Peer Responses

1. http://abate1.blogspot.com (Abbey Abate)
   http://lostprofetsun.blogspot.com (Jenna Fanara)
2. Both Abbey and Jenna had pictures that very much represented the elements and principles of art. Each picture seemed as if much thought was put into it. I can see exactly why each picture was used to represent that specific element. Both girls chose pictures that were very meaningful to them. Jenna’s love for nature was seen in alot of pictures and were very beautiful. The colors of the flowers were so bright and beautiful! Abbey also had pictures that were close to the heart, especially the one of her family. Not only did they look at this project as a class assignment, they put elements that represented themselves into it, allowing fellow classmates to learn about them.
3. Both Jenna and Abbey chose amazing artworks. Many of them were ones that I too felt a connection with or appealed to me. Abbey and I had a few responses that were almost similar when looking at “Bedroom Painting #40” and the sculpture of mother and son. It’s so amazing to see why certain works appeal to different people, but to have similar reasons is awesome! I can see why she feels a connection with the works that she chose and made me even more interested in them. Jenna and I also chose some of the same works. She posted one that I had and also another that I took a picture of but didn’t use for the project. It was interesting to see each of their responses to individual works. Everyone thinks differently and understanding their connection and attachment to certain art is definitely moving in a way. When starting this project, I expected responses and works to be completely different but seeing that two blogs that I chose both contained works that I enjoyed was awesome!
4. One of the works that Abbey chose, the various pictures with puzzle pieces, definitely caught my eye. I loved puzzles when I was growing up and would spend all day putting them together. Knowing that that interested her too was very cool. But looking deeper into this work, I was curious as to the the missing pieces meant, if anything. I know each are a representation of either American Express, Renyolds Wrap, and Lightbulbs, but is there more behind it than that? I could be wrong, but my interest is definitely piqued. One work that Jenna picked, “Women’s Head”, caught my eye. I wondered the same as she did. What is the purpose of this work? Is it relating to anyone in particular? What was Picasso’s inspiration for this work? These are questions I’d love to know the answers to.
5. I enjoyed reading peers’ blogs. I found it very worth my time. Knowing others connections to certain works and their feelings towards it is very enriching and makes me look more into art that I love and appreciate. Seeing how art affects others is very interesting. I also found it cool that out of the group of classmates, the two blogs I read both had some of the same works that I chose! Art is full of emotion. Learning about peers’ emotions through their posts is enjoyable for both me and I assume the other classmate. I know I take great interest and spend a lot of time with each project and seeing that others do too and appreciate it just as much as I do makes me want to work harder! Overall, I enjoyed this part of the week!
6. Reading responses to my own work was relieving! I’m glad classmates got the chance to see how I felt about certain works and how much time and effort I put into my work. Art is a big love of mine and I want others to see how much I enjoy it! I appreciate each response I got for the two projects.

Art Gallery Visit One

Which artworks made an impression on me? Why?

“Bedroom Painting #40”; Tom Wesselmann; 1978; oil on canvas.

I was so taken back by this painting when I first looked at it. The colors in the work are absolutely gorgeous and so vibrant. When thinking of a bedroom, one may think of it as being dark and shaded; peaceful enough to sleep. But the bedroom in this painting is very light and alive. The colors draw you in, each one right after the other. The woman looks as if she is staring at something or someone, making her seem very happy. The flowers at the bottom of the painting also make the room seem very alive. It looks also as if there is something more going on. The essence of the woman looking at someone intrigues me. I wonder what else can be going on in this picture..

“Pinwheel”; John Ahearn; 1998; plaster

This is an amazing sculpture. The proportions of each hand and arm compared to others, the way they’re formed and the realness of each make the sculpture. It looks as if each hand is asking for something, or waiting to be given something. They’re in the shape of a circle and, to me, can represent people around the works all asking for one thing. This may be happiness, it may be peace, it may be life, it can be so many things. This is a beautiful work of art, one in which I’d take much joy in learning the meaning behind.

 “Convergence”; Jason Pollack; 1952; oil on canvas

Confusion is an art in itself and confusion is the first feeling I felt when looking at this artwork. I did not know where to start when viewing this work but once you find a place to look, the rest flows. Your eyes are easily moving through the picture because if the various strokes and shapes. I find it very interesting how all the colors move through out the picture and how each can be recognized. The title of the work fits it perfectly. Although confusing, all elements in this piece come together as one, creating a sense of unity.

