1. What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing?
By using my hand as the subject matter of my drawing it made me have to think about how the hand looked, and how transfer this 3D image to a 2D surface. I disliked using my own hand because it is hard to keep the same pose for the whole drawing.
2. What media did you select - pencil or charcoal? Why?
The media that i chose was pencil because i feel that pencil offers a little more control then charcoal does. I also didn't have any charcoal on hand and pencil was easier to find.
3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand?
To create a drawing with my non-dominate hand was awkward. The process was a lot slower and took more time to complete.
4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they are successful studies?
The drawing of my left hand is not as good as the drawing of my right. Because i am left hand dominate i believe that the drawing of my left hand is more realistic looking. The shading is better and it looks more 3D.
5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future?
No i would not consider using my non-dominant hand because i am less able to control my movements with that hand. My left hand allows me to control where i want the pencil to go, whereas with my right hand it is more shaky and less controlled.
1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.
I picked the four videos that I chose because I was familiar with the artists who the videos were about. Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Albrecht Durer, and Rembrandt were the artists in the names of the films and these artists are familiar to me. I chose these four videos to learn more about these artists who I have learned about before.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance:
The main concept of this film was the life and works of Leonardo Da Vinci, the most influential person to have lived during the renaissance. They describe his life from birth to death and list his numerous achievements and great works. Leonardo was the quintessential Renaissance man and this video proves that. The Drawings of Michelangelo:
The main concept of this video is how art students can learn from comparing Michelangelo’s finished works with his preparatory drawings that he made. The film compares his drawings with his sculptures, paintings, and architecture that came from them. The film explores and analyses works such as the Pieta, the colossal David, The Sistine Chapel ceiling, and The Last Judgment. The film also looks over the artist’s tools, techniques, and the evolution of his style. Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master:
The main concept of this video is the life and work of Albrecht Durer the most famous artist of the Northern Renaissance. He was believed to be the main reason for the spread of renaissance beliefs to a Germany dominated by Gothic tradition. The film focuses on some of his most important pieces, his woodcuts, paintings, and engravings. The film also focuses on the people who had influence on his life. These people include Anthony Koberger, Michael Wolgemut, and Willibald Pirckheimer. The Night Watch:
The main concepts of this film are the life and works of Rembrandt, but most importantly the work The Night Watch. The film deconstructs this piece and explains the many conventions that it broke during this time. Through its suggestions of movement, dramatic use of light and perspective, and its composition; it broke many of the conventions of art during this period. The film also focuses on the importance this piece holds with the Dutch, and the amount of damage that has been done to the piece over time.
3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the readings in the text because they are all about renaissance artists. This relates because the chapters discussed this week dealt heavily in renaissance art and the artists that contributed to this time period. Leonardo, Durer, Rembrandt, and Michelangelo were all large contributors to the art and styles of the Renaissance.
4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
All four of the films are well constructed and very informative. Each explains its subject very well and in great detail. These films add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts by going into more depth on the subjects that were presented in the text. They also achieve this by adding more visuals of the artwork of the period being discussed. The films help because not only do they develop on the information shared in the books, but they also provide more visuals to help to elaborate the points that are trying to be made.
1. Explain why you selected each of the three videos you choose from the selection listed above.
The videos that I chose are The Birth of the Middle Ages, Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany, and Cairo Museum. I chose the 1st film because I enjoy the period of history known as the middle ages and wanted to learn more about it. I chose the 2nd film because I was interested in the black death aka bubonic plague, and wanted to know how this plague was related to art during this time. I picked the final video because I was curious about the Cairo Museum and wanted to see what artifacts were held In the collection.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
The key concepts that I learned in More Human Than Human are that people prefer images that do not look like us. We prefer images that are abstracted and unrealistic. The program continues to list the different cultures and the way they have proven this belief, and also states that this preference for abstraction of the human form comes from the brain being hardwired for exaggeration.
The key concepts that I learned in The Birth of the Middle Ages is the history of the middle ages as it is traced through certain cultures. The film traced the middle ages through Europe, Japan, and Rome. The film also focused on the Renaissance and the fall of the Roman Empire.
