Module 9 - Exploring Line/Material Exploration Reflection

1. What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing?

It was fun using my hand as subject matter. I haven't done an exercise like this in a long time and it was fun to do some observational drawing again!

2. What media did you select - pencil or charcoal? Why?

I used pencil, typically because it's a harder medium for me to work with. I find charcoal easier to manipulate, and wanted to challenge myself.

3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand?

It felt very uncomfortable to create a drawing with my non-dominant hand. I couldn't even hold the paper still! I felt like I had to concentrate a lot harder, but it was a fun exercise.

4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they are successful studies?

I think they are successful. The drawing with my dominant hand is obviously a better life-like representation. With my non-dominant hand, I could barely get the lines down, let alone shade anything. The drawing with my non-dominant hand reminds me of something abstract, or minimalist; it's the general shape, but definitely not representational!

5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future?

I'm not sure if I would use my non-dominant hand to create in the future. It feels like I have much less control, and like I said above, could barely even keep the paper still while I was drawing. It just felt very uncomfortable, and it felt like my brain was working ten times harder. It might be fun to try and paint with my left hand, but I'm not sure drawing is a strong suit for my left hand. 

Module 9- Video Review

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

I selected El Greco: Rediscovering a Master and Albrecht Durer: Image of a master. I chose these videos because they were about two artists I don't feel incredibly familiar with and I wanted to learn more about them, their work, and their contribution to art history.

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

Albrecht Durer lived in Nuremburg, Germany from 1471-1528. He spent many years as a traveling craftsman, making money from his traditional woodcuts. He was called home to marry, and shortly after traveled to Italy. On these travels, he was inspired by landscapes and began to incorporate them into the backgrounds of his portraits. He heavily documented these travels with many watercolor landscape paintings as well. By 1506, he was famous due to his prints and was commissioned an altar piece in Venice called The Feast of the Rose Gardens. He also spent much time studying perspective. When he returned to Nuremburg, he set up a studio in his home, and had much success documenting religious and political themes as well as daily life in his prints. The most interesting thing to me was how hard Durer worked to refine his skills, and used so many different mediums to do so. I also found it interesting how his depictions of his subjects always had a real, darker undertone to them; as opposed to idealized. 

El Greco was trained as an icon painter in the Byzantine style. In the height of the Renaissance, he went to Venice to finish his training and expand his ideas, and gain fame. He learned under Titian and worked on many big projects in Rome and went back to Spain after he received a large commission. In the following years, he received many commissions from royalty, yet, many were rejected due to the price. He used Renaissance techniques in his work, but also broke tradition often. He surrounded himself with a circle of high society thinkers and creatives, and created portraits with expressive faces and had rejected the painting norms of the court painters. El Greco set up a studio in Toledo, and created many masterpieces in his life.  His death coincided with new ideas in painting where naturalism was becoming popular, his work faded into oblivion and was forgotten for centuries in spite of being held with great esteem by many great painters and colleagues. During the Romantic period, his works were uncovered, and inspired many painters of this time. His paintings embodied everything they believed about painting; expression, color, and imagination. He was a model for the Romantic painters,\used as inspiration for the Impressionists and was held as an idol for the Modernists. During the Modernist movement in Spain, a pandemonium honoring his work broke out, and later led to a statue honoring El Greco was erected. His influence can be seen even in Picasso's work.

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

The videos expanded upon the same time periods and movements within art, however, they touched on two artists I was not very familiar with. The reading did not really explain the works of El Grego or Albecht Durer, and it was great to learn about these two artists.

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

I enjoyed the two films. I felt the Durer film was a bit short and I wished it was a little longer so I could've seen more of his works and learned about him more in depth. The El Greco film was very informative, however, I felt it jumped around quite a bit and was at times hard to follow. However, I really enjoyed learning about both El Greco and Durer, as I did not really feel familiar with their work. I found it most interesting how much influence El Greco had on the artists after his time; specifically Picasso. It was sad that his work was forgotten for so long, as it seems he was ahead of his time with his expressive, imaginative figures, but it was neat to see his influence on artists that everyone knows.

Module 8: Video Review

1. Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.

I watched Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany. I chose this video because I wanted to learn more about this time period and how it influenced the beginning of The Renaissance. 