Which artworks do I feel a connection with? Why?

"Eta d’oro” (The Golden Age)’ Medardo Rosso; 1886; wax on plaster

This work gave me chills when I first looked at it. You needed to take a few minutes to clearly recognize what it was but the face of the baby is so real it’s shocking. Although it’s only faces, you can feel the love between the mother and the child. This work appealed to me because it reminded me of my little brother that passed away and my mother. Looking it makes me think of how badly he’s wanted back in this world and much much my mother and the rest of my family loved him. I can envision that this is how my mother and him would have been; close, loving, caring, unlike any other mother in this world.

“Wedding Souvenir”; Claes Oldenburg; 1966; plaster of Paris

I got hungry when I looked at this artwork. I have an enormous sweet tooth and this was one of the works I wanted to take home with me! It looks so realistic and I wonder, because the work is titled “Wedding Souvenir”, if it is an actual cake but sculpted. Could it be the artist’s actual cake? All in all, it looks delicious!

“Man Varnishing Doll’s Bed for Little Girl”; Norman Rockwell; 1920; oil on canvas

This artwork made me do “aww” when looking at it. Whether this be the little girls dad, uncle, grandfather, it seems as if he took the time out of the job he was doing and varnished the girl’s bed for her. He looks pleased to do it, especially for the little girl who is kindly looking over his shoulder. This reminds me of my dad and I. He would always take the time out of his work to either help me with something or fix something for me. 

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

“Baby Girl” Marisol; 1963; wood & mixed media

This work confuses me a little bit. It represents a baby girl, yet it is so large. The shape is also awkward and box like. I would love to know the intention and meaning behind this work. Why did the artist make it non life-like? Yet when looking at the eyes, it seems like you can see deep into them. What does the doll on the baby’s leg represent?

“Kill Yourself”; Nancy Dwyer; 1989; vinyl paint on canvas

This work is very straightforward. The only question I ask is why? What is this work referring to? What was the artist’s mind set when painting it? Kill yourself is a very graphic and strong phrase, so why is the coloring and font of the phrase bright and bubbly? The word “kill” is white with snow on it evoking a sense of coldness. The message behind this work is extremely confusing and I’d love to know any and all intentions when creating it.

"Zurbale”; Joan-Josep Tharrats; 1962; oil on canvas

This work is very interesting to me. Initially looking at it, I thought it was a fetus just by it’s shape. The background represents a feeling of peacefulness. However, the fetal looking shape is filled with distortion and dark colors. I can’t really pick out a clear picture within it but I can see a baby’s face starting to form. What is this really a shape of? And if it does represent a fetus, why is the inside dark and distorted? What is the specific message being construed here?

Logo Creation

I thought creating a logo to represent me was a lot of fun. Although, in the beginning it took a lot of thought, the process was incredibly fun. You had to think, specifically about how you could combine so many aspects about yourself into one small logo. It all needed to be complete and whole too. But it was definitely interesting creating a logo. I feel that mine is an exact representation of me, and it's pretty creative. When reading about logo's, I learned that they need to be appealing and catchy because it is an audience's first glimpse at what your company is all about. I had that idea in the back of my mind while creating my logo. I took it step by step, thinking about each element I wanted to include. All in all, I love the end result!

My first thought when creating my logo was making sure that it was in the shape of a logo; a coherent whole with a logical representation of myself. The first thing you recognize when looking at my logo is a building. This building represents the Empire State Building and my love for New York City. This is the center element and everything else is based off of this part of the logo. Of course, a building has to have windows. Each of the four windows in the building represent a different part of my life, something very meaningful to me. The first window represents my heritage and background. The second window, the number three, is a representation of my two best friends and I. The rings in the third window are a sign of my commitment to my boyfriend. The last window contains things that I enjoy doing. The sun in that window represents my love for tanning, the football and basketball are a representation of sports I enjoy playing and the pencil and paper symbolize my love for writing. The palm trees, sunset, and ocean symbolize my love for the beach. It is also alludes to relaxation and settles the logo so it isn't too intricate to where it's too confusing to look at. The next element that brings this logo to a whole are the angel wings at the bottom. These wings are a reference to my brother who passed away 11 years ago. I put the wings here because it's seems as if they're holding up everything that means the most to me. Another aspect you can see within the building is my last name. This is a representation of my family. My logo focuses on the most important parts of my life, parts that make me who I am.

