Art Gallery Visit

Q: Which artworks make an impact or impression on me?(Pick 3) Why?
A: 1) Tongue-cut Sparrows by James Drake in 1996, video installation, it is a black and white value.  I was very touched when I read the description and I think that it was a very  interesting video to watch.  

    






2) Junk by Tony Oursler in 2003, fiberglass sculpture and DVD projection, it is in colour.  This work made an impact on me as soon as I walked up the stairs, it scared me that I thought I wasn't supposed to be up there.  It in interesting to say the least.

3) Extruded Video Engine #5 by Peter Sarkisian in 2007, vacuum-formed thermal plastic and video projection, it is in color.  This work was very interesting because as soon as i walked in the room it looked as though it was just floating in the middle because the rest of the room was all black and this works was quite bright.  I had to closer to realize that it was attached to a wall. 

Q: Which artworks do I feel a connection with?(Pick 3) Why?


A: 1) The Old Mill by Vincent van Gogh in 1888, oil on canvas, this work is in color.  I felt a connection with this work because van Gogh is my favourite artist and I love all of his paintings.  I immediately felt a connection to this painting when I walked towards it at the gallery.

2) Morning in Provence by Paul Cezanne, ca. 1990-06, oil on canvas, this work is in colour.  I felt a connection to this work because it reminded me of where I lived before I lived in Buffalo.  Where I am from is a place where it rains a lot. 

3) An Anniversary by Edwin Walter Dickson in 1920-1921, oil on canvas, this work is in colour.  I felt an immediate connection to this painting  because of the details that the artist used in the eyes of the people in the work.  Not only the main people in the painting had detailed eyes but, people around them did. I really enjoyed looking at it for a long period of time.

Q: Which artworks would I like to know more about?(Pick 3) Why?


A: 1) Self Portrait with Monkey by Frida Kahlo in 1938, oil on masonite, this work is in colour.  I would like to know more about the artist because this is a very good painting.  I like this painting not only because I love animals but, I like the amount of colour and how well it stands out.  It would also be interesting to learn more about how it was done.

 

2) the world won't listen by Phil Collins in 2004-07, synchronized three-channel colour video projection with sound, this work is in colour.  The first thing I saw was that it was by Phil Collins, my moms favourite singer, so I was initially very interested and once I sat down I watch all three videos and then I read what the purpose behind them was.  I think I would like to learn more about what the videos represent.

3) Jakob/Big Psycho VIII by Erwin Wurm in 2010, aluminum and paint, this work is in colour.  This immediately caught my eye because it looks like someone to put on a sweater but it has a more artistic way about an everyday task.  It reminded me of when I was little and I always used to get lost in my turtlenecks. I am interested in learning about  what this represents other than what I see.

Q: Discuss what you thought about creating the Value Scale and Color Wheel.
A: The value scale actually took a lot longer than I originally thought it would, but I have done one before and it was not that challenging.  The colour wheel was fun to make, I enjoyed mixing the colours and even just brushing on the paper.
Q: Which media did you enjoy working with the best and why?
A: I enjoyed working with the paint more because I love colour and the value scale was so boring in black and white.
Q: What was the most important discovery in the creation of these studies?
A: Probably that I could create so many different colours from just a basics few.
Q: What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos for this project?                What is your opinion of the videos
A: I think that the video for painting colours was more helpful and it helped me learn the truth about colours.  The other video did not seem to help much.


Colour Wheel:

Value Scale:

Elements and Principles Slide Show

I really enjoyed this week of taking pictures and trying to brainstorm on what to take pictures of and how to take them. The pictures I had the most trouble with were unity and shape, I just could not think of anything.  For the most part I had to create the picture that I wanted and for some such as texture, space and line I just saw the picture come to life before my eyes.  I did use some techniques to edit each picture, cropping and changing exposure, sharpness and contrast on a lot of them.  My favourite picture by far is the balance picture.  I just said to myself what do I think of when I think of balance, how do I balance, then it came to me...tree pose.  And then I thought that instead of just having a boring picture of me doing tree pose why don't I make it asymmetrical where I have a real tree at one side of the photo and myself in tree pose on the other side.  And it worked, I really liked the outcome of that picture.  A couple of the photos I had taken in the past such as colour, value and emphasis.  Colour and value I had previously taken in Hawaii this summer and I knew right away that they were ones that I could use, especially the Hawaiian flower for colour.  Emphasis was taken last weekend at a concert and I really enjoyed editing this picture to bring out the colour of my lipstick, my eyes, his skin and shirt, I like how with everything going on around us I was able to play with he shadows and highlights and make it like it was just him and I and nothing around us.  For unity I am Canadian and I was sitting there trying to think of something for unity the it came to me, I grabbed my hockey stick, my boyfriends skate and my Canadian winter stuff and created a picture that fit together, to someone else it may not seem to fit together but to me, its perfect.  For variety I was just getting ready one day and thought how cool a picture would look with my new red high heels and most of the things I use to get ready if I was to wear those shoes and it came together.  For space I was just sitting in my car the other day and saw a lone seagull standing on the light post looking around and noticed how much space he had around him, I edited the picture so you could see his outline better and I think it made it much more appropriate.  For movement I was originally going to use a fan but, my fan was not powerful enough so I had to use my blow dryer.  I like how nothing else in the photo appears to be moving though except my hair.  For line I noticed one day when I was walking to class how the bark on the trees around campus seems to be in groups of lines and then I took the picture and it seemed to work. Overall I enjoyed this project and I never noticed how much I enjoyed photography!
The link to the slide show is:
Link To Slide Show of Pictures
the password is: hockey5

Colour Theory and Emotional Effects

Q: Describe Color and it's effects on emotions. Use the appropriate vocabulary of color in your posting.

