1. Creating the greyscale was actually really cool to do, and very relaxing (once I picked the right medium). At first I tried to create the greyscale with charcoal because I thought the transition would be a little more seamless since charcoal smudges and blends, but as I started I soon realized how these qualities that make charcoal so great also make it very hard to deal with. I made a mess of my paper and could not keep the white areas white because there was too much smudging. I included a picture of my first steps of creating the greyscale with charcoal and a lot of the loose dust I had trouble not smudging is visible. Making the color wheel was cool, too. I really do enjoy hands on work. The thing I found really interesting about the color wheel was creating the black because although mixing all of the primary colors created black you could still see that it was a multitonal color...there was a visible difference between the black I created and a black acrylic paint you would buy.
2. My favorite medium to work with was the pencil. I think it was just because of what I had to do with it though, because I found it calming and relaxing and really enjoyed the time I spent creating a pencil greyscale.
3. My most important discovery was with the charcoal. I discovered how hard it can be to work with a medium for the first time and how artists probably create a lot of different trials and versions of things until they find what works best not just changing the layout, size or color scheme, but changing media too.
4. I thought the videos were very helpful and informative for the project. It was good to see another persons technique at creating something before doing it yourself, especially when (like me) you do not have a great deal of experience with art.
Here is a link to digital copies of what I created for this project:
http://s1101.photobucket.com/albums/g425/eshenoej01/Exploring%20Value%20and%20Subtractive%20Color%20Theory/?albumview=slideshow
Friday, September 23, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Elements and Principles Slideshow
http://s1101.photobucket.com/albums/g425/eshenoej01/?albumview=slideshow
Here is my slide show of photographs representing the elements and principles of art. I am listing an explanation of why I chose each photograph to represent its specific element or principle, and then I will reflect on the overall process of completing the project.
Line: I chose the photograph of the landscape to represent line because I thought the horizon was so well defined in an implied line that it would be a perfect example
Shape: I took a picture of the change on my desk just to see how it would turn out, and after looking at it I decided to use the aerial view photograph of the money as shape because of the flat look that it gave
Color: I took a picture of cupcakes my roommate made and frosted because the color scheme of the cupcakes, frosting and sprinkles represented a Halloween/Autumn theme that was clearly visible from color alone
Value: I took a photo of my own eye to represent value, because I have always thought the value gradient from pupil to iris in an eye is striking
Texture: For texture I used a photo I took with the back of my sister's wedding dress as the focus because her dress was very textured in the back and had a lot of surface quality
Form: For form I took a picture of an old Pepsi Cola bottle that I use as a vase. I liked this image because the see through glass bottle allows viewers to truly see the form and all three dimensions of it
Space: I chose this picture for space because I think the spaces of the foreground and background are clearly visible and separated
Unity: I took this picture quickly before having to jump into the photo myself. I think it is a good representation of unity because although we are not all in the same outfit or posing the same way it is still visually pleasing
Variety: I took the photo for variety because although each of the items pictured are stuffed animals, they are all different, there is a variety among them
Emphasis: This picture is a great example of emphasis to me because the motion of pointing to something is to give emphasis to something and her pointing finger is the emphasis of the photo
Balance: I chose this photo for balance because of the relieved symmetry shown in the table setting
Movement: I liked this photograph for movement because I feel like it captured movement on all levels, my sister's hair and skirt are moving, my nephew is moving up in the air
Rhythm: The pattern in this sweater represent rhythm well because of it's repeating nature
Proportion: I thought that this photo showed the size relationship between my teenage sister and toddler nephew; she had to squat down to be on his level.
Overall, I really enjoyed this first project. It was very hands on in nature and that forced me to gain a deeper understanding of the elements and principles of art because I did not just have to recognize them in someone else's work, but be able to use them in my own. Thinking about what I wanted to capture to represent things made me contemplate what makes up each element and principle, and reviewing the photographs after I swapped some out for different elements and principles because I recognized some as better representations.
Here is my slide show of photographs representing the elements and principles of art. I am listing an explanation of why I chose each photograph to represent its specific element or principle, and then I will reflect on the overall process of completing the project.
Line: I chose the photograph of the landscape to represent line because I thought the horizon was so well defined in an implied line that it would be a perfect example
Shape: I took a picture of the change on my desk just to see how it would turn out, and after looking at it I decided to use the aerial view photograph of the money as shape because of the flat look that it gave
Color: I took a picture of cupcakes my roommate made and frosted because the color scheme of the cupcakes, frosting and sprinkles represented a Halloween/Autumn theme that was clearly visible from color alone
Value: I took a photo of my own eye to represent value, because I have always thought the value gradient from pupil to iris in an eye is striking
Texture: For texture I used a photo I took with the back of my sister's wedding dress as the focus because her dress was very textured in the back and had a lot of surface quality
Form: For form I took a picture of an old Pepsi Cola bottle that I use as a vase. I liked this image because the see through glass bottle allows viewers to truly see the form and all three dimensions of it
Space: I chose this picture for space because I think the spaces of the foreground and background are clearly visible and separated
Unity: I took this picture quickly before having to jump into the photo myself. I think it is a good representation of unity because although we are not all in the same outfit or posing the same way it is still visually pleasing
Variety: I took the photo for variety because although each of the items pictured are stuffed animals, they are all different, there is a variety among them
Emphasis: This picture is a great example of emphasis to me because the motion of pointing to something is to give emphasis to something and her pointing finger is the emphasis of the photo
Balance: I chose this photo for balance because of the relieved symmetry shown in the table setting
Movement: I liked this photograph for movement because I feel like it captured movement on all levels, my sister's hair and skirt are moving, my nephew is moving up in the air
Rhythm: The pattern in this sweater represent rhythm well because of it's repeating nature
Proportion: I thought that this photo showed the size relationship between my teenage sister and toddler nephew; she had to squat down to be on his level.