The key concepts that I leaned in Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany are what happened to Sienna and Florence during the Black Death, and also after the Bubonic Plague took its toll. The video goes into detail on the event that took place during this time, and what happened to spring a curiosity in spirituality that would lead to the high renaissance.
The key concepts that I learned in Cairo Museum are that the museum in Cairo houses an impressive array of artifacts from ancient Egypt. These very important artifacts include the burial mask if King Tut and the Luxor Mummies. The Museum has such a large amount of artifacts that it can only display about half of the collection at one time.
3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the text because they are all about the time periods that are discussed in the readings for chapters 14 and 15. The Middle Ages, Egypt, the Roman Empire, and the Greeks are all presented in video form. The videos provide detailed images and documentary on these time periods and the art and architecture of these time periods.
4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
I think the films were all entertaining and very informative. These films are good at adding depth to understanding of the readings and art because it shows many examples of what is discussed in the book. It is important to see these things because they give you a better understanding as to what the book describes. The commentary from experts in the field also helps to add understanding and a different perspective to the reading.
1.For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
Prairie Style: The key concepts discussed in this video are Frank Lloyd Right’s Prairie style of architecture. The film explains how this style changed the face of modern architecture, and it also shows the works of two other architects that he inspired. The architects that were inspired were Dan White and Ron Thorn.
The Science of Design: The key concept of this video is how science is related with architecture. The program focuses on sky scrapers and the science needed to protect them from gravity and wind, but also documents the creation of a smart house. It shows how science and architecture is related and how science helps architecture grow.
Classical Architecture: This films key concept is the classical architecture of the Romans and the Greek. It defines the different styles of these eras such as Doric, ionic, Corinthian, and Tuscan. The video explains how the architecture of these two civilizations has had a lasting influence on architecture.
Last Call for Planet Earth: This video is about the changes needed in architecture that will help to protect our planet. The video highlights the work of architects around the globe who are working on green solutions to architectural problems. These include green roofs, the use of geothermal energy, and passive solar energy.
2.How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos related to the readings in the text because it went into more depth on the topics that we learned in this chapter. They showed examples of the things we read about such as the styles of the Greeks and Romans, and the use of green technology in architecture.
3.What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?
I enjoyed the videos they were very informative and helped to show just exactly what the book was trying to explain. I think they add depth by allowing us to see the structures and the styles that are mentioned. Also, we are able to see the architects talking about the works themselves and this helps to add understanding.
4.From the group of four that you had a choice: Why did you choose that film?
The film I chose was the last call for planet earth video. I chose this because it is the field of architecture that most interests me. I like learning the different ways they are developing to protect the earth from pollution and other harm.
Installation art describes an artist genre of site specific work, they are #D works designed to transform the perception of the space.
A very broad range of everyday and natural materials are used in the creation of Installation art. Almost anything can be used in the work, depending on what the artist wants.
There are many reasons to make installation art, one reason is to make a statement about a space. Another reason is to give people the opportunity to see and experience a space in a different way. Finally installation art can convey a message or idea or celebrate or commemorate a place.
The artist installation that I found most interesting is Richard Wilson’s 20:50. It is a very interesting looking piece and I would like to walk through and explore the piece.
Step 4 Questions
From the material reviewed the piece that I felt a connection with is Thomas Hirschhorn’s Jumbo Spoons and Big Cake. I have a connection with this piece because my piece is very similar to the installation that I made.
The Theme that I will explore in my piece is technology, more clearly the growing presence that technology has in our lives. Also how technology can sometimes take over our lives.
The materials I will use are: pictures, various old and new items such as computer monitors, tvs, cell phones, iPods. I will also use duck tape cords and wires and thumbtacks.
The installation will be located in an empty bedroom in my house. The room was currently painted and is completely empty so the piece will be set up in it.
