Module 10 - Video Blog

Buddhism:

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

I selected Buddhism because it’s a religion that has always captured my fascination.  But more than the religion, their art and reliance on history in their art is also a factor.

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

They use their religion in a lot of their art, an example would be them carving the teachings of the Buddha in granite pillars.  The pieces of art have a meaning as associated with Buddhist concepts.  They used bronze, stone, granite, and many other forms.  A lot of buildings and sculptures.  The architectural style of a lot of their smaller buildings stands out among others with their tiered shapes. 

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

This video enchances the section in the book about Buddhist art.

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

The video explains both the history of the religion and the history of the art associated with it.  It covers things that are not covered in the book and enforces what is covered in the book with real life imagery. 

Chinese Art: Treasures of the National Palace Museum

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

I chose this video because, much like Buddhism, I have always been attracted to Chinese art.  A lot of their art seems pretty abstract but it’s the color mixtures that attracts me the most. 

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

The detail on the curio cabinet the video showed was amazing.  With the cabinet shut, it was beautiful enough but when opened it opened to a great amount of artistic space.  As the video rolls through different pieces of art, there does not seem to be a common type of art medium.  There is wood, porcelain, metals and many other types.  A lot of sculptures were shown also, many of them in bronze and all with great detail, not just of the body but of the decorations surrounding the body. 

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

This video also enhances the part of the text that covered Chinese art.

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

Like all of these videos, they cover what we read in the text.  They do not specifically call out exactly as the text does, the artistic values but they do show you the art as it is and allows you to relate the text to the real life.

Module 10 - Mask Making

Three Inspirational Masks

Native American Mask:

http://www.hickerphoto.com/photos/native-american-masks.htm

This is a mask of an owl made by Wally Bernard on Northern Vancouver Island.  This mask is to represent a wise one and is a messenger.  It’s base is made of red cedar.  Looking at this mask I see a loose representation of an owl.  The hair on top is more reminiscent of human hair.  The eyes are larger than would be expected on an owl also.  The colors all seem to blend well with the dark green and red offset by the tan.  The bright yellow of the nose really makes the nose prominent with the white of the eyes right behind it leading the viewer to look at the eyes next.  Other than the hair on top of the head the left and right of the mask is symmetrical. 

African Mask:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436567757601235838/ 

This is a mask created by the Dan tribe from the Ivory Coast.  I picked this one because it is older.  There is no color to it, and overall looks pretty plain.  What is great about it is that it looks like a bird with the crazy eyes and the beak right down to the nostrils on the beak.  The placement of the eyes and beak are very close to scale of an actual bird also.  The lines of the mouth run from the back and arch down to the point of the beak.  The beak is also strapped in with leather which makes it seem like it’s beaked opened and closed further simulating the bird.

Hindu Mask:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/124974958379874672/

This Gurulu mask is from Sri Lanka.  This mask represents a bird eating a snake.  This mask, in Sri Lanka, is supposed to bring a home good luck and protection.  This mask is beautifully ornate and it’s use of colors makes a strong representation.  The great size of the mask gives the artist a large field to work with.  The red beak protrudes from the front at the bottom does not stand out like the other two masks.  The eyes do stand out, not because of color or size, but because they are so human like.  Much like the Mandala’s, this mask utilizes patterns that are symmetrical to each side of the mask in both shape, line and color.

My Mask Sketch

My Mask

Going through all of the webpages looking at masks I was most attracted to the ones depicting birds.  I have always liked birds, especially birds that have many colors on them, like a peacock.   Even birds like cardinals and blue jays whose color make them stand out are beautiful.  Parrots and small house pet types of birds are more examples.  Based on all of this I changed my focus to look at only bird masks.  After the research and analysis I decided to bake a bird mask.  My goal was aimed at color.  Since birds are never the same I did not want it to be symmetrical.  I wanted it to be multiple colors so I used strips of colored paper to simulate the colored feathers.  I also wanted the beak to stand out as a color not anywhere else on the mask and for it to be large enough to be pronounced with a straight line coming right towards the front.  Overall I think the mask came out well. I do wish I would have put a little more effort into the eyes, looking at it now the eyes are quite unremarkable.

Module 9: Videos

Velazquez

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

I chose this video because it was an artist that I had never heard of prior and was interested in learning something new.

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

The author described how the artist captured the moment in time in his paintings.  How his paintings looked real, as if you were there, including minor details.  His works for this King in Spain chronicled that era.  He used soft and strong colors together to give depth and detail.  It also stated that he had minimal interest in color.  This can be seen in his paintings as they are more on the side of greyscale and earthy tones to me. 

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

This video not only relates to the current reading but really the entire text we’ve read so far.  It talks about color, and style a lot.