Overall, I really enjoyed this first project. It was very hands on in nature and that forced me to gain a deeper understanding of the elements and principles of art because I did not just have to recognize them in someone else's work, but be able to use them in my own. Thinking about what I wanted to capture to represent things made me contemplate what makes up each element and principle, and reviewing the photographs after I swapped some out for different elements and principles because I recognized some as better representations.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Color Theory and Emotional Effects
1. Until really stopping to think about it, I never truly realised how much color can affect emotion. On the website hosted by the McGraw Hill textbook publisher simple everyday examples of emotional responses certain colors bring were given (such as the Valentine's Day card in pinks and reds,or the spaghetti and red sauce) and until those same examples were shown again with different colors I did not understand how strong the effect of color can be. Seeing the Valentine's Day card in blues did not make me feel particularly romantic or loving, but it did make me feel standoffish or cool. When the spaghetti was shown in hues of blue I certainly didn't feel hungry (which is really saying something because I am writing this post in studyhall which immediately follows a two hour practice and I actually am quite hungry).
2. The theoretical aspect of color that most fascinates me is the concept of warm and cool colors and how they can be used. I had no idea that specific color themes can be used to enhance the spatial element of an artwork. I knew on an elementary level that warmer and cooler colors were loosely associated with particular feelings, but not how those feeling could in turn lead to their ability to affect depth and perception.
3. In the video Color, learning how strict the regulations about color use that early fresco painters were contractually obliged to follow made the biggest impact on me in regards to color and it's effects on emotions. This is because it taught me how different colors were more readily available and affordable while others were rare and expensive. I did not know that the blue color often used when depicting Mary's robe was a rare and expensive color saved for her or only a few other important things. It shows me that even long ago artists realised the emotional effects color had and were able to relate them to emotions that one may feel when looking at the subject matter itself, or even to coerce an emotional response that the artist wants the viewer to feel when looking at the subject matter.
4. In the video Feelings: Emotion and Art, I was most impacted by the use of art and specifically color to explore human nature, society and civilizations. The video showed me how certain values can be seen as the principle values of a past civilization by how it was recorded in art and whether the value depiccted was emphasized and stood out, drew and emotional response or just laid in the background. For example, it is obvious how important religion was to the vast majority of Medieval populations by the rich colors and detailed workswe can still find today based on or in religious subjects. You ccan tell how much time was taken on creating these works and how every aspect was thought out and portrayed carefully. In spite of the argument that God's feeling was seen more important than human feeling at the time, works of art were not created to draw a response from a God, but to draw a response from the people viewing it whether you want to convince them to feel a certain way like sorrowful for their sins, or fearful of a wrathful God, or even joyful for Christ the Savior paintings, statues, etc. from medieval times that cause these responses can still be viewed today.
2. The theoretical aspect of color that most fascinates me is the concept of warm and cool colors and how they can be used. I had no idea that specific color themes can be used to enhance the spatial element of an artwork. I knew on an elementary level that warmer and cooler colors were loosely associated with particular feelings, but not how those feeling could in turn lead to their ability to affect depth and perception.
3. In the video Color, learning how strict the regulations about color use that early fresco painters were contractually obliged to follow made the biggest impact on me in regards to color and it's effects on emotions. This is because it taught me how different colors were more readily available and affordable while others were rare and expensive. I did not know that the blue color often used when depicting Mary's robe was a rare and expensive color saved for her or only a few other important things. It shows me that even long ago artists realised the emotional effects color had and were able to relate them to emotions that one may feel when looking at the subject matter itself, or even to coerce an emotional response that the artist wants the viewer to feel when looking at the subject matter.
4. In the video Feelings: Emotion and Art, I was most impacted by the use of art and specifically color to explore human nature, society and civilizations. The video showed me how certain values can be seen as the principle values of a past civilization by how it was recorded in art and whether the value depiccted was emphasized and stood out, drew and emotional response or just laid in the background. For example, it is obvious how important religion was to the vast majority of Medieval populations by the rich colors and detailed workswe can still find today based on or in religious subjects. You ccan tell how much time was taken on creating these works and how every aspect was thought out and portrayed carefully. In spite of the argument that God's feeling was seen more important than human feeling at the time, works of art were not created to draw a response from a God, but to draw a response from the people viewing it whether you want to convince them to feel a certain way like sorrowful for their sins, or fearful of a wrathful God, or even joyful for Christ the Savior paintings, statues, etc. from medieval times that cause these responses can still be viewed today.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Blog #2!