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

Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany discusses the time period in Tuscany before, during and after the Plague arrived. Florence & Siena had been at war with each other for centuries, and once there was peace, the city states flourished; art was being made, streets were being paved, city walls built and expanded, as well as construction. Then, the economy collapsed. The plague then made its way to Tuscany and decimated the city. The plague began in China, and was carried to Tuscany via merchants on the trade routes and was transmitted by fleas carried by rats. In 1348 the Plague reached Tuscany, and between a third and one half of the country died. The arrival of the Plague changed the way of life in this area in many ways. It changed the way funerals were carried out, movement of society halted, and the city was a bleak, sad place.  Cities also became angry, and feared outsiders. As the Plague slowed, art starting being made again, yet it was different than before; it seemed more cynical, as well as flatter, and focused on the doubt of God. This then paved the way for Giotto who the video claims is the "first dawn" of the Renaissance period. Painting had changed, and perspective had been developed in the artists works; specifically the development of the vanishing point. This time period also influence the development of the modern city, government, underground water systems, science, universities, banking, eyeglasses,  and spiritual practices.

How Art Made the World 1: More Human Than Human discusses the representation of the human figure throughout history, and how the society we live in and the culture in which we come from affect how we represent it. The video begins in Austria in the early 1900's where a worker discovered a statue of a woman that was 25,000 years old; it was the Venus of Willendorf and how the figure was always represented at this time with exaggerated features.  It then moves on to how the Egyptian portrayed the figure with all features in correct proportion, but shown in the most attractive angle. The video then discusses how the Greek represented the figure with idealized features, and used statues most commonly in their temples. All of these forms of the human figure have influenced how we idealize the human figure today and what we, as a culture, find attractive.

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

The videos directly relate to the readings in the text in multiple ways. Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany explains the time period of the Middle Ages and how the plague led to a rebirth of sorts leading to The Renaissance. The reading expands further upon the history of this time period- specifically with the growth of architecture from the Romanesque period to the Gothic period. The reading also discusses the importance of the works of Giotto and Duccio; two artists who made strides to pave the way to The Renaissance through the incorporation of psychological and emotional representations in their work. 

The reading also expands upon How Art Made the World 1: More Human Human and discusses the evolution of how the human figure has been represented in art throughout history. It expanded upon how as societies and cultures changed, so did the representations of the human figure as well as architecture. 

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

Both of the films were enjoyable. I found Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany a bit more engaging, as I am interested in that time period and it was neat to learn more about The Middle Ages. I felt How Art Made the World 1: More Human Than Human somewhat harder to stay engaged with. I think it may have been because of the commercial breaks. However, after reading the text, I felt it expanded a great deal more on the subject and it was interesting to see all of the different time periods and how representation of the figure evolved over time. 

Module 7 : Video Review - Architecture

I watched Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright and The Prairie School.

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

Last Call for Planet Earth discussed need for more Earth-friendly ways of building and the ways in which we use our resources. It discussed the basic needs in architecture and how architects are working to make these basic needs a bit more environmentally friendly. This includes recycling buildings, using environment-friendly insulation, and updating the heating and cooling systems to use water and glass in lieu of past methods. These architects are finding ways to create sustainable building practices, while saving Earth's resources. Francoise Helene Jourda's interview was the most informative. She explains a few basic concepts that her team thinks about when working on a project; she explains that they are concerned with resources. She works with primarily wood and materials that are renewable or recyclable and take minimal energy to create, she uses materials that require minimal water, yet, when she does use water it is always water that is free or renewable, such as rainwater. She also stresses not polluting the air, and using shells for her structures that are high performance and require little energy to heat, cool and circulate air. 

Frank Lloyd Wright and The Prairie School discussed Frank Lloyd Wright and his desire to create an American Architectural type influenced by nature. It was interesting to listen to Wright's writing and disdain for typical American homes; the basements, the sweltering attics, the wooden exteriors, the factory-type look, and how this influenced his style of design. This style encapsulated one-story structures, no basements, continuous windows, open floor plans, and materials taken directly from the environment. He embraced a look of "shelter" that blended in with its environment. The most interesting fact I learned however, was that Wright had built his own office next to his home and employed a team of architects in which he worked with to create this new Prairie School style; according to the video, much like a Renaissance workshop. 

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

The content regarding sustainable architecture in Last Call for Planet Earth was also discussed in the reading. Both expanded my knowledge about building and planning to help sustain our planet. A passage from the book that directly correlates to the video is: "Like other benefits to industrialization, these buildings come at significant cost to the environment, and one that we cannot continue to pay indefinitely." The most interesting structure the reading discussed was Renzo Piano's California Academy of Sciences; specifically in the way in which it absorbs rainwater, decreasing pollutants from entering the water system and has its own air flow system integrated in the way in which the ceiling is built.

