Final Thoughts on AED 200

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

My expectations were to expand my appreciation and knowledge of art, and my expectations were far exceeded. It is hard to get enough interaction out of an online class, especially for art. The assignments were well thought out, challenging at times, and expanded my capabilities for appreciating art.

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

Art is expression of ones interests, emotion, feeling, and thoughts. It's beauty is in the eye in the beholder and there is no right or wrong way of doing it. The possibilities are endless. I would define it as very complex, having many dimensions, and meaning, versus "just art".

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 would say my favorite artist is still the same. MC Escher and Kincade of course! For the same reason they are my favorites. I can stare at their works forever and can immerse myself in the world of the work.

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?

This course was very enjoyable and it encourages me to take another next semester. I have taken a few online course, and they are conveinant and easier for me to juggle than coming on campus, due to my work schedule. I'm hoping i can keep taking them!

Roy Lichtenstein 1962
'Head - Red and Yellow'



Jacques-Louis David French, 1748-1825
Portrait of Jacques-François Desmaisons, 1782
Oil on canvas, 36 x 28 1/2"



Frida Kahlo
(Mexican, 1910-1954)
Self-Portrait with Monkey, 1938
Oil on masonite, 16 x 12"

When creating my self portrait, I selected the above pieces because I was very limited to my choices, but these were solid works to establish the groundwork for my project. I like the challenge of Digital Photo, especially when your completely changing the look and mood of the photo. A basic photo is so rough and flawed in it's natural format. The cropping is off, contrast, and there are flaws in the background and other distractions. I created a new portrait from an old one. The biggest challenge was removing the picture in the background completely. It took me a while and took a lot on "undo" clicks! The piece represents me by the cool calm mood it creates. I have a very laid back personality and it reflects this. I was hoping to make such a generic photo turn into a living piece of art, and I succeeded!

Reviewing Lindsey Kostelny's Art Curator Exhibit

I recently composed an article on an art curator project called “Surrealism” by Lindsey Kostelny. I selected her exhibit mainly on my interest and inspiring feeling of Surrealism. I am also a fan of Salvador Dali, and I felt she picked other works similar to his, or that may just be my biased perspective! I wanted to be positive on my critiquing of her exhibit, but I also wanted to be very constructive. I think the presentation is just as important as the artwork incorporated in them. Detail should be paid attention to in the layout as it affects the presentation of the artwork. If you’re going to walk a hot date down the isle, you better be look just as good! I felt okay about critiquing my classmate, but I also felt apprehensive and careful about my wording, but this is something that should be done with any article. You should always choose your words carefully and politely when giving good constructive criticism. I would rate my article as a 10 of course, being that I am writing an article to keep someone’s attention and satisfy someone’s interest in what they are reading. I put a lot of feeling and passion in the article and felt I gave a good critical review of the presentation. I did enjoy working on this project, and I felt I picked a great presentation and it was well thought out on chosen art works. I enjoyed each piece and the curator’s perspective of their elements and principles.

Week 15 Video Review

Greenberg on Art Criticism: An Interview by T. J. Clark

Art criticism is all about being relevant and one of the hardest things to critique. Music has rules, where art doesn’t. You can hold music to a score, but art you can’t it’s relevant to taste. This helps with my project, as it will help me to focus on what is relevant, and to portray what I see and not to formulate an opinion, but to be observant. Greenberg is a multitalented individual who was artistic and a writer. It was very interesting to learn how to critique from a writer and artist, who walks both side of the fence. As an artist he can put art into words.

Greenberg on Pollock: An Interview by T. J. Clark

I did not know Pollack did not like easel painting, and he believed easel paintings had no beginning and end. They were just a portion or partial of the full idea or work. It was funny to learn Greenberg takes credit for this idea. I don’t feel this relates to my project, as other than the diversity of Pollock's works. I did get more of and understanding of whom Pollack was, his frustrations, and his different styles. I like Jackson Pollock’s works, so I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about him.

An Introduction to the Italian Renaissance (Giorgio Vasari)

Giotti was one of the first painters to use perspective, as he used backgrounds and foregrounds in hi painting. He was very enthusiastic about nature and wanted to include it in his works. Although he didn’t make everything perfect, to scale, or realistic, he started the trend. The video helped me to recognize style and influence in art when I critique it. I need to recognize style and how they make it unique, and not just form a biased opinion whether I like something or not. This was a great film that directs attention towards style and different individualism of each artist. I liked the nonbiased criticism and the different aspects the art was viewed with.

