Week 15 // Project #5

1. Use the vocabulary you have learned in class to describe this artwork or performance in detail.

Guernica is an oil painting created by Pablo Picasso which uses little to no color and is a very abstract piece of work. The human and animal-like figures in this painting are lacking in proportion. The space in Guernica is extremely unorganized. There is text located within the drawings of the figures. The unique use of line and shape makes this painting abstract.

2. What processes were used to create this work? What social influences might the artist be responding to and why?

Picasso kept in mind Darwinian while creating Guernica, specifically while creating the figures. Picasso created this painting to connect with and respond to the shift towards modern art and cubism during the time period in when this painting was created-- and he introduced the use illusion and pop art. Picasso also used disproportion in this painting. Pop art, modern art, and illusion in art was rising during this time. The social influence on this painting is the war and bombings that were happening in Spain.

3. What is the relationship of this work to the time and society in which it was created? Describe the symbols used to express this relationship.

Guernica was created in 1937 and was known as an anti-war painting. Picasso specifically made Guernica as a representation of bombings in Spain from Germany. It was then put in an exhibit and rose money to go toward the Spanish Civil War. The symbolism in this painting shows the chaos that occurred in the war as well as the terror and sadness that occurred.

4. Identify elements in the work that evoke a persuasive or emotional response. Be specific about what those responses are and why.

What evokes an emotional response is the dim colors in the painting as well as the people with their mouths open and their hands up. It shows the terror that occurred during the war and truly lets the viewer know the sadness that happened. It shows that the people were going through a terrible time.

5. Evaluate what you perceive to be the strengths and weaknesses of the work.  Apply discipline specific vocabulary and concepts when describing your point of view.

A strength of this work is the abstract figures. I believe that Picasso did very well on these figures because it shows the emotion and mood of the war that the people went through. A weakness in this work is the text print in the figures, because I am not sure how that relates to the war.

Resources used:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Darwinian
http://legomenon.com/guernica-meaning-analysis-of-painting-by-pablo-picasso.html

Week 15 // Art Gallery Visit #3: Self-Portraits Art Making/Material Exploration Blog

-- INSPIRATION PIECES --

Title: Self-portrait

Creator: Dmitry D. Zhilinsky

Year: 1993

Dimensions: 52.3 x 72.3 cm

Medium: Oil on fiberboard

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/

Title: Self portrait

Creator: Stella Brown

Year: circa. 1934

Dimensions: w39.1 x h49.5 cm

Medium: Oil on canvas

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/

 

Title: Self-portrait with hat and veil

Creator: Paula Modersohn-Becker

Year: 1906/1907

Dimensions: w798 x h896 cm (framed)

Medium: Oil on canvas

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/

-- MY PIECE --

-- QUESTIONS --

1. Why did you select the inspiration pieces?

I selected the inspiration pieces because I wanted my portrait to look realistic but not too realistic. I also took inspiration of the strokes in the inspiration pieces. I like how they're well done but not super realistic.

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

I selected acrylic paint on a cork-like board to do my portrait. I chose acrylic paint because it is easy to blend and I feel comfortable painting with them. It is my favorite media to work with. I also added cloth to the background to add texture.

3. What challenges did you face in creating your self-portrait and how did you overcome them?

At first, I really could not get my face right. I had trouble trying to make it look like me because I did not copy the photograph of myself completely instead I took inspiration from my photograph. I had trouble perfecting my nose. I felt awkward creating a self portrait.

4. How does this piece represent you?

This piece represents me because it is definitely my style of painting. I like how I used the close in the background because it reminds me of my style.

5. What elements and principles of art did you apply in this work?

Shape/form

Color

Value

Texture

Balance

6. Did you enjoy working on this project?

Yes! It was very hands-on and fun. I really enjoyed it.

7. What do you think of your final artwork?

I am not a huge fan of it, because I don't think I'm too great at art but I did try my best so I think I did pretty good for that. 