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

I liked this film, mostly because it covered the life and styles of the artist.  How he started as an employee of a King and his art grew from there. 

Albrecht Dürer: Image of a Master

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

Much like the Velazquez video, I chose this video as a chance to learn of an artist that I had never heard of and to learn something new.

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

He started out in art using silverpoint.  He also enjoyed painting hands and is a common item in most of his paintings.  He was a student of great artists that formed his own style.  He would apply 4 to 6 layers of a color to get the finish he was looking for.  One thing I thought was surprising was that he even included a drawing of himself in his paintings, which shows how much admiration he had for himself.  He also used grids in attempting to draw the perfect form of a body. 

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

The video backed up the reading in the textbook by showing real applications of what the book covered. 

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

This video covered many topics from the textbook and brought those topics to a real life comparison therefore giving a better understanding of them.

Module 9 - Hands Drawing Hands

1.    What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing? It was odd using one of my hands as a subject only because that I am used to being able to use both hands at the same time to do things such as this.

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

I just used a pencil.  I have a lot of art supplies but charcoal I do not have.

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

Using the left hand to write with was challenging but not as bad as I had assumed it would be.  It definitely did not feel natural.

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

I have always struggled drawing human body parts no matter how much time I take to do it.  Looking at my drawings I would say I was only mildly successful.

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

I probably would not use the left hand in the future only because my actual artwork is not frequent and when I do it I like to have the control that my right hand gives me.

Module 8 - Art History Videos

More Human Than Human:

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

This was the required video.

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

One concept that the video covered is that throughout the years the human body was the focus of many famous artworks, but the thing consistent with these artworks is that the images of the human body are for the most part unrealistic.  It compared the artworks and put them on human bodies and none looked like anything you would see on main street in anytown USA.  I really liked the segment about Egypt.  The video went from barren land to a fully built Egypt.  Egypt is most noted for it’s pyramids but they were also essential in art done in the image of human body.  From the early carvings and paintings of Egyptians on the walls to the fine art sculptures, they were always focused on the human body and compared to others their human body was close to scale of a regular human body.  The culture and it’s art was modeled after consistency.  The human shapes were pretty much always consistent, as was their pyramids.  Quite interesting was the human sculptures found in the ocean were so realistic that they seemed to be humans.  The scope of the muscles, the arms and legs and the hair and beards were all so close to human.  Even veins popping out of the arms.  I was impressed until the video started pointing out how there were imperfections to see, like the central channel of the spine being too deep.  These were, to me, nit picking but it was brought up to prove their point of unrealistic art. 

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

Like the text, the video goes through how art grew up.  How the art of the early civilizations formed the art we have today. 

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

This film added depth to this module in that it not only covered the early forms of art and the different worlds they came from but it showed how it is relevant in today’s world.

Cairo Museum

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

I chose this video because I’ve always been fascinated by the art of Egypt and wanted to learn a little.  I liked it so much when I went to Las Vegas I stayed at the Luxor hotel to simulate living in a Egyptian pyramid.

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

It was nice to hear the curator of the museum talk about the contents of the museum with such passion as he did.  It was amazing to see how much extra artifacts were in the basement not even being shown for display.  It was very odd to see a 3000 year old foot.  Just to see that was preserved for that amount of time is amazing.  The mummy room looked like a hospital nursery for mummies.  Really surprising was that the ancient Egyptians even created sarcophagus for a something as small as a shrew.  What they didn’t cover too much in the video but was interesting was how they brought the dug up artifacts back to life.  It seems like such an tedious job that I would have liked to see more of how they did it.  What I took most from this video is the fact that early Egyptians put a very large emphasis on art and visually appealing pieces.

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

This video was focused on the art of old Egypt.  It did reinforce that part of the reading from the text for sure.

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

I enjoyed the film.  It was nice to see the inside of the museum and even the back rooms of it.  Also how the art got there was nice to see.

Module 7 - Architecture Videos

Video #1

Prairie Style:

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

First concept is that there is a style called Prairie style that has nothing to do with the old West.  It was more about the horizontal lines of the structure and creating a natural feel to it.  Making a house seem to be a part of the landscape is something I would never consider.  But learning in the video I can understand the concept used to achieve this.  A concept covered in the video also is the term open spaces.  Open spaces were big in the prairie style in things that the rooms were large and they were not walled off from each other and seemed to flow into one another.

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

The video goes in line with the text in that it talks about the architect’s vision and why he chose to design the way he did.  How he used horizontal lines to visually stimulate the house.  How he took into consideration the sun’s movement into how the house is set up.  The text tells us the different types of structures there are but the video is taking those facts and showing how they come together to foster Lloyd Wrights vision.  It also talked about the types of things used to build the structures, cedar being one of them.