The Critics: Stories from the Inside Pages

I learned critics get us to think, when I figured they just liked to argue or get a rise out of someone. It makes sense though, for example a witty political cartoon bashing a policy. It’s an indirect way of voicing an opinion, and making others wonder why or what if it was true. Not only do they attack in a sense, they can protect or even boost someone. For example they could highlight a music performance giving publicity and thus boosting their popularity with a crowd. Of course whatever I critique, I will want to boost, praise, and promote. I am going to pick something that I have interest in and hopefully praise it, and maybe that will be contagious enough for someone else to do the same.

The Colonial Encounter: Views of Non-Western Art and Culture

I have never heard of Dahome, or seen any of their artwork or craft as some refer to it, until now. They were very skilled, detailed, and accurate in their repetition of patterns and scale. I am not looking at art exhibiting African cultures, but understanding more of another culture’s craft, can open you up to understanding another’s. So it may help in this manner! I think this film was very informative and interesting to see the three different African arts and how important they are to these cultures and the rest of the world.

Jackson Pollock: Michael Fried and T. J. Clark in Conversation

I knew Jackson Pollock was phenomenal, but I did not know his influence was this great according to the video. I was also amazed by some of the conflicting opinions of some of his works. I liked the cross-criticism and the depth of the two critics featured in the video. I liked listening to their critiques and how detailed and well they spoke of Pollock’s works. I think it gave me some new perspective on criticism and will definitely help me in my review.

Week 13 & 14 Video Review

The video on George Easton was very informative and interesting as photography is a hobby of mine, and I find it interesting to see others compositions and strategy. It was neat to learn the history of the father of the photo. I had no knowledge of the George Eastman House until today, and I would love to tour it. I would love to see the Iwo Jima photograph and all the cameras. I will definitely have photography in my project, as it is one of my favorite subjects of art. Very good film, and I liked the presentation and the narrator wasn’t sleepy. Very good history lesson and cinematography, I was engaged throughout the entire film.



Native American Archaeology was a very enlightening vide, as I have known from history the oppression of the Native Americans, but also they were being exterminated, similar to what the Nazis were doing to the Jews. It’s amazing how hypocritical it can be how we remember the Holocaust, but we do not recognize Genocide in our own country, its ironic the Germans are the same way about the Holocaust. I just can’t believe with how much compassion we have for the Jews, we have a lack of compassion for the American Indians. It’s interesting still how much tension and confrontation there still is with Native American Culture. From what I was able to view of the film I think it’s sad that the Indians still get a lack of respect and are still pushed around.





Displaying Modern art is more complicated than I thought, and seems like there is as much planning involved in displaying the work as there is in creating it. I figured there was quite a bit of planning involved in art, but never knew there was this much detail. It makes sense after watching the video how much careful planning there is, and how important the environment is to the art work and vice versa. They should complicate each other. I am not too interested in Modern Art, so I am not planning to I include it in my project. This video was a little dry for me, but I’m not sure how exciting it could possibly be. It was very interesting to see the transition of modern art from being hung on the wall, to coming off the wall.



I learned what Lowbrow art was. I like the fact that it is reactionary to highbrow art, meaning there is no color scheme, organization, or any kind of format followed. Most Lowbrow artists don’t even like the term, because they don’t label their art. It originated from pictures of hot rods and naked or scantily clad women. After watching this video I would like to look into and maybe include some lowbrow works into my project. This was definitely a cool film, and I liked the lack of dryness and inventiveness in the artists and their work. There were a variety of interesting works and I am interested in learning more of this art form.

Week 12 Video Blog

Hockey used photography to take pictures of things that represented a painting.  E would take the images and cut and arrange them in a manner where it represented a painting.  I like and learned that you could take images and arrange them on a large scale to recreate an art or in Hockney’s mind a painting.  Being a photographer I learned you can create an art out of multiple pictures.  I also learned Hockney invented the Polaroid, something which I don’t remember reading in the text.  I was actually inspired by his form and would like to take on some photo collages myself.