A: Colour can have such a deep impact on the emotions of not only those who view it but, on the artist themselves.  Such as in the video about Colour the artist was so emotionally attached to the feeling she had in Venice that she tried constantly to make that feeling reappear so she could capture it in the colours of her painting.  At one point she got angry and threw something at her painting and said sometimes you just need to do that to be done with it for awhile so you can come back to it.  It really showed how much emotion she herself put into each colour.

Q: What is a theoretical aspect of color that most intrigues/fascinates you? Why?

A: The most interesting aspect of colour to me is how powerful it can be and how difficult it is to control.  Like the one artist in the video just by using certain shades of red he wanted to create an area where everyone felt trapped and uncomfortable in a restaurant he seemed to hate.  From seeing those paintings it made me feel like that, I can\t imagine what it would be like to have those surrounding you in a restaurant.  Just the effect that colour can have on your emotions is astounding to me and how many different shades can be captured in one painting, just like the one in Venice with all the different shades of red.   

Q: In the Color video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and it's effects on emotions?

A: Again like I was saying before what had the biggest impact on me was how much of an instant effect colour can have on ones emotions.  Even looking at other sources it is seen how many studies have been done on the subject and depending on certain shades or boldness of a colour an individual can change how they feel instantaneously.

Q: In the Feelings video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and it's effects on emotions?

A: This video seemed quite a bit darker than the colour video and certainly showed how emotions throughout history were shown through art.  Near the end of the video there was a painting that stood out to me, it was the painting with the 2 men in the swam that were banging each other, mindless banging forever, and the host said something like this was supposed to represent the human race.  That painting really states the truth and I wish I had heard of it before this video.  Also the painting near the end of the video that played towards the crucifiction by Francisco Goya really showed the damage that was happening at that period in time as the host stated it turned a picture of hope into hopeless and made the imagery disorienting rather than comforting. 

Week 2 Video Responses

Q: For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
A: For the video Aesthetics: Philosophy of the Arts the key concepts I learned were what aesthetics is and what the definition of it was throughout the history of art.  Also I learned how many philosophers defined real beauty.  For the video CARTA: Neurobiology Neurology and Art and Aesthetics I learned the neurological view, from two different scientists, of visual art and aesthetics. Since I am majoring in biology I found this video much more interesting than the first one.

Q:  Which philosopher's theroy on aesthetics do you feel is most important? Be sure to mention the philosphers name, era (time in history), and contribtion to the aesthetic theory in your response.
A: I believe that Immanuel Kant, the 18^th century philosopher, had the most important theory on aesthetics.  He stated that “Through the genius, nature set rules to art”.  He described beauty as not being governed by concepts and that it cannot be described simply by words.  Beauty is a pure form experienced in selfless contemplation.  He also recognized artists as people who are exceptionally sensitive and superior individuals.  I think that without his theory on aesthetics beauty in art would be defined as something else today.
Q: What do you think about Changeux and Ramachandran scientific view of aesthetics and art? What was the most interesting fact you discovered from each speakers lecture?
A: I really enjoyed the scientific view of aesthetics and art that Changeux and Ramachandran had to share.  The most interesting thing that I learned from Changeux was the comparison he made with conscious reading and non-concious reading, to me that was very interesting.  The most interesting thing that I learned from Ramachandran was that art is not to create a realistic picture but is used to deliberately alter or distort  something to create a pleasing affect on the brain.  I enjoyed the second half of the video much more.
Q: How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
A: The videos and the book both described the view points of aesthetics and beauty and the connection to art. 

Q: What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics in your reading?
A: The first film seemed to drag on about history which is not particularly something that I am interested in but, the second film really made sense of the whole concept to me.  I understood the concept better when it was presented scientifically.  Without the second film I would not understand how it all works as well as I do now.  The second film helped me understand the things that I was reading in the book better.

Week 1 Questions

Q: How was the process of creating the GMail account and setting up the Blog?
A: The process of both were fairly easy to follow.  Although, I did have to look at the power point for setting up the Blogger, I was able to set up the GMail without following the power point.

Q: What do you expect to learn in this course?
A: In this course I expect to learn a lot more about what I already and don't already know about visual art.

Q: How do you feel about taking an online course?
A: I do enjoy taking an online course because I have in the past and its nice to be able to be on my computer and checkup on it all the time.  And its nice that I don't have to worry about parking.