watch, and I'm glad I chose them. Both left me with more knowledge about architecture and what is behind it.

Module Six - Blog: Video Review

When watching the videos it is easy to relate the information to what was read in the text. The key concepts I got from the video Eyes of the Sculptor were the processes of creating sculptures and the thought process coming first hand from an artist himself. This relates to the text because the chapters read also discuss the processes of sculpture. Seeing this video adds depth to my understanding of sculpture because  I am able to see how it is actually done rather than just reading about it. Seeing the sculpting experience from an actually artist broadens my horizon about the subject and allows me to understand it more. From the video about glass and ceramics, the key concepts I got from that video were the fact that glass is all around us and its uses are really limitless. I think we don't really realize how many things are made from glass and how it is such a universal material. This relates to the text because in the text we read about the beginning of the use of glass and how it has made its impact on our history. In the video, we see more of how glass and ceramic is used in modern day. Regardless of time period, both materials are very popular. The video added to my knowledge by seeing the process of making glass and ceramic and what it can be made into.

Module Six - Blog: Reviewing Peer Responses to Artwork

Blogs I visited:

http://asarcinelli.blogspot.com/
http://inquirethearts.blogspot.com

When looking at Sara's elements and principles I was definitely able to relate to what she was seeing. I do think that everyone can analyze things differently but I can look at what others view as elements and principles and understand their point of view. I think it is easy to spot other elements and principles in the photos just because a really common on such as color can be pretty much universal in all things that we see.

A common thing I noticed when looking at project 2 was that we all seem to have a certain feeling or mood inside when looking at pieces that make an impression on us. It is hard to describe that feeling to others but everyone can look at something and just be blown away with the impact that it gives. There were not any artworks in common in either blog but there was a painting in Anthony's that is at the Albright that I have seen a few times and was curious to know more about it as well.

The Chandelier for One of Many Possible Ends by Phillip Stearns that Sara listed in her blog was an installation that piqued my interest. I haven't been to Burchfield in a while and seeing that installation definitely inspired me. In her blog she talked about her initial reaction to the piece and then what it actually meant, and that interested me. We always have a first impression of an artwork but sometimes reading about what it really means can change that impression.

I like being able to visit other blogs and read what my peers have to reflect on. I always have an open mind and I can appreciate what others have to say. Art can be translated so differently for different people so it's fun to see what other people find interesting or what causes them to think. I think it's valuable in my learning because it is allowing me to see other peoples opinions and see what everyone else's point of view is.

Art Gallery Visit

The two pieces that made the most impact to be were Wall Drawing #1268 by Sol LeWitt and Room No.2 by Lucas Samaras. Both pieces gave me a very strong first impression because they are so interesting! What I found to be most interesting about the wall drawing was that it was an actually drawing on the wall. The description next to the piece describes how it took sixteen people and 1,717 pencils to create this piece. The mirrored room makes an impact all in itself. What fascinates me is how the artist decided to put this together with the viewer in mind. When you step inside the room it's like being in a different galaxy or something.

The artworks I felt a connection with were both on the romantic side, with a little twist. The first piece is The Flying Fish by Marc Chagall and the second is Spring by Ben Stahn. The reason I felt such a connection with these is that they both seem to have love/marriage as an inspiration. Both pieces also had interesting subjects in the background such as a fish, or a miniature couple jumping rope. Love is certainly a strange emotion that is different to every person and I can see that in both paintings. I'm sure everyone has experienced that in some way, and can feel that connection with these pieces.

The pieces I would like to know more about are Civil Tapestry 5 by Theaster Gates and Untitled by Oliver Mosset. Civil Tapestry 5 is actually made out of fire hoses which is so amazing to me. What makes me curious though is the reason behind it. Was the artist paying homage to firefighters or maybe just simply using the hoses as a medium because it is so different? The piece by Oliver Mosset also makes me wonder what the motive was behind it. Is it a large scale tic tac toe or a bunch of "xo" symbols that represent hugs and kisses? I could always do a little research behind both pieces and I'm sure I will because I'm that kind of person, but it is fun to just let your imagination take over and to try and figure it out on your own, as a viewer of the art.

My logo

Creating a logo for myself was definitely a fun project. To begin my process I pretty much just started thinking of things that I like and things that would define me such as a moon, an arrow, etc. I eventually came up with the idea of using the idea of a flower crown, but just creating an arc of flower inspired designs above my initials. Although the colors in the scanned image look very dull, the real life drawing using pencil, marker and watercolor contains very light pastel colors. The most important discovery I had made during this process was how difficult it was to define yourself in just one symbol or design. I’m sure if I could continue this project, I could come up with several more ideas for my logo, but given the time frame we had, I had to limit myself. What ended up working in the end was a more simplified version of what I imagined in my head. I am a simple yet complex, creative person and I feel that my logo defines that. After I had gone through all of the resources for this project, I realized how much effort really goes into making a logo for a company, brand, etc. Even just the debate between using three circles instead of four (like in the first video) can be a crucial decision in the process. Finding one symbol or design that represents a brand is very difficult, but rewarding in the end. It’s fun to see how the original sketches can evolve into the final product.