I always thought Andy Warhol was a rich and interesting individual, so I chose to watch a video on him to learn more about him.  From the text I know him as controversial from his ads, to photographing things like race riots.  I learned he favored silk screen because there was literally no work in it at all.  His associates could also duplicate these arts without him.  I learned also how he integrated painting into his silk screens.  It was very interesting to get inside Andy Warhol’s head, and his thought processes behind his works.  I came away with knowing who Andy Warhol was and what he strive to do.  I like how he said, “If you want to know Andy Warhol, simply look at the surfaces of my paintings and arts.” 

Rothko is not an artist I’m very familiar with, so I was interested in watching the video on him.  It was very intriguing hoe he died as his paintings were arriving at a London gallery.  I liked his ideals in that art could save the world. The text did not tell how he defected to the US and its capitalistic ways from Russia, where he was offered a substantial amount of money.  His art was inspiring and proved to be in great demand by the public.  It was interesting to learn he did not appreciate the commissions he received and despised the amount of money that could be made in such a Capitalist society.  I liked how he painted murals for a restaurant hoping to make its diners sick, as he hated the rich.

Isamu Noguchi is very interesting where self expression does not interest him, space, time, and looking for a design or image in an object is what he appreciates.  The text did not infer that his inspiration was from Japanese Gardens, and from this he refers to his sculptures and spaces as gardens.  It’s a place that can only be created with observance and time.  This is the model he used and was very interesting and Zen- like.  I appreciated his water sculptures and their different design and thought processes in creating them.  He used time and observance to envision the different works, and the video was very in depth about his process. 

Week 11 Blog

One of my favorite art "Dada and Surrealism," were shown in this self titled video and is some of the most powerful art statements in my opinion.   I watched this video to see more works and learn more about the artists.  I learned more about Salvador Dali, and I never knew he had a fetish for crutches, and I wondered why they were so prevalent in many of his pieces.  I enjoyed the expansion on Dada's protest artists, and it was more in depth than the book.  I also like the Surrealism art that was picked for the video, and it was interesting again to get inside of a few Salvador Dali works. 


The video "Expressionism" was chosen because it's a form of art I can relate to, and I like the emotion that's tied into it.  I learned about Edward Munch and quit a few of his paintings.  "Ashes" is one that I liked and could understand more once I knew it was about Adam and Eve in modern times.  Understanding the artist intention in the painting brings the emotions in the characters depicted.  The video was more about the artists works than the meaning of Expressionism itself which was given more depth in the text

"Matisse and Picasso," was a video I chose, because I admire these artists and their works, and would like to know more about them.  I learned more about the working habits of Matisse and Picasso, as well as their personality types.  The book did not discuss this much and it was interesting to learn howMatisse was "deliberate and rational " with his thoughts and how he painted, whereas Picasso was a "worker and impulsive," absorbed in his painting.  Very interesting clip and very broad what made these artists tick.  While the book explained tiny bits of cosmetic info on them, this video opened us up to their world.

"Dance at the Moulin de la Galette," is an intricate painting, every space filled and full of activity.  The crowd is dancing and it is hard to believe they have any room to move around there are some many people.  I learned my intuition on the paintings feel is accurate.  He was trying to portray pleasure and emotion, as it was created in a time of oppression, so that is what people needed to feel.  I got a little more background on the artist and his reasoning behind this work.   The book was absent of most of this wealth of knowledge provided in the video.

My Mask

In creating this mask several principles and elements were used.  Lines in the bark show movement while the value in the color of the bark gives texture and depth.  There are many shapes and variety as I integrate technology with the organics of a tree creating a living breathing machine.   I wanted to make a helmet or mask that represented how I feel when ATV offroading in the woods.  The following pictures were used as a guide and inspiration to create an organic race mask.









I love nature, technology and their strange relationship together.  I correlated this into my mask and wanted portray an integration of the two.  This is the mask I wear when I cruising through wooded trails, as I take in the smell of gasoline, the woods and of course the mud! 
I wanted to take the basic shape of a helmet and make it more like a tree.  The organic shell on the outside of my design shows hints of a mechanical inside as an oversized performance motor.

as its parts exit the creature. 

Week 10 Video review

I chose the video Buddhism because I used to practice most of this form of living, and although I don’t fully practice it, I still abide by some of its belief structure.  What I did learn outside of what I already know is that Buddhism is least populated in India itself from where it was created.  I knew it was low, but not the lowest.  I like how this video talked much about the religion and structures like the book, but it showed more locations like Java’s ruins that were covered under ash and the infamous Body tree which was raised from a sappling.  The cinematography was great in the film, the landscapes, and the information collected was very informative and visually stunning.

