Mod 15 Self Portrait

Portrait of James Baldwin

Beauford Delaney1965

Portrait of Armand Roulin

Vincent van Gogh1888

Portrait of Armand Roulin

Vincent van Gogh1888

1.) I selected the following inspiration pieces because I really enjoyed the color palette used in all the paintings. I especially like the vibrant backgrounds used, and the colors in the skin. I feel like they were a style I could relate too because they each had their own style, and flare.

2.) Oil pastel is a medium that I am familiar with and enjoy working in. I can get creative with a variety of fun, vibrant colors.

3.) I think in the beginning I was focused on making the portrait look exact, but the more I worked on it the more I was okay with it being more representational.

4.) This piece represents me because I am someone who embraces change, especially when it comes to the way I look. I also am an outgoing individual and wanted to capture that using bright, vivid colors.

5.) I focused on color in my piece by using vibrant colors and creating contrast using warm and cool tones. I created movement in the piece with energetic lines and shading.

6.) I truly did enjoy working on this project! I love drawing portraits so I found this project perfect for myself and to build up my skill.

7.) Overall, I am happy with the outcome of my portrait. I think it communicates who I am as a perso and has a great energy to it.

Mod 13/14

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

In the first video I watched,  The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art, I learned of an underground art movement created by artists in the 1970's who rebelled against art snobs in their community. 

After watching the second video, Tate Modern, I learned that we must look at everything from different perspectives and standpoints to gain a better understanding. New exhibits are created that showcase collections in different views, allowing us to critically analyze works in ways we may have not thought of before.

Lastly, in the third video, An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan, the role of a curator was detailed and I learned of the steps they must go through for setting up an exhibit. Everything down to the angle and lighting can affect how a viewer sees a piece in an exhibit. 

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.

These videos most definitely relate to the creation of my Art Exhibition project. They gave me better insight to how curators put together exhibits with common ideas and themes. Also I developed a better understanding for how the visually arrange the pieces so the flow in the exhibit and allow the viewers to examine each unique piece. 

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?

I enjoyed all the films because I was able to see how exhibits are set up, and understand the time and care put into them. It helped me to better understand how important every fine detail is in curating an exhibit in various galleries. 

Project 4 Review

I really enjoyed putting myself in the role of a curator for this project. I was able to discover many different artists whose works really interested me. As someone who is a fan of the strange and unusual, I enjoyed searching for pieces that exemplified that. Providing analysis for the artworks that would entice the viewer was also a great experience. Overall, I really gained a lot from this project and helped me to better understand the effort that goes into creating an exhibit.

Module 12 Video Review

1.) I chose the video "Andy Warhol: Images of Images" because Andy Warhol has always been an artist that has fascinated me. I remember being very excited when we did pop art and Warhol replicas in my high school art class. I chose the video "Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the 50's and 60s because I really enjoyed the readings in the book that talked about this time in art history . I also recently saw an exhibit at the Albright Knox that displayed at from the 60s and it sparked my interest. 

2.) In the Warhol video I found it very interesting to learn more about the silk screen printing techniques used by Warhol and his team. Finding out how Warhol used his techniques and pieces as a call out to consumerist America while also profiting himself was a little surprising. It was easier for Warhol to complete commission pieces with screen printing and have others make the same piece. 

In the second video, I learned about selected artists who were important during the 1950s and 1960s in the art world. I developed a better understanding of artists who have always interested me like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. 

3.) Both videos relate to the readings in the text because it gave me more visual insight and examples of artists who created abstract expressionism and pop art pieces. I learned more about the techniques of artists who lived during this time and how the process of creating their artworks.

4.)I enjoyed watching both videos, especially the Andy Warhol one. Both videos were extremely informational and helped me to better understand the abstract and pop art eras. 

Mod 11 Exhibit Analysis

Step 1.
1.) Title of the Exhibit: We The People: New Art from the Collection
2.) The pieces in this exhibit are newer pieces acquired by the gallery that allow the viewer to connect with and relate to contemporary artists. The pieces in the exhibit explore what shapes us, and the parts of culture that influence us in the modern age.

Step 2: The Gallery
1.)The lighting in the museum is very bright, and illuminated because it needs to tbe able to light up a very lager space.
2.) The colors of the wall are mainly white, allowing the viewers focus to be on the art on display. There are no bright colors that would distract the viewers from the artwork in the exhibit.
3.) The materials used in the gallery are very minimal so not to distract the viewer from the art.
4.) I felt my eye moved freely in the gallery. There was no disruptions in the space and I was able to view each piece with ease.

