1. Why did you select the inspiration pieces?
I chose the Van Gogh piece because it was the only self portrait that didn't appear to try to look pretty. I decided not to go this route, but it was interesting to ponder. The other two appeared to portray the artist in his natural environment. I decided to follow suite.
2. Why did you select the media to create your self-portrait?
I feel that I had much more control using a pencil.
3. What challenges did you face in creating your self-portrait and how did you overcome them?
My biggest problem was drawing the white t shirt. I decided to shade it in somewhat, and highlight the wrinkles so it was separate from the background.
4. How does this piece represent you?
My self portrait shows me enjoying life. That's who am; that's what I do.
5. What elements and principles of art did you apply in this work?

6. Did you enjoy working on this project?
I did. I surprised myself with how accurately I was able to draw myself. (I really don't set the bar too high apparently).
7. What do you think of your final artwork?
I think for the amount of formal training I've had, it turned out very well.

AED REFLECTION

I expected that by taking this class, I would develop an appreciation for visual art, and understand why artists create art. This class allowed me to understand art along with its historical context, in order to realize both of these goals. I stick by my original definition of art; "Art is anything that is created by an individual, or a group of individuals, that can be enjoyed by other individuals". This class helped me realize however, that not all art was created for the sole purpose of enjoyment. For example lots of what we call African art, was simply constructed to complete an everyday task. Before this class I did not have a favorite artist. After taking AED 200, I developed an obsession with Leonardo Da Vinci. Like Da Vinci I have a curiosity for all things. I appreciate his dedication to gaining a better a understanding of the world, and reflecting it in his art. While the convenience factor helped, I enjoyed my on site summer course more. While I was interested in the subject matter equally in both classes, taking a class online seems to result in a lot more work.

Project 5 reflection

I reviewed Samantha Ramsey's exhibit entitled Time. I have always been fascinated with time, and have read many scientific explanations of its meaning. It is fascinating that scientists still don't agree on what exactly time is. I enjoyed studying the concept of time from an artistic standpoint. The hardest part of writing my article was the bracketing section. I found it difficult, until I stared at a few of the paintings in a dazed meditative state. In this state ideas began flowing in faster than I could type. I enjoyed critiquing my classmates project. It made it easier that is was clearly done carefully and intelligently. I also worked hard on my art exhibition project, and would like to know if my hard work paid off. I feel that i brought in relevant outside information, and well thought out accolades and criticisms, and would therefore score my article a ten out of ten. I enjoyed that this project allowed me to attend an art exhibit from the privacy of my home.

Video review art criticism

Pollack

Pollack stated that he wished to paint movable pictures. He contemplated escaping the easel, and moving to the easel. According to Greenburg, he never did accomplish this. He reminds us that we must be careful about judging art based upon previous experience. Also the characterization of art can be a problem. You cannot rely on expectations; one needs to be objective.

I wouldn't say this relates to my art criticism project. The subject I chose did not involve an individual artist, and therefore the classification of the art was less debatable. Some pieces of advice names above however, are important to keep in mind as I proceed with my criticism.

Renaissance
One of the first artists of the Renaissance was Giotto. He revived the ancient interest in replicating what was seen in real life. During the dark ages, the church forbade images to be realistic, for they could infringe upon gods handiwork. Later Renaissance artists developed Giotto's techniques of perspective. They also moved away from only portraying Christian gods. They moved back to portraying the gods of ancient Roman folklore. A couple of the techniques used by Renaissance paintings were chiaroscuro, and sfumato. Chiaroscuro was the manipulation of light, in order to add depth to paintings. Sfumato is the gradual blend of of tone and color to blur the images into the background of a painting.

Once again, I don't see this relating to my art criticism project. I chose the project concerning time. That exhibition transcends time periods, while the Renaissance is a specific period in time. There was not a sense of artistic development within the time exhibition.

Colonial Art


African art is often confused with craft. This is mainly due to the skill and attention exerted on everyday items. Some papers showed members of the French colonies in Africa as savages, while other portrayed them as affluent. The art of dance perpetuated a stereotype of promiscuity amongst Arabic woman in Algeria. Men and woman were stripped nude and put on display in the name of art and science. The Trocadero museum, at the center of the 1900 world fair emphasized cultural differences. Statues would be placed in front of exhibits, resembling individuals from the particular culture that forged the art.

Project 4

Throughout this class, I have developed an interest in Renaissance art. It is interesting how a look back to the past, can bring about much needed intellectual advancement. I attempted to show a chronological depiction of the development of the Renaissance. When necessary I did break order when two works of art, separated by time, had qualities too similar to ignore. I found the majority of my examples in Fred Kliener's Art Through The Ages. From there I searched the works in Artstor, where I found all but one.