Hinduism is a religion I’m not too familiar with, and I find religions of different kind similar in many ways, and very interesting.   I found out that Hinduism is about letting go, like Buddhism, but Hindus have many gods.  They believe that after death, we all arrive at the same point.   I learned they do not touch the body of the dead, and they openly and publicly burn the body, so that it may return to the earth and the spirit may go to heaven.  Like Buddhists they believe you can take on another life or be reincarnated if there are attachments or the soul is not pure enough.  I got a little more in depth and personal with the people of this culture.  Something the text just scratched the surface on; the video took me right to the heart of the Hindu culture. 

I don’t know too much about Japanese art, so I watched the “Great Wave”.  It was hard to believe the prints of this beautiful image sold for less than a few noodles.  This is the most well known Japanese art of a tragedy almost 173 years ago.  It is an image widely used from art, cartoons, and even fashion.  The original was a print made by wood blocks, each color was on a separate block forming this beautiful work of art.  I don’t remember this work in the text, and if it was there’s no way it could have given the depth and information the video did.  There was a lot of useful background information on the artist and how he created the work, and the effect it had on him.  I learned more about printmaking with blocks, and understand it more now that I saw some in the process of printing.

I think African art is cool looking and I like the natural elements, so I watched the video on it.  I learned there was a more modern culture in Zimbabwe.  It was considered a great center, and they built a huge stone fortress to protect it.  I was impressed by its greatness and impressive architecture they were able to achieve.  I always thought for the most part early African tribes were primitive in this sense living in huts, but very intricate in their art.  I like how the video took me to these different places in Africa, for a first hand witness of its great presence and history.  The book could in no way do this, or provide the more in depth and learning experience the video did. 

Left vs Right

The last time I drew my hand as subject matter was in 1995, when I was in high school.  It was definitely different this time around, one being I drew every day in those days and now I barely ever draw.  The other drawback is I inured my right hand riding my 4 wheeler, so this isn't my full potential, but it's as close as it's going to get. 

I used pencil instead of charcoal, because I have used pencil more than anything to sketch.  Drawing my nondominant hand felt like me drawing at 4 years old.  Pretty sad, but actually it looks better than I thought it would. 

If this were a successful study, I’d say the results would be first place goes to the right hand, and last place goes to the left.  I would say that with practice though, I could probably draw with my left hand.  I would probably use my left hand to paint abstract, but that's about it.

Week 9 Video Review

 

Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” was a painting with large scale and a big achievement of a painting with much movement, and that is why I chose this video.  Rembrandt captures a moment in time here, and this given moment is the troops are getting orders to start marching.  There is no stationary element in this painting, shadows are cast, and three dimensions are achieved.  I learned that if this picture was not captured at this very moment in time, the impact would not be the same.  It would have changed everything.

In the video “Leonardo Da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance,” I learned that the more educated, the more intricate work and the more worthy of its praise.  Leonardo first became a master of perspective, and also mastered proportions of man and animals.  I also learned if you take different parts from more than one other various real creatures, it can make an imaginary creature look real and believable. 

“La Primavera.”  I learned that egg tempura was used in this painting.  Even though it was an older medium, and oil paints were more current, it was used to give an illusion like translucence appearance.  Flesh tones are made very realistic with this paint and detail is apparent and realistic.  I chose this video because tempera is a medium I enjoy using, and I like the vibrancy of the colors with this paint.

“The Power of Art: Caravaggio,” was a video on a Roman painter named Caravaggio.  I picked this video, because I was curious to find out who this person was, and what did he do?  I learned Caravaggio never learned to draw in his life, he just learned how to paint.  Most artists studied the human body and structure.  Not Caravaggio, he eyeballed his subjects and applied them to the canvas.  He objected to the standards of artistry and their concepts, painting in the style and steps he felt right.  He replicated the lives subjects exactly and one feels like the characters in the painting could come to life at any time.   Caravaggio’s replication of flesh tones made his paintings believable and so realistic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this week's videos, as they discuss some of the same key concepts, but also shed more light on the text with more in depth discussion.  It was more descriptive and thorough on the backgrounds and history of the artists and their works. 

