Module 4: Value Scale and Color Wheel

1. Discuss what you thought about creating the Value Scale and Color Wheel.

The making of the value scale and color wheel was quite simple. It is also pretty easy to mess up as well. The top section of my value scale is crossed out because I put too much pressure on the charcoal.

2. Which media did you enjoy working with the best and why?

I enjoyed the charcoal the most. It takes focus in order to get the result that you are expecting. Smearing the charcoal to even it out was fun...and messy.

3. What was the most important discovery in the creation of these studies?

Discovering how to plan ahead in art was crucial to the assignment. Art is a process and it can be disastrous to get ahead of yourself when working.

4. What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos for this project? What is your opinion of the videos?

The videos were informative. I knew about cyan, magenta, and yellow because my dad was in broadcasting and explained that to me as a child. The videos were useful in explaining why red, yellow, and blue are not the true primary colors; this is because they do not mix to black.

Project #1: Elements and Principles

This project reminded me of my passion for photography. My dad taught me so much about it when I was a child. As I grew older, I put this pastime of mine on the back burner. It was convenient that some of my favorite photos from my vacation to the Adirondacks in 2013 fit the requirements for this project! I took the rest of the local photos in the rainstorm yesterday.


http://s61.photobucket.com/user/imsgoalie94/library/Art%20Project%201%20-%20Elements%20and%20Principles

Colors and Emotions

1)

Color has numerous effects on emotion. Colors have the ability to create a perception of feelings. This is noticeable by artists such as Monet, van Gogh, and Goya (just to name a few). There are certain ways that color can do this. One example is painting a scene on the side of the river in which the focus is simply on the colors. One the areas of color are placed, the details can be added. Natural colors that are expected in nature allow the viewer to visualize being there. The mix of greens, blues, whites, and browns create a natural environment. On the other hand, contrasting colors can symbolize confusion and strife; along with unnatural pairings of colors.

Cool and warm colors can be used to paint "temperatures" as well as serenity and anger, respectively. Bright, vibrant colors evoke strong emotion and importance over an artwork. Dulled colors hint at darkness and disconnection from other subjects within the painting.

The way colors are used and where they are used in an artwork are invaluable to the overall execution of the piece.

2)

Glazing is the most important and interesting aspect of color theory. Glazing was a revolutionary concept when it was first introduced. The use of a light layer of color underneath, letting it dry, and carefully utilizing more (or a different) color over that based created never-before-seen style of painting. Colors used to only be used in very basic form. The use of glazing allowed for more lifelike effects of colors and lights in artwork.

3)

The point of the Color video that I found fascinating was Monet's thoughts on nature. He believed that if you looked at nature long enough you would just see color. Monet's natural paintings were color driven; the colors created the artwork. This is fascinating because of his, what seems backwards, view of creation. Instead of creating the outlines and filling it with colors...he allowed the colors to create the boundaries of his objects. The effect on emotion that this has is nature becomes more alive than before. The colors flow from one part of the painting to the other.

4)

Goya's work was by far my favorite part of the Emotion video. The way Goya used dark, muted colors in the one painting was fantastic. He places himself on the far side from the royal family and what looks like in the shadows. He explains his disconnected thoughts for the family he works for through his use of color. He uses the bright colors over the royal family in order to please them by making them appear as the important shining subjects in the painting. There is so much to be said by a work of art--color can do much of the talking.

Module 2: Video & CNN Review

1)

     The first video that I watched was "Aesthetics: Philosophy of the Arts." I did not know that philosophers "looked down" on artists. Since artists tend to imply that they understand or formulate things that they cannot possibly understand.
     I also learned that the judgement of taste is a perception. It cannot be judged as true or false. Art is the copy of what is real. Art can be anything. The only stipulation is that the "art world" must recognize it as art. New styles are born and transforms the path of art. The meaning of beauty is almost dissolved in a sense. It became almost a mute point.
     The CARTA video presented a few key scientific points when judging and understanding art. The first portion recaps the evolution of the human brain and its ability to "access the consciousness." Changeux refers to the rules of art. Rules in the sense that the brain commits an art form to long term memory.
      Ramachandran's presentation was phenomenal and quite fascinating. He came up with 8 Laws of Art. This includes: grouping, peak shift principle, contrast, isolation of a single cue, perceptual "problem solving," symmetry, abhorrence of specific vantage points/suspicious coincidences, and art as a metaphor. Works of art may use one or a combination of a few (if not all) of these laws. Some of the best works of art use a majority of these principles.
     I learned mostly from the CARTA video is how art is produced can create very different perceptions by the brain. The brain picks up many different cues from art that create logical and emotion reactions.
     The CNN article brought to my attention certain ways that our brains are wired to recognize. I did not know that our brains are generally looking to seek out faces in our environment. I also learned how color and luminance can be manipulated to tricking our eyes into seeing things that are not there.

2)

     I believe that George Dickie's philosophical propositions to art are invaluable. Dickie belonged to the philosophy of the 20th century. Dickie believes that art is anything that the art world will accept. These types of thought in regards of philosophy and art are the impetus for the rapid expansion of art. Art opened to new styles, forms, and methods. Dickie's philosophy aided in the erosion of the previously necessary use of "beauty" in art.

3)

     I did not enjoy Changeux's presentation nearly as much as Ramachandran's presentation. Changeux seemed overly analytical, or technical may be a better word, for something so dynamic as art. Art is based heavily on emotion. Looking into the way humans perceive art within the brain is interesting, but overkill in my opinion. It takes away from the full experience when thinking about art. Finding the connection between the limbic system and and prefrontal cortex is probably the best part of Changeux's research. This is important due to it representing the link between our thoughts and our emotions when doing something as judging art.
     Ramchandran's research is fantastic. I believe that his 8 Laws of Art (listed above) are spot on. The reason for this is because of their ability to identify what causes our responses to art. These Laws become a guideline for understanding what one is perceiving when looking over a work of art. Using them as a guideline may provide a foundation for a deeper understanding and appreciation of each art work.

4)

     The reading in the book relates to the videos and article in a few critical ways. The book reading sets a foundation for what art is and those that create art. It outlines different forms of art and their subsequent styles and variations. The final chapter for the reading introduces the common themes that art revolves around. The videos and article build upon these concepts. The first video mentioned above, explains how the thoughts and philosophy of art has evolved over time. The CARTA video and the CNN article delve into the reasons why and how the brain perceives art in certain ways and how it creates a reaction within the brain.
     These, when combined, allow me to feel comfortable with judging, appreciating, and understanding art.

5)

     As previously mentioned, portion of the CARTA video was a little too heavy for me--in regards to art at least. Everything else was interesting and quite useful. It adds depth to what we have been learning in the book. The article and videos present the "how" we perceive art; to some extent they even answer the "why" question. With these questions answered, now I am able to focus on the art and learning more about classifications, history, and continue to ask new questions about art. These laid the groundwork in order for me to begin experiencing art without being ignorant or naive to the reality, or lack thereof, of art.

First Blog:

1) The process was extremely simple and basic. I'm pretty excited about that because this is my first experience with blogging.

2) I hope to learn different ways to view and appreciate art.

3) Online courses are great for student athletes. I can sit down and get work done around my schedule. It's perfect!

4) Three things that stood out to me are that I can become acquainted with a new means of communicating (blogging) and feel comfortable using it to voice my opinion. I also learned that we are all more alike than we are different; lastly, it is okay to make mistakes as long as you do not give up on what you want to accomplish.