Art Gallery Visit

Step 1. 
1. The name of the exhibit is "The Complexity of Life" by Jonathan Rogers.
2. The theme of the exhibit is trying to reach balance in life.

Step 2.
1. The lighting of the exhibit is very low, practically shading.
2. The walls are a navy blue (very dark) adding to the shadow effect.
3. There was no significant architecture of the space, just wooden floors.
4. The gallery space is rectangular with a large stand in the center with a painting on either side as well as a glass stand that containing a drawing and an explanation of the exhibit.

Step 3.
1. The artworks are arranged in no particular way. There's a mixture of paintings and drawings on 3 walls of the exhibit.
2. Most of the artwork contain small children that appear to be dancing. The drawings are all of a hand with a baby angel in a different position in every artwork.
3. There's a wide range of colors using for each artwork making them unique and they highlight different things.
4. The oil paintings on canvas are hung while the drawings are put in a black frame.
5. The drawings and painting are all relatively close to each other with black plates next to thing telling the name, artist, media, year, and scale.

Step 4. 

Let Go and Let God 

Jonathan Rogers

graphite on paper

1997

The drawing is of a baby in the hand of an adult. There's a dim light coming down on the baby that contrast the shadow of the background and the hand. The picture appears to be the hand of God holding newly created life, in the form of a baby. The two big elements of art used is space and value. The single hand in the picture takes up most of the space, especially in contrast to the tiny baby. The value of the drawing is shown through the dim light shining on the baby that hits the tip of the hand and fingers, while the rest of the hand is dark and shadowed. I believe the artists was emphasizing how special newly created life is and how it should be praised by the people (hand) that creates it. 

Nap Time from The Little Dancer series

Jonathan Rogers

1990-2006

oil on canvas

This painting is showing a group of children jumping around on a bed. Some of the children appear to be regular humans, while others are solid colors from head to toe. I believe Rogers is expressing the carefree and imaginative nature children tend to have in early in life. Also, the children in solid colors can be interpreted as something other than human. Color and shape are highlighted in this painting. The color of the some children, blue, red, green, orange, etc, was probably used to emphasize the difference in humans and other worldly beings in the painting. Rogers used religion a lot in his artwork so this may be a product of that. Shape can be shown based of the bodies of the children. Their limbs seem to be more loose and wild than normal children, which could have been done to show the expressiveness of children. 

Little Dancer Escapes Almost from The Little Dancer series

Jonathan Rogers

1990-2006

oil on canvas

This painting is showing a child running around from an altar. I believe Rogers was showing how sometimes children are forced into religion and as they grow up, that aspect of their life slowly leaves them and then, they stop going to church or participating in religion as a whole. Value is heavily used in the painting. Value can be see when looking at the child's first appearance to his last. The further he gets from the alter, the brighter he becomes. This could emphasize the person feeling are letting go of something that you do not find pleasure in anymore and how free that feeling is. Value can also be scene we showing how dark the altar and church is in comparison to the light and lively outside that is shown on the right-hand side of the painting. Color is also shown in the painting. The church is very dark and black in color, with the exception of the windows and carpet. This compared to the brightness of the outside can be interpreted as a good vs bad scenario. 

Mask Project

This is the first mask I selected. It's a replica of the masks worn in comic books and movies  by the character Black Panther. It has a basic color pattern of black with a metallic sliver used to emphasize the indentations made in the masks. I used this mask as a inspiration for the shape of my mask. 

The second mask I choose is a wrestlers mask. I took inspiration from the color of red and blue with the eyes. The masks is completely symmetrical. It looks as though one side is being mirrored, forming the other. 

 I chose this final masks because it is made out of metal. Most of the masks I was looking at for inspiration were plastic or paper so this caught my eye immediately.  There are lots of lines and patterns that appear to be symbolizing something. Also, the eyes look like they are turquoise buttons. 

My Mask.

For my masks, I wanted to do something similar to the black panther masks with the coloring of the wrestler's mask. I decided to use blue as the color of the "face" while red is a mark going down from the hairline to the chin cut-out. I decided to use charcoal to outline everything because I believe it makes the majors pop more on paper.  The ears and cheekbones were colored using a black color pencil because I wanted them to contrast the charcoal. The black lines under each eye is used to mimic the mark athletes use before they onto the field. 