Art Making/Material Exploration #1: Exploring Value and The Subtractive Color Theory

When creating the value scale, it was a little challenging trying to make sure each block was slightly lighter than the previous one, but it was still fun shading and trying to create a scale. I have made other color wheels in the past but always with red, blue, and yellow as the primary colors. When making this one with cyan, magenta and yellow, it was interesting to see how differently the colors mix compared to the basic primary colors. I preferred to work with the paints only because I enjoy blending them. It is a fun process to see what colors can be created. The most important discovery I have made from this project and from the video was how the real primary colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow. These colors are brighter than red, blue, and yellow and create much more richer secondary colors. Although it throws me off to see cyan, magenta, and yellow to be considered primary colors instead of traditional red, blue, and yellow, it is still fascinating to see how color theories have evolved over time.

Elements and Principles of Art

When searching for elements and principles of design, I looked around my own house looking for things to photograph. My family collects a lot of interesting things such as paintings and sculptures, and my mom is also an elementary school art teacher, so I am surrounded by art related objects. It was interesting because I never realized how almost all objects we see in every day life actually contain several elements and principles of art. Everything we encounter can be analyzed as art and most people do not realize this. When trying to come up with ideas for my photos, I would have an element or principle in mind and would quickly come across something in my house that pertained to that. Some principles were a little difficult, only because I think they require a little more thought behind them. They are not as obvious as elements such as color or line. This was a fun project for me to do, since it is nice to explore your surroundings that you usually overlook in everyday life.


Slideshow link: http://s1065.photobucket.com/user/francinesaternus/slideshow/Elements%20and%20Principles%20of%20Art

Album link: http://s1065.photobucket.com/user/francinesaternus/library/Elements%20and%20Principles%20of%20Art

Color has an incredible effect on emotion. We are all surrounded by color every day but we do not realize how much it effects us. Just the basic warm colors versus cool colors evoke different emotions. Warm colors are associated with love and fire while cool colors are more likely associated with sadness, calmness, or shade. There are typical emotional associations humans experience with color, but everyone can interpret them differently. Edvard Munch for example painted the background of The Scream with swirling reds and oranges. The average audience would assume the artist was portraying a sunset when in realty, Munch "painted the clouds as actual blood."

The theoretical aspect of color that intrigues me the most would have to be the emotional effects of color. I am a person that likes to analyze things and take in the feelings that they evoke rather than discussing them. I just think it is fascinating that certain colors stir up certain emotions. My favorite thing about looking at a work of art, listening to music or watching a movie is letting the feeling take over. It is an unexplainable sensation that changes according to context.

In the color video, the thing that had the biggest impact on me was the process in which June Redfern painted. She had a theory of "keeping the whole thing going" which meant that she was constantly adding to the painting to keep the process fluid. She used color to do so. She also stated that feelings were difficult to paint and that was one of her biggest struggles with her painting. She had felt a specific sensation in Venice when the original inspiration came to her, and she had to take what she felt and project that on to a canvas for the rest of the world to see.

In the feelings video, what stuck out to me the most was the fascination with Mona Lisa. It is a painting that is often analyzed which is why I find it so interesting to hear different peoples interpretations of it. In the video, it is stated that the Mona Lisa was not a divine creature, she was only human. It was not a portrait of a religious icon, it was just a portrait of a woman. It is interesting to hear that especially since a lot of paintings before that time were meant to serve as a religious or keepsake purpose.

In the first video, the ideas of art and aesthetics is analyzed over time. Many different philosophers had different theories about what aesthetics really are. For example, Hutchenson believed that ideas were brought about in our soul by beauty and harmony. The fact that many people have different views on aesthetics just shows that the idea of art and aesthetics are very versatile. For the second video, the science and brain are studied in relation to art.

            I believe Kant’s theory of aesthetics to be the most important because I agree with what he believes in. He believed that aesthetics are not constrained by law but created in our imagination. That idea opens my mind up to the idea of aesthetics.

            Changeux and Ramachandran’s scientific views of aesthetics and art were very different than everything I’ve read and seen so far. They dig deeper behind art and analyzed in in the brain as a psychological aspect. From Changeux’s lecture, he expressed the evolution of brain and how over time new aspects were discovered. In Ramachandran’s lecture, he expresses how when an object is distorted, it stimulates the brain more since the audience has to think about it more.

            The videos and articles relate to the readings in the text because they all analyze art and aesthetics. What makes them differ is their interpretations of these. The text discusses artist intentions and the aesthetics behind art, while the videos and article focus more on the brain and science behind art.

            The films were certainly interesting because they expressed an aspect of art that I never really thought of before. It’s interesting to me to see how an artists point of view differs from a philosophers. The article discusses what our mind sees and how it views lights and shadows in art compared to those in real life which I have never really thought about before reading this. All of these definitely add depth to my understanding of the text because it exposed to me a point of view I never knew existed.

           

Creating a Gmail account

The process of creating a gmail account and setting up a blog was fairly easy. I already had a gmail account that I had only used for a few things so all I had to do was set up this blog which was a piece of cake. I have always really enjoyed art and as a fashion major, I find art to be a true inspiration for some of my ideas. I am hoping this course deepens my understanding of art and the process of creating art. I have taken online classes before and I am taking several this semester so I am comfortable with working a lot on the computer. As long as there can be communication between other students and the teacher I find that there are no problems otherwise. I look forward to learning new things and opening my mind to analyzing new aspects of art.