Step 3: The Artwork
1.) The artworks are strategically placed throughout the exhibit so the viewer can take their time and appreciate each work of art they see.
2.)The artworks are similar in that they are all relate to how we identify and confront how various forces influence our lives.
3.) Each artwork tells a different story or engages the viewer in a multitude of ways depending on they relations to what they see.
4.) Most of the artworks in the exhibit are not framed, and some are sculptures/installations.
5.) Artworks are identified with the name of the artist, their place of origin and birth year/death. The artworks title can be found on the label, along with the materials used and how it was acquired. Most labels also feature a description/history of the artist and the piece.
6.) The artwork in the exhibit is all well spaced throughout the rooms of the gallery. The gallery uses the space well by giving each piece the proper amount of space between each other so the viewer can really focus in on certain pieces.

Step 4: Art Analysis

Artist: Subodh Gupta
    Title: "This is Not a Fountain"
    Media: old aluminum utensils, water, painted brass taps, PVC pipes, and motor
    Date: 2011-2013
    Size: 65x190x309 in

-Walking into the room my eyes were immediately drawn to this piece. A large pile of aluminum pots, bowls, pans and other utensils were piled in the center of the room. Sprouting from the pile were waters taps with water flowing out of them. The artist uses the element of space to by overlapping the utensils in a disorganized pile on the floor. The principle of harmony is used by the artists because of the unison created in the installation with the materials used. The sound of the water draining from the pipes gives off a calming feeling that contrasts with the mess of utensils. The use of everyday uternsils like pots and pans gives off a familiar feeling to the viewer. I think the artist is trying to show how everyday objects can be seen in a new light.

Artist: Hank Willis Thomas
Title: "We the People"
Media: Decomissioned prison uniforms mounted on sintra
Date: 2015
Size: 74x90"
-At first glance I was mesmerized by the large pattern created by the orange and white fabric. Looking closer I realized the pattern sewed into the fabric spells out "We the People". The fabrics are stitched together to form the bold letters in the fabric. The artist uses the element of line when stitching together the uniforms to form the words and creating a movement in the piece that allows our eye to follow the words seamlessly. The use of prison uniforms to spell out "We the People" is a statement against the injustices still prevalent in America, especially against the US prison system. After reading about the artists I believe the intent of this piece is to make the viewer rethink the morals of our current society and the flaws of the justice system.

Artist: Nari Ward
Title: "Loisaidas LiquorsouL"
Media: Metal, plexiglass, fluorescent sign, PVC pipe, artificial flowers, shoelaces, and shoe tips
Date: 2011
Size: 144x30x24"
Looking at the installation you see a large fluorescent sign, hanging vertically along the white wall. On either side of the sign their are big red letters illuminated in the plexiglass. The bright red, letters spell out the word "Liquors" but beside the first "L", the rest of the word is upside down. Down the middle of the sign flowers, shoelaces, and show tips follow the edge of the sign. The artist uses the principle of variety in the piece by combing various materials an forms that we would normally not think go together. The long, towering shape of the sign makes draws attention to the words on it and is hard to ignore in the exhibit. The piece reminds me of convenient liquor stores that you find open at late hours of the night. I feel like the artist is trying to paying homage to a familiar store that maybe people in his neighborhood frequented and the story of drinking in urban neighborhoods.

Paying attention to the details of the gallery housing the exhibit and pieces really gave me a new appreciation for the gallery and it's workers. I realized how important the space an art piece is exhibited in to the viewer and our interpretation of the piece.

Module 11 Videos

1.) I chose the video "Dada and Surrealism" because after reading about the Dada movement in the text I was greatly interested in learning more about it's history. I love art that has a political message and challenges the "norm". I also have always been a fan of Salvador's Dali's work so educating myself more on his art and other surreal artists is important to me. 

I chose the video "The Impact of Cubism" because besides Pablo Picasso, I felt like I didn't know about many other significant artists who were part of the Cubism movement. Cubism is an art movement I never really focused on and was interested in learning more of it's history after the reading. I have always been fairly critical of more "abstract" art movements so, I thought this video would be eye opening for myself and help me better understand Cubism. 