I think my masks is decent. I'm not a particular good artist so I feel as though others could be better. I liked creating the masks because everything I did something, I found something else the would make it better in my eyes. For example, initially I had black curved lines represent the library, but I decided to cut the eyes out so make it more appealing.

Module 9 Part 2

1.  I choose The Drawings of Michelangelo and El Greco: Discovering a Master because I wanted to learn more about an artist I already know of, and to learn about one I know nothing of.

2.
"El Greco Discovering a Master"
      El Greco was a painter who specialized in painting in a Byzantine style. He took influence from the Renaissance era and used it within some of his paintings. Based on the video, it seemed like he took a somewhat realistic approach on his paintings, since after his death his paintings became less popular due to the naturalistic era that was approaching.

"The Drawings of Michelangelo"
    It was interesting finding out how tedious and caring Michelangelo was when making his art. He only wanted perfection so he discarded his sketches so the only memory would be of the one he deemed to be perfect.

3.  The videos mainly related to the text in the since that they explained how both artists used their surroundings and time period as influences.

4. I enjoyed both videos. However, I liked the piece on Michelangelo more because I appreciated his need for perfection in doing the thing he loved.

Module 9

Right Hand

 Left Hand

1. What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing?
Using my hand as a subject matter was weird and difficult because there's a lot of small veins on my hands that I found hard to draw. I also didn't know how I was going to draw using my left hand since I'm right-handed.
2. What media did you select -pencil or charcoal? Why?
I selected charcoal as the media because I felt it would emphasize the structure and details of my hand better.
3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand?
It was very difficult to draw with my non-dominated hand. As a child, I would use that hand to try and do regular things like write or eat with it just to see if I could learn to become ambidextrous but I have not done that in many years.
4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they are successful studies?
I'm not a good drawer so neither drawings accurately shows how my hand looks. However, I did better than I think I would using my non-dominated hand (left hand) since I believe it would look much worse. Personally, I think the picture I drew with my left hand is better.
5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future?
I would not consider using my non-dominated hand for artwork in the future because I would not be completely confident in anything I did with it.

Module 8

1. I chose to watch the The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure because I've always been fascinated by Greek culture and history. I've only previously looked at the sculptures of Ancient Greece and I wanted to learn more about them.

2.
      In More Human Than Human, it was interesting learning about the way Greeks viewed the human body in relation to their gods and goddesses. In Greek mythology, it is said that the Gods and Goddesses can sometimes transform into a human in disguise so Greeks believed the better someone looked, the closer that person is to being a God in the form of  human.
      In The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figures, I learned that the main reason sculptures are the most well known form of art from Greece's history is because other forms (paintings, drawings, etc) are hard to find. Early Greeks appreciated building sculptures of the important people in their culture as  a form of worship.

3. The videos relate to each other because they both deal with the way art is incorporated in a culture's history. Both videos discussed Ancient Greece and how sculptures are a big part of their history and beliefs.

4. I enjoyed both videos, especially The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure due to it being mainly about Ancient Greek.

Module 7

1. The first video I watched was Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art. Frank Gehry was an architect who specialized in making buildings that performances could be held in. In the video, he spoke about his mindset going into building. He said he tries to make buildings that expresses feelings and how it's difficult to do so because art is subjective. He also spoke of his distaste for modern architecture due to its plain nature. He believed that a building should be made no different than paintings are made; meant to draw out some kind of emotion.
     The second video I watched was Frank Lloyd Wright (Prairie Style). Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect who took influence from nature.  He preferred to have houses and buildings blend in with the environment. He didn't seem particularly fond of certain American architecture due to it not being very environmental.

2. The videos relate to the readings in similar ways. Both videos discuss how two different artist try to add something personal to everything they make. On one hand, Gehry makes his buildings to bring up emotions, and Wright uses nature to give his buildings life.

3. I thought both films were fine. I like listening to artists speak about their passions and about the things that influence their artwork. I enjoyed listening to Frank Gehry speak more he was able to understand that when building anything, one should know that their project will not be liked by everything. Gehry specifically plans out his works to try to reach out to as wide of an audience possible.

4. I chose these two videos because I thought from the title I'd learn more about the faces being architecture. Before coming to college, that was one area I thought about exploring so it was interesting to see people who went through that process already.