1. Each video assigned this week contained a lot of information. I listened, watched and learned a lot. If I had to pick key concepts that I took away from each video they would be as follows...
In Aesthetics: Philosophy of the Arts I learned about the "discovery" of aesthetics by philosophers like Plato that lived as long ago as the 4th century B.C., and also about modern thoughts and theories about aesthetics. Because of the multitude of theories and the many differences between them I took from this video that "art" is not easy to define. I think that "art" can be different to every person, because no matter how systematic the study no single, concise, and definite answer has yet been found
In CARTA: Neurobiology Neurology and Art and Aesthetics I took from this video that there are some scientific explanations behind art and beauty and how each person sees and responds to it. Paired with the first video and what I learned from that, though, I think that even though there are scientific explanations and linkages between neurology and human responses to art that it is still hard to define and there is still not one concise answer or single set of rules surrounding the matter because every single person's brain works in different ways, with different connections leading to different results.
2. As mentioned in my discussion post to chapter two I was most influenced by Kant's theory. Kant was a philosopher in England during the 18th century. I liked that Kant recognized the feelings people experience and take from art cannot be controlled by rules, but the lack of guidelines around aesthetics did not mean people could not share feelings or aesthetic reactions.
3. The video with Changeux and Ramachandran was very informative, but also very difficult to understand. Changeux's view about the subconscious having influence over conscious activity seemed very interesting to me and something I would definitely like to learn more about. Ramachandran's view hit home a little more with me because as he shared in his theories that art can stand as an escape from reality that is what are has always been to me whether it is through creating my own or looking at someone else's.
4. Both the videos and the reading in the text explored the philosophy of aesthetics, beauty and art. The videos just elaborated further on what the book introduced by providing multiple theories and examples.
5. As I said in my previous answer, the videos gave many more examples and theories and examples to think about and explore. I liked having the videos to add to the readings because on its own I found some of the text confusing, or even if I understood it it was hard to relate to. Some parts of the videos were also confusing, but using both tools together I was able to find my own perspective.
In Aesthetics: Philosophy of the Arts I learned about the "discovery" of aesthetics by philosophers like Plato that lived as long ago as the 4th century B.C., and also about modern thoughts and theories about aesthetics. Because of the multitude of theories and the many differences between them I took from this video that "art" is not easy to define. I think that "art" can be different to every person, because no matter how systematic the study no single, concise, and definite answer has yet been found
In CARTA: Neurobiology Neurology and Art and Aesthetics I took from this video that there are some scientific explanations behind art and beauty and how each person sees and responds to it. Paired with the first video and what I learned from that, though, I think that even though there are scientific explanations and linkages between neurology and human responses to art that it is still hard to define and there is still not one concise answer or single set of rules surrounding the matter because every single person's brain works in different ways, with different connections leading to different results.
2. As mentioned in my discussion post to chapter two I was most influenced by Kant's theory. Kant was a philosopher in England during the 18th century. I liked that Kant recognized the feelings people experience and take from art cannot be controlled by rules, but the lack of guidelines around aesthetics did not mean people could not share feelings or aesthetic reactions.
3. The video with Changeux and Ramachandran was very informative, but also very difficult to understand. Changeux's view about the subconscious having influence over conscious activity seemed very interesting to me and something I would definitely like to learn more about. Ramachandran's view hit home a little more with me because as he shared in his theories that art can stand as an escape from reality that is what are has always been to me whether it is through creating my own or looking at someone else's.
4. Both the videos and the reading in the text explored the philosophy of aesthetics, beauty and art. The videos just elaborated further on what the book introduced by providing multiple theories and examples.
5. As I said in my previous answer, the videos gave many more examples and theories and examples to think about and explore. I liked having the videos to add to the readings because on its own I found some of the text confusing, or even if I understood it it was hard to relate to. Some parts of the videos were also confusing, but using both tools together I was able to find my own perspective.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
First Blog!
1. Setting up my gmail account and my blog were not very difficult. The power point slideshows layed out each step, and the directions on google did the same.
2. In this course I hope to learn about art. I would like to be more informed on this subject because it is one that I thoroughly enjoy, but do not know much about.
3. Online classes have both positives and negatives. I like that I can do my work on my time and at my pace, but it is very difficult to interpret instructions or feedback without being able to hear the tone of the instructor's voice or see their expressions.
2. In this course I hope to learn about art. I would like to be more informed on this subject because it is one that I thoroughly enjoy, but do not know much about.
3. Online classes have both positives and negatives. I like that I can do my work on my time and at my pace, but it is very difficult to interpret instructions or feedback without being able to hear the tone of the instructor's voice or see their expressions.
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