Final Reflection my installation is placed on the ground and moves up the wall. One the ground there is a TV a step later and a laptop surrounded by cords. All of the monitors have angry faces on them. The cords wrap around everything and climb up the wall. On the wall there are pictures and the cords continue to wrap around the pictures. All of the pictures are connected by the cords. This represent technology slowly creeping into our lives and eventually taking it over, or becoming intertwined. there are many principles and elements used in my piece. Balance is used because the work is visually balanced. The pictures are spaced and balanced and on the bottom the monitors are all balanced. Line is also used because the cords can be followed around the piece. The cords connect everything in the piece and they can be followed all the way around the work, this directs the viewers eye. Light is also depicted in this piece because in the darkened room the light from the tv, and the light placed behind the tv produce and eerie glow. Unity and variety are both present in the piece, this is because the wall part of the piece is very unified in the way the pictures are spaced and the cords wrap around them, but there is also much variety in the sheer amount of items used in the piece. I liked the process of planning and creating my project. I liked planning my project and comming up with an idea and devising a plan to to represent that with a piece of art. I liek the creation of the project just because in installation art there are so many different things you can use to create. I like combining the planning process with the creation project and experimenting with different ideas and materials to see what effect it would have in the overall piece.
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?
For both artists i agree with the pictures that they used for all of theElements and Principles. However, in both i found images that could have one or more of the elements or principle in them. An example from the first blog i reviewed was that many of the picture were of flowers, and the flowers were bright and could represent color, such as his proportion picture. For the second blog i reviewed their picture for balance also shows the element of space.
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?
In both blogs that i reviewed their were pictures that were the same as my own. One such example from the first blog is the work by Yves Tanguy. the reasons the image was selected were very similar to my own. He explains the painting a little better then i was able to, and i would also like to know more about this picture.
Another example from the 2nd blog i reviewed is the work The Marvelous Sauce. I agree with her reasoning and like her explanation of the color of their clothes providing emphasis to the characters in the work.
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?
Yes both of the Peers whose blogs i reviewed have images that now peak my interest. In the first blog the painting that now piques my interest is Clifford Still's painting NO.1. I connect to this painting because it is so large and immerses you in it, and i also see the feeling of hopelessness that can come from it. I would like to know more about the artist that created this piece. In the second blog i reviewed the work entitled Spring Time now peaks my interest. The painting is by Daniel Ridgeway Knight and is very realistic in some parts but blurred in others. I like the effect this creates, and would like to learn more about the artist.
5. What do you think about the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?
I like the process of reading my peers reflections. I do find this valuable in my learning. It is valuable to learn the other view points of other students and to also see how your views and ideas compare to those of your peers. Overall i feel this was a very helpful exercise, and was valuable to my learning.
6. Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful? N/A
1.For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
Through the Eyes of a Sculptor:
In this video the key concepts discussed are the restoration work on sculptures and what goes into the restoration of the sculptures. The video highlights the process of restoring a sculpture and the techniques that are used by the sculptors. The video breaks down the steps in the development of a sculpture.
Glass and Ceramics:
In this video the key concepts described are how old the art of class making and ceramics is and how glass is made. It also shows how the techniques of glass blowing and stained glass are done. It also highlights the production of industrial ceramics and their applications, and the use of glass and ceramics in architecture and other places.
Installation Art:
This video helps to define what installation art is. It defines it as art that takes over a space and defines that space. Also it is something that is all around you, that has an attitude to it. The video shows many examples of what installation art is such as the works made by Richard Wilson. These include 20:50, and She Came through the Bathroom Window.
2.How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the text by explaining and offering examples of the crafts of ceramics and glass making. Also by defining and providing many examples of what installation art is and how it is made. Also it all dealt with the creation of 3-dimensional art, this was the major recurring theme for chapters 11 and 12. This can be seen in the sculpture video, and how 3D art is restored and created through sculpting.
3.What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?
I liked the films; I believe they added depth and understanding to all of the topics discussed. By showing many examples and how the processes are carried out, such as glass making and installation art, it helped me to understand the topics better. Overall I believe the films were helpful and elaborated on the topics of Sculpture, Installation, and Craft.