When creating my logo I realized that there are no set guidelines. A logo is a representation, if not of yourself then of a company or business. It's a reflection of something. Each logo has a message they're trying to convey and it's up to the audience to read that message. That's why logo's need to be striking. They're the first thing we learn about a company or business and if they're boring, we're going to turn away. But if they catch our eye, chances are we're going to be intrigued and want to find out more about what they're trying to say.

Honestly, I did not watch either of the videos. When I read that we were going to be making a logo I was so excited to start! Art is something I enjoy doing, whether it be drawing, painting, coloring, etc. I got started very quickly, taking my logo step by step so it wasn't rushed. The powerpoint was very helpful in giving background information of logos, showing how they evolved just as our own logos did. 

http://s1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee498/aieljl13/?action=view&current=5a5b5a2f.pbw

Above is a link for the slideshow I put together of the step by step process for my logo. Below is a final image of my logo.

Color Wheel and Value Scale

1. It was fun actually being hands on with what we’re learning. Reading text all the time gets tiring but being able to read and then be hands on to get a better understanding it alot more fun. It betters the learning process by being hands on. And with art being more of a physical work, it’s better to put what you’ve learned onto paper. I enjoyed working with different mediums too. Acrylic is one of my favorites as is charcoal. It was interesting to see how one pencil can create so much contrast and have such a strong value to it. Overall, I enjoyed the hands on part of this learning process.
2. I enjoyed the charcoal the best. I feel that there is so much contrast within one medium that can create an entire picture. Charcoal was also very easy to blend, adding more value to each box. Although it was difficult to make sure no box was the same and each slightly changed as the scale went on, I enjoyed the process. Drawing and shading is one of my favorite ways to create art. Adding texture and value to a picture with a single item is very interesting to me. I also find that I take more time working with one single medium such as charcoal or pencil than acrylic or watercolors.
3. One of the discoveries I thought was very fascinating was that a famous artist such as Van Gough or Picasso might have done the same activity before they created their works of art. Art takes alot of time, dedication, and practice. They may have done similar exercises as we have also. Practice makes perfect and this was a great way to start the process.
4. The videos were very helpful. They showed the process for each activity we had to do and served as a good reference in case we had trouble while working. For those who never made a value scale before, the video make the process easy.

Elements & Principles Project

Capturing images and viewing images related to the elements and principles of art was very interesting and exciting. Through out the process, you were able to see how so many parts of life represent art and it’s fundamentals. Relating them to their principles gives one a better understanding of what art really is. We sometimes overlook the beauty in daily life and taking a second to think about certain elements and how life can be a representation of them was very beautiful. Being able to look at a picture and see so many different artistic principles in it gave me motivation to capture more. Our lives are revolved around art in so many ways and taking a minute to recognize that was alot of fun. My slideshow consists of new photographs I took around my house that give a representation of certain principles and elements. It also consists of pictures that I have taken in the last month that better represent certain elements than items in my house or surroundings. Either way, each picture carries a great importance to it, both artistically and emotionally. They each capture beauty and life in many different ways.