Week 8 Video Review

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

I selected the video on the Greeks because I find their obsession with the human form and its perfection fascinating.  I believe the body is beautiful, and we should work hard to take care of it, like we take care of our homes, cars, bills, and etc.  I am fascinated with gothic structures I think they’re beautiful and eerie at the same time.  I also think the Egyptians were an amazing culture, and they had some great ideals and culture.  Their art is elegant and mysterious.

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

In “More Human than Human,” I learned the Egyptians always drew their figures from the clearest angle, and their style was unchanged for 3000 years.  Like others and today’s depiction of figures, they’re all unrealistic, resembling exaggerate features.  They did this because their culture was of consistency and this was something their culture had been built on.
In “Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany,” the people portray god as a very vengeful god, and the Old Testament is focused on.  The Plague is seen as punishment and churches and mosaics give homage to God and portray forgiveness for faithfulness.  The way into Heaven comes by goodwill and faithfulness, whereas those who didn’t were going to hell.

“The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure,” I found, like in the book the Greeks were obsessed with each other’s bodies and their perfection.  They all worked out and strived for perfection, and would analyze each other to achieve this.  The Greeks focused on realism, movement, shape, and 3 dimensional arts.  They wanted to give their art a soul, as if they were real, as if they could actually start moving. 

“Playlist: Late Gothic Art and Architecture: England, 1400-1547,” I learned Gothic Art was sophisticated and meant to out do the others, and create something more lavish and beautiful.  This gave the churches an image of power and divinity. 

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

The videos related to the text and expanded on the readings.  The Greeks love for beauty was sown in more detail and the historians account for them gave new understanding of the depth of their obsession with the human form.  I liked the additional visuals on the gothic period, and the better understanding of religion’s darker side during the Black Plague. 

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

The films definitely add more depth of the text.  It expands on the research and the different views of other people.  They are intellectually stimulating and add to the readings.

Week 7 Video Review

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
In a video I watched on Prairie Style, I learned Frank Lloyd Wright invented this concept.  I have been to two homes here in New York, and am familiar with him, but not his Prairie Style.  This concept of his was responsible for breaking the mold of the box shaped house.  He felt it did not blend well with the environment, felt rectangles and elongation of a home made it more organic and made it easier to customize to complement a landscape.  His view was that the home should complement its environment and the environment should do the same to the homes He built.

I learned that the Romans and Greeks used concrete in their structures.  I thought they were similar to Egyptian structures and made of mainly large carved stones.  Concrete is so weather resistant, strong and easily repairable.
In the last video I was amazed to learn the Romans not only invented the arch, but they were the first to use arches and column for the purpose of design.  The Coliseum is one structure that represented this.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos expanded on the definitions of architecture in the text, by giving examples and visual cues on the subject matter from the text.  The showed some of the processes talked about in the text, so that we could see things from a different perspective. 
3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?
I found the films highly knowledgeable, although I did have a hard time understanding what people were saying.  Again film always adds a new depth on things, when comparing to read about them.  It always broadens my understanding of things when I see a video or something acted out. 
4. From the group of four that you had a choice: Why did you choose that film?
I chose the video, “Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture,” because the environment is a great concern of mine, and I have been conscious of the damage we have caused over the years.  I do believe we are in a decline and have to change our uses in energy and waste management.  I think we can reverse the negative effects if we change now.  Otherwise we will see adverse effects.  When I looked through the choices of videos, this one seemed the most appealing, because I wanted to see what we plan to do to conserve, and to consume less energy by being more efficient as humans in our everyday life.  I agree that people think they are external, and the world is theirs to use up, without thinking how it will affect future generations. 

My Video Review

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

I did not know there were so many steps when sculpting marble.  You have to consider the elements and the design and fragility involved.  The sculpture has to be weighted right and be visually appealing at the same time.  You also have to worry about breakage when handling or shipping.  There is so much planning involved and each piece has to be processed exactly right for the whole piece to come together and portray the artists vision of the work. 
When glass making, I knew they heated sand with other elements, and I knew that the glass was inflated by blowing air through a tube.  I did not realize how the object was shaped and perfected.  I did not know they used molds or even wet newspaper to shape the piece.  Cementation was also another technique I was not aware of.  I thought the glass was made that color and placed in its coordinating place. 
The Romans used columns as decoration and also invented the arches. They started the use of concrete to form designs in their architecture, and the use and design of their columns gave different meanings to complement their buildings.  This style is still used today.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
These videos follow the reading in the text, because they follow the same concepts involved in each art form.  It gives us a visual of the art and is more helpful by showing the process and visual meaning of the arts for a more complete understanding.  I learn better by watching someone doing something, rather than reading how to do it for example.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?
The films give more depth and add to the readings in the textbook.  It’s one thing to explain something or a process in words, but it’s another to see how it’s done visually.  One can greater appreciate the art and how it’s done, by seeing the process and how time consuming it really is, and the thought processes and steps taken to carry it through.  It’s almost like the viewer of the video works with the artist thought the whole process with anticipation.