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

It’s nice to see a film about one particular architect and how his style is viewed by other people and how it has a lasting impression.  I’m glad I picked this one only for the fact that I enjoyed his style, the houses were very unique and nice to look at.  I wouldn’t mind going for a walk through one.

4  Why did you choose the films that you watched?

I chose Prairies because the name Frank Lloyd Weber is a name I’ve heard of and thought it would be interesting to learn more about him. 

Video #2

Architecture: The Science of Design

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

Many architecture concepts were covered in this video.  One was how a structure has to be strong enough to not only withhold the buildings dead weight but also the living weight inside.  And it also has to withstand the weather outside, specifically the wind and how the building is allowed some sway back and forth to account for the wind.  They use simulations to try to predict how the wind will effect them and put the numbers through computers to figure out just how the building must be erected to handle it.  The section on the smart apartment was kind of funny because in today’s world with blue tooth technology you can turn things on and off with a smart phone and do much of what they talked about.  Lastly we learned about how concrete is made and it’s uses.

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

This video was in line with the text as it covered the bigger skyscraper types of buildings and how they are built.  The section about the smart apartment was a glimpse into the future when the video was created.  And the book covered many architectural materials and the video went over many of them with a whole section on concrete.   Prior to both the book and this video I have hear of reinforced concrete but both sources covered what it means.  So now I know that it is concrete with bars and other reinforces buried within the concrete to make it strong and less likely to crack. 

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

This film did add depth to my understanding of architecture.  The book covered the theory of the different types and styles and the history of it but the video shows you how it’s put into action. 

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

I chose this video because I wanted to learn a little more about the science part of architecture.  More of the how and why to support what I learned in the book.

Mod 6 - Peer Review

Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog
            http://julianereimer.blogspot.com/            http://ashleys-art200.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 http://julianereimer.blogspot.com/, I did agree that all of her images matched the element or principle that she intended.  There were some pictures that could have been used for other elements also but for the most part her creativity was great.

            For http://ashleys-art200.blogspot.com/, I like this one a little better than the first only because it included outdoor photo’s.  The photo’s were not labeled, or at least I didn’t see labels where I expected them, which made looking at these a little more interesting.  I tried to match the elements with the pictures and after some time was able to match an element to at least one picture. 

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?

            For http://julianereimer.blogspot.com/, none of the images were the same as mine.  For question A Juliane picked pieces that seem to be mostly based on the color of the painting that made an impression on her which was not what I did but color is definitely very important to me with art as color is appealing to the eyes.  For B, which she felt a connection with she connected with works that she compared to her personal likes and memories outside of art.  This was a nice angle that I did not think of.  And for C, what she’d like to know more about, her reasons were similar to mine in that it was the piece that made her want to know more about not just the subject but the artist. 

            For Ashley’s post, there once again was not any pictures that I chose.  Ashley’s was the one I got to pick, not the one above my name on the sheet, I chose hers because I like #20.  I thought about going back and picking someone who chose a piece of art I did but wanted to stick with my first choice.  I like her reasons for paintings that left an impression because she said they remind her of peace and tranquility, something that a painting has never done for me.  She chose her connection pieces because they, to her, reflect seasons of the she enjoys.  This is something I may have done because a painting should have some meaning to you and include your interests if you are to connect with it.  For the ones she picked to know more about, each mentioned colors.  It’s interesting that someone would want to know why a person used the colors they did only because different colors would make entirely different paintings.

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?

            There was one that Juliane had on her Project #2 that I did interest me.  The one by Jackson Pollack.  The only reason it interests me is because it is an artist that I’ve actually heard of and I would like to know more about these types of artists.  Not because there are a name but because their fame has lasted through the years and I would like to learn, what it is about their works of art that make them so special.

            For Ashley’s there really wasn’t any choices the interested me because, with my lack of artistic taste, they all looked to me like pieces of art that would make fun puzzles to put together.  If I had to pick one it would be the one by Emile Pierre Blanchard, called Winter.  And only because it’s so simple and because of the walking path that seems to lead your eyes from the left to the right. 

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

            This is a valuable tool in learning.  If we had not had this exercise we most likely would not have taken the time to look at what others are doing.  It’s nice to see a couple of things.  Since this is an online class it’s interesting to see how other people interpreted the assignment that was given to us.  To see how they answered the questions and worked through the assignment is helpful for future assignments.  It’s also interesting to see, in this particular case, what others chose to use to represent the assignment.  By that I mean what kinds of art was picked at the gallery and what kind of subjects were picked for the photographs.  Were they even close to what I did was my question.

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

                Overall I thought the comments were helpful.  But I do understand the comments may not be as critical as they could be from an instructor as it is kind of inherent that we, as fellow students, do not want to be harsh to other students.  The exercise as a whole was interesting in that we do get the perspective of someone other than our instructor.