Project #4 // Reflection Journal

In this project, I had a specific process while creating my slide show.

At first, I had to think of a theme. I changed my theme probably about six times throughout this project. I wanted a theme that was interesting so I could go in deep detail with it as well as a theme that would not be common in our online group. For my theme, I chose Self-Portraits created by famous artists. Once I created a theme, I googled famous artists and Google had a wide variety of information on famous artists from the 1500's to the 1900's.

I used the Google Art pages to find my photos for my curator project. I was kind of frustrated while using the Google art pages because they did not have a wide variety for the majority of the themes I originally planned to do. Luckily, I found at least 10 well-known and famous artists who created self portraits of themselves. I search 10 images, screen shotted, took down the page, and wrote down the information I needed for each slide. Then I started to create my slideshow.

I wanted my theme to seem as though it was truly in an art gallery. I went with a sophisticated theme for the color scheme for the slide show. For each slide, I put the screenshot of the self portrait as well as the information needed and the direct link to the page where I found the art pieces.

Each slide has it's own information slide along with it, where I share a small fact about each artist as well as what is within the self-portrait that helps fit my theme.

Overall, the project was fun to do. I wish that the Google art pages had more variety of photos -- the ArtStor page was not working for me so I could not use it. It was fun creating the slideshow and learning about artists who created Self-Portraits. My favorite person to do research on was Andy Warhol because I love all of his work. The project was a lot of fun to do though.

Blog Topic // Reflections of AED 200

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

In this course, I expected to learn a lot of about using the internet for art. I also expected to learn how to become more organized with my time and how to do art on my own without a live instructor. I said that it should be fun and I was very excited. All of my expectations were met. I'm very happy with that.

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

Now that I have been through this course, I can say now that art is self expression. 

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?

I said that my favorite artist was my friend Olivia in my original posting. Now, that still holds true because she is a dear friend, but I really enjoyed learning about other artists. Olivia is still my favorite artist, probably because I know her personally and can speak with her about her artwork.

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?

In my original post, I said that I was nervous about taking an online course and hoped that I could better my origination skills. I love taking online courses now. It is great for my schedule and I've learned that my time management skills as well as my organization skills are great. I will probably take more online classes now because this one was so great and I had a great experience.

Extra Credit Questions

1. Which assignment did you ENJOY working on the best? Why?

I really enjoyed the assignments where we had to go to the art museum. I liked these assignments because since it is an online course, it gives me a reason to go out and learn. I liked that when I went to the museum, no one really knew why I was there, and I got to explore. Taking photos and analyzing pieces of art that are right in my city were really neat experiences for me and I liked that each time I went, there were different exhibits to go through. It made it easier to be motivated to do the assignments for the art gallery visits.

2. Which assignment did you ENJOY working on the least? Why?

For this question, I'd have to say the assignment I least enjoyed working on were the hands-on, creative assignments where we had to use materials to create and draw ourselves. This is probably just a personal thing because I am better at digital art. If I had a question, I couldn't really get a straight away answer and that's another reason why I disliked those assignments the most.

 

3. How did you like using BLACKBOARD?

I liked using blackboard a lot. The calendar for the assignments were clear and easy to navigate. This is one out of my two online classes this semester and I'd have to say the set up of this course was more clear than the other one.

4. What is your opinion of the Discussion Groups in this course?

The discussion groups in this course were very helpful. I did not really post in it often, but I did go there for answers when I needed to because others usually posted the question I needed to know. I think this option was very helpful and a great additive to the course. Extremely helpful.

5. Did you participate in any of the extra credit projects in previous modules? If so, what was your opinion of them? (mandala, elgin marbles, culture, art critics)

I did, I believe, one extra credit project in the previous modules. I did only one because of my busy schedule but the one I did do, it was very enjoyable especially for an extra credit project. Usually, extra credit projects are no fun and extensive for no reason-- but yours were very knowledgeable and neat. 