4.  From the group of four that you had a choice: Why did you choose that film?
I chose the video, “Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture,” because the environment is a great concern of mine, and I have been conscious of the damage we have caused over the years.  I do believe we are in a decline and have to change our uses in energy and waste management.  I think we can reverse the negative effects if we change now.  Otherwise we will see adverse effects.

Enviremental installation of Art

Installation art is installed and arranged in a place, either inside or outside.  This work is created by the artist or by other artists, as the main artist tells them to. Whether it's temporary or permanent, installation art can be constructed of virtually any material that the artist wants.  These materials that are chose are used carefully to create the installation.  Installation art is a creative extension of a room in the artists mind.  It is a way to create or recreate what the room is or what the room should be according to an artist.  We make it for personal satisfaction of how a room makes us feel, and how we want to make others feel when entering the room.  Richard Wilson’s “She came in through the Bathroom Window,” I found most interesting.   He used a room’s skylight to cast an image over waste oil, to project an exact mirrored image of the ceiling’s architecture.  You would never know it was oil, until you dipped your finger in it, and created a ripple in the reflection.  It is brilliant and inspiring. 

When creating my installation, I wasn’t inspired by any certain piece or artist.  I thought for a long time about which room in my apartment I felt the most emotion and artistically connected with.  That room would be my porch, as it’s an extension of me and one of my passions in life.  I wanted to explore the Environment theme of installations, and my medium will be plants and organic décor.  I feel a connection with the earth and all of its creation, and am emotionally tied to them.  I spent all spring sowing seeds and watching them grow from sprouts, to summer watching my plants bloom, to fall harvesting tomatoes.  I can’t tell you how many countless times I rearranged plants, stands, and other furniture to get the right feel and balance in this room.  With all this moving this and that, I finally have it right, and it figures winters around the corner.  So I am finally enjoying the work, with only a short while until the first frost hits. Next spring will be a new pallet (new apartment) and new sprouts.   I can’t wait!

My Peer Review

Amber Castoire’s

Project 1 http://firstimpression13.blogspot.com/2010/09/elements-of-art.html

project 2 http://firstimpression13.blogspot.com/2010/10/art-gallery.html

Jenna Aiello’s Project 1 ?

Project 2 http://jennaaiello.blogspot.com/2010/10/art-gallery-visit-one.html

Meagan Aiello Project 1 http://aiellome01artonlinelearning.blogspot.com/2010/09/elements-and-principles-of-art.html

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?

Amber had some nice images that you would see in an everyday family photo album.  She saw principles and elements in these wonderful family moments and other photos.  Her form photo also had the elements of color incorporated.  I would say most of her photos had many elements and principles in each individual photo.  Jenna did not have a project 1, so naturally I went to her sister’s blog.  She also had photos that had multiple elements and principles in each. 

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? 

“Convergence,” seemed to pop up in everyone’s blog, and most felt the same things as me.  No one wanted to walk away from the painting.  Everyone was drawn to it, like it was alive and trying to reel us in.  Amber liked it because it looked like graffiti or splatter paint, while others were drawn to its complexity.
Where there any images that you’re 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?
The picture that stood out to me the most was the Norman Rockwell painting of the little girl, with the gent painter her doll bed.  This is so photorealistic, and the emotion captured is better than a photograph.  It is very timeless and I could stare at this photo forever wondering what he and she is thinking about. 

What do you think about the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?

I like to compare and contrast what they have to say and feel, to what I do.  I like to know whether others feel the same or different as me.  Also I like to see if anyone makes mention of tings I don’t see, and it opens up new doors to different meaning and interpretation.  This expands horizons and my realization and absorbing new things.

Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful?