Peer Reviews

https://allydemski.blogspot.com
https://emilybaumer.blogspot.com

1. 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?
  Both Ally and Emily used the elements of art effectively. I was able to understand each picture right away and connect it to the element it corresponded to. In Ally's pattern picture I also see the element Line, and I see pattern in Emily's form picture.

2. 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?
  I shared none of the same artwork as neither of my peers. However, Ally and I both used a painting by Craig Smith.

3. 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?
  I connected with Emily's picture The Marvelous Sauce, ca 1890 because I enjoy cooking. I want to know more about Flood  by Barnaby Fumas because it the coloring resembles blood so I want to know the motive behind the painting.

Module 6

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

     In the Through the Eyes of a Sculptor video, the process of sculpting is explored as well as the difference materials that can be used. Something interesting I learned from the video was that a clay mold was used as a framework/reference for the final marble sculpture since using marble takes a lot of time and the work must be tedious.

     In the Glass and ceramics video, I key concept I took from the video was watching how the turned sand into master pieces of glass using fire and different colors. It also discusses how glass is used differently in the world and how

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

     The two videos relate to the text by giving more insight to the process of sculpting. They show how artists use different elements of art, such as texture and color to make their artwork. 

 

3) What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?

      I enjoyed both videos because it's nice to see a form of art that moves beyond a canvas. These methods of art take a lot of thinking, time, and energy to perfect. That is not to say the other forms of art don't, I just prefer these methods more. 

 1. When creating my logo, initially I was just going to use my initials. I decided to use my birth-date also because of it's significance. I aunt was a big Chicago Bulls basketball fan so since I was born on the 23rd, I was named Jordan, after the NBA player Michael Jordan who worn #23.

2. I mainly though about the design I wanted to use. I'm not particularly an artistic person, but I wanted to make it nice so I could hang it in my room. Also, I liked using the acrylic paints from a previous assignment so I wanted to incorporate those in as well.

3. The most important discovery I made was how much I can about small details. I did several final paintings that I discarded because it did not come out the way I wanted which was surprising to me because I typically do not like painting much.

4. I did not learn much from the videos since I already knew but my biggest take away would be logos are a big way of branding since it's the first impression.

Naming Ceremony (Ghana)
William Y. Cooper
Oil on canvas
48 x 60 inches
1994

Deliverance: from the Visions of Faith Series
Jonathan Rogers
2000

The Three Trees Untitled
Charles E. Burchfield
1931-46

Everybody Dance
Jonathan Rogers
1999-2001
oil on canvas
48 x 60 inche

Spirt of the North Woods

Charles E. Burchfield

conte crayon on paper 

13.5 inch x 10.5 inch

1952

1. The two artworks that made an impression on me were Naming Ceremony 

& Last Load for Winter. Both pieces of art made me think of two movies. 

The former made me think of Black Panther with all the colors and patterns

resembling many things in African culture. The latter made me think of the 

film Wonder Woman. There's a scene where the main characters are traveling

under a bridge on a steam boat. Also, living near NYC all my life, I bridge 

made me think of all the bridges back home.

2. The two works of art I feel a connection with are Spirt of the North Woods

and The Three Trees. Since I've moved to Buffalo, I've explored a lot of 

nature that I do not encounter back home. These paintings made me

think of all the woods I've traveled. The latter painting was the first 

painting I seen entering the gallery and I loved it from that moment.

3. Both paintings by Jonathan Rogers I would like to learn more about. 

My guess about it's meaning would be something spiritual but the details 

and the full meaning I am interested in more.

Last Load for Winter
Anthony J Sisti.
Oil on canvas
38 x 26 inch

1. Discus what you thought about creating the Value Scale and Color Wheel.
Creating both of these were fairly simple. I'd done the exact project before in high school so it was easy to remember.
2.Which media did you enjoy working with he best and why?
I preferred the Color Wheel the most because I've had to use paint since entering color so it was a fun little project. I didn't like the Value Scale because it calls for being very light with the pencil and that's difficult for me because I never do anything so tedious during my daily life.
3. What was the most important discovery in the creation of these studies?
The most important discoveries I made were mixing all the primary color together gave black and that I had to use more yellow when making the secondary colors than red and blue because they overtook the yellow so fast.
4. What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos for this project? What is your opinion on the videos?
The most important information I got was from the Color Wheel video where it was explained that yellow, red, and blue are not exactly primary colors because they're are different hues of those colors that you get by adding water. Both videos are fine to watch, they just did not give me more information other than what I knew already besides what I previously mentioned.