2.) The "Dada and Surrealism" video was full of information on artists from these movements and their creations. I learned that Dada artist Kurt Schwitters used elements of constructing and collecting in his pieces. He believed choice played a key role in his creative process, and the outcome of his pieces. Schwitters became closer to the natural world with the objects he chose to use in his works. He removed objects  from the world we associate them with and gave them new meanings in his creations. I learned that artist Hannah Herr was the only female artist in the Berlin Dada group. Her pieces represented carefully planned chaos that was a staple for this illusive artist movement. George Grosz drew crude, cartoon like characters in scenes of chaos to represent the horrors of the war that would disturb the viewer. I was interested in surrealist artists Joan Miro, and how he based his painting "Dutch Interior 1" off of a 17th century painting, but with a surrealist twist.

The video "The Impact of  Cubism", was rich with details and history on multiple artists who were part of the Cubism art movement. I learned that Marcel Duchamp's painting, "Sad Man on a Train"was said to be a self portrait of himself. In Duchamp's painting it looks like he has deconstructed the figure and mechanically put it together. Juan Gris's work, "The Breakfast Table", uses abstract shapes, intense colors and dark lines to piece together a quite common scene of breakfast to make it something more interesting. 

3.) In the text we learned the basics of the Dada art movement and that it was started by a group of artists waiting out the war in Zurich as a form of protest. The video delves more into the history behind the artists who participated in this movement such as George Grosz and Kurt Schwitters. We are able to understand how artists used their work as a form of protest from the objects the collaged to the people they depicted in their pieces.  In the text we learned about Pablo Picasso and George Braque being the ones to start the Cubism art movement. The video further goes into artists who were inspired by these two, such as Juan Gris, and became a part of the movement themselves. 

4.) I especially enjoyed the video on "Dada and Surrealism" because the Dada art movement is not something I knew much about before this class. I love studying art that speaks for its time and reflects the history at the time. The Dada art reminded me of political art we see today and how important it is to use art to speak out in dark times. The video "The Impact of Cubism" gave me a better appreciation for abstract art forms and the creative process behind them.

Module 10 Mask

1. Upload the three (3) inspiration images to your Blog (or link to your Photobucket account). Explain why you selected the inspiration pieces.

2. Include the analysis and description (art criticism steps) of the three (3) inspiration pieces.

3. Upload images of your sketchs and finished piece.

4. Explain how you used the Elements and Principles in your finished mask.

5. Share your opinion of your finished mask and what you thought about creating the mask

1.)
    a.) 
I chose this mask because of the mix of bright colors used grabbed my attention. Also the formation of the teeth and horns intrigued me.

    b.)
 I chose this mask because of how elaborate and intricate the painting of the snake skin looks. All the small, intricate detail in the mask caught my eye. I also like the large, decorative earrings on the mask because it reminds me of gauged ears.

 c.)
  I chose this mask because of the beautiful and delicate patterns created in the mask. The small flowers and swirl patterns line the top of the mask in a precise and thought out matter.

2.)
  a.) The mask appears to mimic the face of a devil, with it's grinning red face showing sharp white teeth. Bold, blue horns protrude from the head and point towards the sky. On top of the head their is what appears to be possibly some type of lizard perched on the skull. We can see the element of color used in this mask because of the rainbow of colors used for different features on the mask. The intensity of the red face reinforces that the resemblance of the devil in the mask. Movement is created in the mask by the strong expression and exaggeration of features that make the eye bounce around the mask.

b.) The mask has a grinning face, bearing sharp fangs from its rusted, red lips. There is large , dangling earrings hanging from the ears of the face. The top of the mask holds a large elaborate cobra snake. Texture is created by the details if the cobra's scales, because of the intricate and precise painting. The curves sculpted in the cobra snake create movement in the mask.

c.) The mask has a rustic, bronze color with small intricate raised designs placed throughout. The top part of the mask mimics a lace like texture with the detailed swirls and patterns. While bronze seems to be a main color, hints of black are in the flowers and bands along the top of the mask. The repetition of patterns on the top of the mask create rhythm in the mask. The symmetry of the patterns on either half of the mask emphasize the principle of balance. The raised swirls and rough bumps in the mask add the element of texture to the mask.

3.)

4.) I used the element of color in my mask by choosing very bold and intense colors. I wanted the fierce red to contrast with the cool tones of the greenery sprouting from the middle of the face. I used the principle of balance in my mask by trying my nest to create a symmetry with my placement of the facial features and leaves up top. I chose the prickly plant in the middle to add the element of texture to the mask. I collaged the teeth, eyes and mouth on the mask to also create texture and space in the mask.
5.)I am happy with the outcome of my mask because I was able to be inspired by different cultures to create a piece of my own. It allowed me to be more mindful of my creation process and I was able to play around with the elements and principles of art. I especially took balance and color into consideration while creating my mask. It was fun collaging different pieces together to create a whole image.