Color Theory and Emotional Effects

1. Certain colors have specific meanings whether it be within a certain culture, religion, or lifestyle. Context can provide the colors meaning and intention, especially the effect on people’s emotions. A color’s intensity and the certain color scheme used when refer to paintings or drawings also affect the viewers emotions and their perception of the art. Growing up, we all understand the meaning and colors associated with stop and go, boy and girl, and colors dealing with certain holidays. Without the use of these colors in reference, the meaning won’t be the same. In reference to holidays, would Halloween be the same if colors referring to it weren’t black or orange? Say we used pink and brown. The meaning wouldn’t be the same as the original colors. This use of colors can be used to seasons as well. For spring and summer, we use bright colors. Spring refers to more of pastel colors. Fall is oranges, reds, yellows, and browns, and winter is usually white, or blue in reference to cold. But if we switched these colors up, the meaning wouldn’t be the same. Our minds connect with the colors around us and use them as a basis to refer to certain things and moods. The attached website is explaining that by using stop and go and the color used with each. 
2. One fact about color that I find the most interesting is that there is not one color that can’t be made just by using the basic colors; red, green, blue and yellow. By mixing certain colors together, so many different ones can be made. Depending in the initial color’s intensity, value, and hue, deeper or lighter colors can be made. It’s just astounding to know that so many beautiful colors stem from for or five simple ones.  
3. It’s interesting to know how light on water and reflection from the sun onto water is an inspiration to painters and intrigues them. The colors that the reflection portrays are very beautiful and somewhat difficult to paint. It is also interesting how June traveled to Venice, found a perfect spot to sketch a painting and created a gorgeous work from a simple painting relating to the surrounding area’s colors. She says it’s the feelings that come out of a work that you have to hang on to. 
4. I loved the reference to Renaissance art. That was one of my favorite time periods when referring to art because it was so intricate yet to beautiful. It reflected the time and what people felt. Geometry, color, balance, all reflect the emotion of a picture and what the viewer takes from it. The statement, “art shows civilization changing” summarizes how deep and meaningful one picture can be. It can represent a whole clan of people, a whole period of time, or a religion. Just one picture can speak years, tears, happiness, struggle, demise, maturity, ect. The feelings are endless but we need to appreciate every work, from the pre-historic cave paintings until present day art.

Aesthetics

1. The first video, Aesthetics: the Philosophy of Art, concentrated on how the concept and idea of aesthetics came about after centuries. It evolved from one figure (Plato) who laid out the groundwork for aesthetics to grow. The video taught how one idea can be created with different contributions and feeling from one person and evolve into what can be the groundwork for art. From Plato to modern day art, aesthetics has greatly evolved. The second video from CARTA, was also very interesting and took a more scientific view on the concept of aesthetics. The first lecture from Changeux explained how the aesthetic experience can evolve from human evolution. He compares it to humans and as we progress, so does art. The way we perceive certain images comes from how our brain looks at it and relates to our aesthetic experience. 

2. As I said in the chapter postings, I felt that Plato's contribution was very important. When speaking of aesthetics, he laid a foundation for all other opinions to be based off. He clearly stated his opinions with reason to support his feelings and others after him simply branched off his opinions, whether they agreed or disagreed. Aristotle took Plato's beliefs to another level and expanded on it with what he believed. However, after Aristotle, even more foundations for aesthetics were laid out. Just as art grew, so did contributions to the meaning of aesthetics. Hutcheson was soon to enhance these ideas, concentrating on the phenomenon of beauty. And taking them a step further was Kant.

3. Changeux compares the evolution of the human to the evolution of art. He says that art uses symbolic forms that are similar to human productions. He says that art has history but asks about the progression of art since it's early origins of art. He says there is some kind of mental synthesis which contributes to the aesthetic experience. He shows an image that can either be seen as a man or a woman, depending on how your mind perceives it (which is very cool!). He compares the conscious and the unconscious and compares the aesthetic experience to the conscious. Ramachandran is a bit more charismatic and humorous and uses actual works of art in his presentation to enhance his presentation. He lists 8 universal laws of aesthetics however adds that cultural influences aren't taken away from that. He claims he's interested in rules that cut across cultural boundaries.

4. Both videos discuss different views of aesthetics and its evolution. They both explore its roots and progression over the years, both artistically and scientifically. What I take from these videos, there is not one reason or explanation on how aesthetics evolved. Depending on how an individual perceives the world and their understanding of concepts is how we perceive the definition of aesthetics. The videos stretch the concept of aesthetics that we read about in the book and add another view to it to make it better to understand. How we view certain works is enhanced by our own perceptions.  

 

5. I felt that the films were very interesting. They were both mildly long and were sometimes difficult to keep up with, but they were filled with information that added to my understanding of aesthetics. The first shows the evolution of aesthetics in an artistic way and the second in a scientific way. My only viewpoint is, I don't believe there is a science to art. I solely think that art is art and how we view it is based on our emotions and feelings and our way of interacting with a work, not on our brain perceptions and eyes. When talking about art, science isn't involved. Yes, scientifically, what we see is our brain putting a meaning to it, but I don't like collaborating the two. I feel art is more feeling and emotion more than science.