Module #3

    1. Describe Color and it's effects on emotions. Use the appropriate vocabulary of color in your posting.
Color is a product of light that allows the differentiation of objects in the world. It is not something actually physical, more so made from the reflection of light rays from one another.  According to Living With Art, we are culturally conditioned to associate certain colors with emotions. For example, red is typically the color one uses when expressing feelings of rage whereas blue is seen as more serene and calming. 

    2. What is a theoretical aspect of color that most intrigues/fascinates you? Why?
The aspect that fascinates me the most is the concept of colors not being tangible, just effects of light. As a child, you never think about understanding why certain things are a particular color, the concept just stays with you typically for you whole life. The oceans are a good example. I always drew the ocean as blue because that's what I saw as a child. Learning that the water was not blue but clear, the blue color coming from the reflection of the sky, fascinated me. 

    3.  In the Color video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and it's effects on emotions?
The artist's attitude in the video towards her painting is what intrigued me. She spoke about the act of painting as if it were a work of art itself. She described the experience as the paint moving her rather than the other way around. 

     4.  In the Feelings video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and it's effects on emotions? 
The biggest impact in this video was the idea mentioned that art was a method of teaching different political viewpoints among early civilization. Also, that it is used to learn about the past.

1. In the first video, the difference between art and beauty was highlighted and how philosophers in history interpreted each as being  different. For example, Plato believed art to be popular entertainment and preferred to study the idea of beauty. He thought beauty could be found in anything in the world. Aristotle on the other hand, focused more on art, where he believed in derived from tragedy.
    The second video focused more on the human mind and it's ability to process images/works of art instantaneously. The brain views images and immediately associates them with something familiar so humans and get a better understanding of it. However, the longer you view it, different interpretations may come to mind. For example, Changeux showed an image , optical illusion, that appeared to be a pregnant woman when I first looked. As I looked at the image longer, I started to see a picture of an old man. This video also discussed lines and symmetry and how humans use them to connect work of art to things in life. This is why many believed art to be deceitful because it's made from something that already exists.
2. I feel Plato's (428/427) is most important. He studied beauty and the different forms it can take. I agree with his views because there is no true definition of beauty because no human mind interprets things the exact same way another does. The cliche saying "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" comes to mind when learning about Plato's views on aesthetics.
3. I did not have much of an outstanding reaction of either lecturer but it was interesting to see their different views on aesthetics within art. It was difficult to understand what Changeux was saying but I was able to understand his teaching on how the human eye works with the brain to interpret the things we see in the work.
Ramachandran's lecture was more interesting. His analysis of how humans perceive art using different aesthetics was good to learn. Also, his point of how complex images are more mentally stimulating because it gives us the need to understand what the art is trying to say so our brain is working more whereas with simple, basic art, it does not take much work to understand what's being said.
4. The videos & articles relate to the text in the sense that they are all discussing the way aesthetics are used by humans when interpreting a work of art.
5. The videos & article were interesting to go through because, while similar, they all gave a different view on aesthetics in art. They did add some depth from the topics in the text by applying more emphasis on the "human to world" connection in art.

1. Creating the gmail and blogger accounts were very simple. Google has been my primary source of email for many years so I knew how to set that up already. Even though I never set up a Blogger account before, the directions were easy to follow.

2. From this course, I expect to learn more about the history of art and the ways it has changed over the years. Also, I do not know how people can interpret art in many different ways so that's something I expect to learn about.

3. I prefer to take this course online. I'm currently taking six courses, five of which are 300 and above leveled, so being able to work at my own pace throughout the week is refreshing.

4. Three things from the videos I relate to are worrying about my time management, my grades, and being open to living in a new environment. In high school, I never managed my time efficiently which led me to start assignments the last minute. I've gotten better at it over the last three years but I could still use some improvement. My grades will always be something I'm nervous about because of my major and the difficulty of the courses I have to take. In regards to being open about living in a new environment, I completely got over that. I'm from Westchester, New York which is a county right outside of New York City. Naturally, moving 7 hours away from home was very nerve wrecking to me. As time went on, I've grown use to living in Buffalo and actually find myself missing being here during breaks.