I thought my peer comments were very helpful.  Somehow my blog address got mixed up with Jenna Fanara’s and people thought I was her or she was me.   I guess it’s nice to have an alias, and I’d like her name much better than Marty, if I were a girl of course.  It made me feel good about my photography, and I didn’t realize how much into nature I was, until they started pointing it out.  It’s nice to hear comments that are outside of the box.  I like this whole blog posting thing, and what I get out of it.  I like to see other people using their creative outlets.  Bravo!

My Video Review

1. for each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
I did not know there were so many steps when sculpting marble. You have to consider the elements and the design and fragility involved. The sculpture has to be weighted right and be visually appealing at the same time. You also have to worry about breakage when handling or shipping. There is so much planning involved and each piece has to be processed exactly right for the whole piece to come together and portray the artists vision of the work.
When glass making, I knew they heated sand with other elements, and I knew that the glass was inflated by blowing air through a tube. I did not realize how the object was shaped and perfected. I did not know they used molds or even wet newspaper to shape the piece. Cementation was also another technique I was not aware of. I thought the glass was made that color and placed in its coordinating place.
Installation art is about making you artwork come out as part of a structure. Its sole purpose is to manipulate space and perception. This makes the observer or viewer to look at three-dimensional space in a different and new way.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
These videos follow the reading in the text, because they follow the same concepts involved in each art form. It gives us a visual of the art and describes the process and meaning of the art.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?
The films give more depth and add to the readings in the textbook. It’s one thing to explain something or a process in words, but it’s another to see how it’s done visually. One can greater appreciate the art and how it’s done, by seeing the process and how time consuming it really is, and the thought processes and steps taken to carry it through. It’s almost like the viewer of the video works with the artist thought the whole process with anticipation.

My Art Gallery Visit

Clyford Still’s painting; “No. 1.” painted in 1957, struck me at first glance, and immediately felt a connection to it. It took me to a place of suffering and pain. It was a wall sized painting, that felt larger than life and immersed me I it. It looked like a cavern with dark walls and cliffs overflowing with lava.



Jackson Pollocks’s “Convergence,” painted in 1952 as oil on canvas, was wall sized and very attractive. There is so much color and motion, and it had a huge impact on me. I could stare at this piece all day, as I was mesmerized by the textures and it’s three dimensional attitudes. It’s very animated and full of life.



Yves Tanguy’s oil on canvas painted in 1952 is an amazing abstract and so full of visual stimulation. It’s so intellectual and intelligent in design. I would like to know more about what the organic forms in the painting represents. I want to know if this was something out of a dream, or in the artists head.



Joan Miro’s “Carnival of Harlequin,” is a fantastic oil painting on canvas from 1924-25. I love how busy this painting is. Each character has its own thing that it’s doing and it’s like a little carnival. I was drawn to how amusing and colorful this painting is. It’s very entertaining and I stared at it for about 5 minutes. I liked feeling it gave me, as I am a very humorous person.



Jehan Georges Vibert’s, “The Marvelous Sauce,” is such a vibrant and detailed painting, done in oil on wood. My first impression is that is was a photograph, but to my surplice was oil on wood done 1890. The clothing is so detailed and in vibrant red. The emotion of the sauce can be seen in the impressions of the subject’s faces. Amazing, I can’t go on about this photo’s clarity.



James Jacques Joseph Tissott’s oil on canvas wall painting is so surreal that I would like to have seen this moment. He did a great job capturing the moment. I can hear lavish music and loud chatter and conversation. I would have liked to know more about who this female political figure was, and why everyone is so mystified by her presence.



By far my favorite painting is by Daniel Ridgeway Night, called springtime. Painted in 1890 with oil on a large canvas, the girl in the painting is done with such clarity and detail; it’s as if she’s alive. The background and foreground though are not in as much detail when you are up close. Take five steps back, and it’s as if you could step into the painting. I feel connected with this piece, and it makes me feel at ease.



Pablo Picasso’s bronze sculpture called, “Woman’s Head,” is a very interesting piece. It’s very organic and almost looks as if she is transforming into something else. I would be interested in knowing what Pablo was thinking, who this person was, and what he was trying to do with it.


I find this Sue Williams picture very comical, anatomical, and very interesting. In her 1997 Oil on acrylic on canvas, she seems to take a very cartoonish take on abstract anatomy. I find it very comical and interesting. I feel connected to it, as I love cartooning and its spacing is perfect.