Frank Lloyd Wright is also highlighted in the reading, however, I felt the reading delved deeper into his personal life and the video was based more upon his actual work. I never knew his wife was murdered! It was neat in the video to see SO much of his work, as I have seen some here and there, I really loved seeing a greater volume of it- especially the interior spaces.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?

Both films helped deepen my understanding of architecture- specifically in the amount of decisions architects make when planning. There are SO many influential decisions that they make- from air flow to materials, to whether or not to have a basement, it's mind-blowing honestly. Both films also expanded my understanding of each subject. I knew about green architecture but the video significantly expanded upon what I already knew. I feel the same with the Frank Lloyd Wright video- while I was familiar with his work, it was neat to see and learn a great deal more about him and the structures he created.

4. Why did you choose the films that you watched?

I chose Last Call for Planet Earth because this is a subject that interests me, and after reading a bit about it in the book, I wanted to learn more. I watched the Frank Lloyd Wright video because I had a little bit of knowledge about him, and have gone to one of his homes here in Buffalo, but I wanted to learn more about him. I also love his work and wish I could live in one of his houses! 

Module 6: Video Review

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

Through the Eyes of a Sculptor discusses different types of stone and carving material. It also discusses the process of sculpting beginning with mining the stone, making idea models with clay, casting, sculpting and transporting the stone carvings. It discussed the roles of craftspeople who all play a role and contributed to making the sculptures, along with the thorough and long search for ideal pieces of stone.

Glass and ceramics discusses the creation of glass, the process of blowing and creating usable objects out of glass, and coloring and etching glass. It also explains the different uses of glass in today's world along with different types of windows and processes used to make our environment more pleasing.The video also discusses ceramics and how the clay is prepared and molded along with the many versatile uses it serves such as medical, kitchen and technology.

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

The videos expand upon the readings in the text and provide more insight to the processes, uses and amount of work that goes into creating art specifically with glass, clay and stone. Personally, I found both informative, but the videos expanded upon the processes more and provided a visual step by step, which is much easier for me to understand. I really enjoyed specifically the casting process with clay, stone, silicone and plaster as well as the stained glass window process.

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

As I said above, the films were greatly informative. I enjoyed learning more about and seeing the processes specifically for the clay, stone, silicone and plaster castings as well as the stained glass window processes. For me, the videos added a depth of understanding to sculpture, installation and craft in which either these types of art or the  materials they used were all at one time not considered "fine" art. After watching the videos, however, I would have to disagree. All three of these forms of art take time, planning, and skill. Whether they are used for display or to bring beauty into our daily lives, I still consider them fine art.

Module 6- Reviewing Peer Responses to artwork

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog

https://jdaniels1212.blogspot.com/

https://dkmurph.blogspot.com/

2. 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?

For the first blog, some of the images weren't labeled, so I wasn't sure which element or principle she was trying to convey. I specifically liked the way she captured movement. It was also neat to see that she used flowers in her exercise like I did, but she used it to convey harmony.

For the second blog, all of his elements and principles were there and I agreed with all of them. His movement image as also neat, it looks like smoke of some type, but I really felt movement when I looked at it. It was neat to look at the images and try to guess which element or principle he was trying to convey before I read which one it was. I definitely saw multiple elements and principles in a few of his shots; specifically his proportion shot, I also saw space and shape.

3. 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?

No, there were no images in either blog that were the same as mine, as I went to The Burchfield Penney and they both went to The Albright Knox. However, I think they both did a great job of capturing a good mix of diverse works.

4. 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 was really interested in the sculpture Janice chose. I feel the shape, contrast and value are very pleasing to my eye and almost relax me. I'd like to see this in person and learn more about who the artist is and why they made it.

The piece I noticed in Devon's blog was the Jackson Pollock painting. I love the textures of his work, and it's so chaotic, yet my eye is consistently traveling around it. I'd like to see it in person to see the true scale of the work.

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

On Janice's blog, I didn't see a reflection for either post. However, on Devon's blog, the first thing I related to was that he said he was drawn to a Jasper Johns as well as a James Ensor piece because of their bright colors and saturation. I also usually find myself being drawn to certain pieces because of their bright colors, I also work in saturated colors when I am creating myself. The second thing I found valuable was that he said he found the Pollock painting interesting because of the passion and confusion Jackson Pollock's works often convey. I, too, feel this way about his works. They are so chaotic, but they are also very harmonious.

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

Yes, absolutely. I love hearing feedback and I have always stood by the rule that another perspective is one of the most valuable things in life.