Video Review week 8

Buddhism

Buddhism started in India when a prince named Siddhartha Guatarma became Buddha. Born in 563 BC, this priest, lived a perfect noble life. One day he happened upon a civilization of less fortunate individuals. This led him to meditate about suffering of human kind. After hours of meditation, he was enlightened, and became Buddha. Buddha spoke out against authority, and taught, you must find your own way. However you must eliminate desire, and anything that feeds the ego. Another teaching was “be in this world, but not of it”. His final teaching was “all compounds wear out, walk your own way with diligence”. After he died, Buddhism broke into two groups: The Hinyana were individuals who strove for Nirvana on their own: The Mahinyana worked with others to reach their enlightenment.

The Great Stupa in Sanchi: pilgrims make their way here to be near the energy that is said to radiate from the Buddhas ashes. Architecture around the four gateways tells the story of Buddha. A walkway circles the Stupa, where all must walk clockwise around the structure. This journey is supposed to help the pilgrim let go of material things.

The largest Buddhist temple is the Borobudur Temple in Indonesia. 432 Buddhist statues are present. The temple was sunken by a volcano, and wasn't rediscovered until 1815.

The Chuang Monastery in upstate New York, is a complex of buildings dedicated to Buddhism. All architecture is in the style of the Tang dynasty. It uses glulan structure (layers of timber glued, and pressed together).

Today Buddhism flourishes all over Eastern Asia, except for in India where it was created

Hinduism

Valanasi is the holiest city of Hinduism. The River Ganges is a symbol of God's (Brahma's) love for the earth/a symbol of reincarnation. Unlike Christians, and like Muslims, Hindu's will worship anywhere. They believe in multiple gods, who act as pathways to Brahma. Like Buddhism, Hinduism teaches the relinquishment of earthly goods. To die in Valanasi, allows a Hindu believer to escape the cycle of rebirth, and go straight to heaven. Original Hindu art was carved into existing stone structures, and became cave art.

In Hindu art, the fantastic, and the familiar, are juxtaposed.

The statue Hari Hara is a combination of the god Shiva, and the god Vishnu. This signifies tolerance of all religions, and religious philosophies. Unlike most Western religions, Hindu's do not seek converts.

Sex reflects the creative love of Brahma, who gave life to everyone.

The Kandariya Mahadeva is a temple dedicated to Shiva. Its largest tower is called the Shikara. This raises over the chamber known as garbhagrihn. Here stands a statue of the deity. It is believed god is truly present here.

African Art Legacy of Oppression

The Tevuren Museum contains the largest collection of Central African art—approximately 250 thousand pieces.

Masks were worn by priests to connect with spirits of the dead. African art had exceptional modernistic qualities, that influenced western artists such as Picasso.

Masks were created to place fear inside people. For example:

• In young men so they would respect their elders
• inside all to force them to respect the handicapped
• inside the enemy

Stopped making war masks, when they realized they didn't stop machine gun bullets (they didn't actually scare Western imperialists

In a forty year period, ten million Africans were killed in the Congo by King Leopold's soldiers. (Known as the Belgian massacre.

The Belgians brought back African art, and considered it to be childlike, and exotic.

African Art: It's culture meaning

Art making is a part of everyday life for Africans. This is made evident by the extensive decoration of everyday items.

Lots of African art was once used in rituals, in combination with music. Because of the delicate materials they used to make their art, most African art is museums is less than 200 years old.

Ancient bushman paintings depicted animals. These paintings were found in drier environments, and were thus preserved by the environment.

20^th century Europeans viewed African art as primitive and child like.

African art was predominantly conceptual. Africans placed a greater concern in symbolism than in realism.

Art, and craft were synonymous in the African culture.

Artists copied traditions of previous artists. They did not attempt to out do their predecessors creativity. Instead they attempted to complete the same tasks with more skill. Because of this, we have an understanding of African art of the past, without actually seeing it.

African art was used to conjure, worship, and appease spirits.

Hand drawing

1.Drawing my hands forced me to notice all of the intricate details in them. Never knew there were that many wrinkles and veins.

2.I used a 4b graphite pencil. I like a smooth the pencil flows due tot he soft lead. 

3.Because of the smooth flow, at times the pencil would get away from me. It was very difficult to control my lines. On the other hand I found I let the drawing flow a lot more with less self judgment.

4.Before attacking this assignment I assumed my left handed drawing would be a lot worse than my right hand drawing.  My left handed drawing made my left right handed drawing look pitiful when the necessary handicap was included.

5.If I was trying to draw an accurate rendition of an object, I would never use my left hand. However, if i was drawing abstract I would contemplate using my left hand. That way I would be more free to put pencil to paper, and not brain to paper.