6. If you had the opportunity to change this course:

What would you keep?

The layout of Blackboard, the Calendar, the Discussion forums. All of the projects. I like how the due dates were on the same day every week, being Saturdays and Sundays.

What would you remove?

I do not think I would remove anything, to be quite honest with you.

What would you add?

I would add updated videos for the video reviews. They were knowledgeable and cool, but a little outdated and long.

7. Would you recommend this course to your peers?

Absolutely!!

8. Please list any other comments you would like to share.

I enjoyed this course. Thank you for making it fun and interesting!

Module 13 // Video Reviews

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan: 

• The Book of Revelation
• Small symbolic statues
• The Gilman Paper Company
• Artwork Storage and longevity
• Theories on creation
• Draping fabrics and tapestry
• Preservation of artwork
• Water immersion

The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art

• Direct definition of Lowbrow art, no one can really explain it
• There is Highbrow, Middlebrow, and Lowbrow
• Originally the artwork of lowbrows had naked women and cartoons in it
• "Hot-rod culture"
• The artwork has expanded since then
• Lowbrow, surrealism
• Lowbrow is equal to "newbrow"
• World War 2 & Tattooing was popular for lowbrow art
• Psychedelic Rock posters
• Jackson Pollack
• Galleries
• Music and Art

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not. 
The videos related to my creation in my Art Exhibition project in making me think about a couple different kinds of art. I got to think about certain styles and ways to make art and the background behind it, especially in the West Coast Pop art because it seems so laid back and nice. I will keep in mind the videos when I create my exhibition.

3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of the art concepts you practiced while creating your curation project?
The films were interesting. Although they're a bit extensive and long, the information in them is important and neat. It helps me get a deeper understanding.

Module 12 // Video Review

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

I chose Andy Warhol: Images of an image because I am quite familiar with his work but I wanted to learn more so I thought this video would give me that opportunity. I chose Uncertainty: Modernity and Art because modern art is interesting so I thought I'd enjoy the video.

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

Andy Warhol: Images of an Image:

• Ten Lizes is was made by Andy Warhol in 1963
• Andy Warhol wanted to be a tap dancer before he found his love for art and worked on magazine art as well as advertisement art
• He drew advertisements for shoes, makeup, cosmetics, plastic surgery, Coca-Cola, and Campbell's Soup
• When Marilyn Monroe died, he selected a photo of her and used a silk screen machine to create an image of her, in a variety of colors
• Used a silk screen machine a lot for his art
• Uses vivid colors that clash (for effect)
• Andy's style was heavily focused pop art
• Marilyn's face made him famous
• Elizabeth Taylor
• Infatuated in Elizabeth Taylor's relationships
• Shows the way how to use silk screen imaging
• Too much paint or ink or misuse of a squidgy can ruin an image
• Warhol was in a movie with Elizabeth Taylor
• Started using Polaroid photos
• Clients were willing to pay a small fortune for each portrait Warhol took and made of them
• Warhol was narcissistic and made a lot of self portraits
• He was an art journalists
• His main theme is death

Uncertainty: Modernity and Art:

• Modern art was created and takes place in 19th/20th Century
• Modern art includes bright colors
• Advertisements
• Pop art
• Abstract art
• Art of restless questioning
• Modern art never stops changing
• Art of views that collide together
• Abstract art expresses how the artist feels
• Pop art started in the 50's and 60's
• Pop and abstract art is open to any individual how they perceive it
• Modern art used to be a minority interest

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

Andy Warhol is known for pop art and the text refers back to and talks a lot about pop art. There is a Marilyn Monroe picture by Andy Warhol in the text as well. The Uncertainty video relates to the text because it references expressionism, abstraction art, and pop art.

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

I enjoyed watching this video a lot because it had a lot of information about pop art. I enjoy pop art a lot so I found it very interesting. This adds to the depth of my understanding because it is a visual I can't view and deeply understand.