Module Nine - Art Making/Material Exploration Drawings - Exploring Line

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

It was an interesting concept that I thought would be an easy concept. It turns out however that it was much more difficult than I originally expected. The hands have such fine details and trying to capture them all is almost impossible especially when trying to do it with your less dominant hand.

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

I decided to use a pencil because I felt that it would be easier to fix my many mistakes. It was also very useful because of the sharp point that allowed me to create fine lines.

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

I feel that the drawing process with my non-dominant hand was extremely more difficult then I originally expected. It took some time to get use to trying to draw with my left hand. I did in the end get sort of use to utilizing my left hand over my dominant right hand.

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

I do think that the final drawings were successful because you can easily identify what they represent. I did have difficulty with the drawing of each hand however, it was defiantly successful.

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

While I think it was an interesting process and unique experience I do not think that anyone would prefer me to utilize my non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future. I did enjoy the process however and would not it again for the enjoyment and difficulty.

Module Nine - Blog: Video Reviews

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

I selected “The Drawings of Michelangelo” video and “Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance” video for my blog because the titles caught my attention. I was curious how from what I had read in the text and felt that these videos would be interesting.

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

“The Drawings of Michelangelo” video:

The Drawings of Michelangelo video discusses the many sketches and paintings that Michelangelo created.  He was considered a well renowned sketch artist and each of his art pieces were a unique creation.  Many of his past work was destroyed by the artist himself, but the ones that survived provided a window into his life. These pieces of art are priceless to people within the art world.

“Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance” video:

The Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance video discussed the work created by Leonardo da Vinci and the theories behind the man. He is a well renown artist known for his paintings of landscapes, drawings of the human body and technological designs. He secretly did autopsies of humans and sketched detailed drawings of the human body. This at his point in history was a crime punishable by death. His curiosity drove him to continue his research and is in many reasons we have the scientific evidence of the human body that we do today.

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

These videos relate to the readings in the textbook by describing different perceptions of the artists and further the information that was described in the text. These videos provide a deeper understanding of the artwork and expand our knowledge of these artists as themselves. We take away much from these videos as students and can apply it to the assignments each week.

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

I enjoyed the films, because they provided a different perspective of the known artists beyond the text. It was interesting to see how various pieces of art took form throughout the years by both artists and what they sacrificed to create such art. I think that it would be beneficial for the students to discuss their finding with each other rather than us just posting a blog. I find the discussions to be very helpful in relating to the material, because I can read how other people view and define the text.

Module Eight - Blog: Video Reviews

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

I selected Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany video for my blog because the title caught my attention. I was curious how such a title related to what we have been learning about art history.

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

More Human than Human Video: This video describes various cultures and their view of the human form. Throughout the video, various cultures are discussed and examples of how each culture captured the human form artistically are defined. The most interesting to me was Egypt and all that the culture was able to accomplish.

Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany Video:  This video describes the Black Death within Sienna and Florence. The video focuses on the aftermath of the plague on the two city-states and how they dealt and were reborn though this tragedy. The spread of plague seemed almost impossible. People began to seek a higher power, which led into the higher renaissance. I enjoyed this video because it was very informative and interesting to understand how people survived during such a time.

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

These videos relate to the readings in the textbook by describing different cultures perceptions of the human body. Each culture had a different view of what the human body represented and how to capture it artistically. The videos focused on the progression of art throughout the world while the text focused on how individuals and art influenced change within society.

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

I enjoyed the films, because they provided a different perspective based on various cultures throughout history. It was interesting to see how various cultures viewed the human body and to learn about Tuscany and the Black Death. I think that it would be beneficial for the students to discuss their finding with each other rather than us just posting a blog. I find the discussions to be very helpful in relating to the material, because I can read how other people view and define the text.

Module Seven - Blog: Video Review

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

Prairie Style: This video details the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. This architect focused on creating non-traditional buildings. His buildings focused on floating horizontal planes and an organic relationship to their natural surroundings. He is well known for much of his early work in Chicago.

Imperial Rome, Ostia, and Portus: Ancient Architecture and Technology: This video examines the technology behind the architecture that characterizes Imperial Rome and its transshipment centers. The video details the geography and natural resources of Rome. Throughout the video, you learn how cities were constructed, materials used, and how cities were constructed to be functional.  I found this video to be interesting because although the methods and materials changed, cities planning remained the same. Cities were constructed primarily to be functional.

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

The videos relate to the readings in the text by showing the various styles of design and architecture. The videos provide an in depth view into different areas of architecture that were not detailed in the text. The videos that I watched both assist in helping the viewer understand what is architecture and how the parts can be assembled to create something new and unique.

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

I enjoyed both films, they gave me a better understanding of architecture and design. I found them to be interesting and highly informative. They both have influenced how I see structures and homes. The way that buildings can have such subtle details and a since of harmony is astonishing to me. 

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

I choose the films that I watched because out of all of the videos they were the two that seemed to catch my curiosity. The title and details on both videos interested me so I decided to complete the assignment on both of these videos. I enjoyed them both and I am happy with my choices.

Module Six - Blog: Reviewing Peer Responses to Artwork

Project One Review:

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog

http://seanellisaed200.blogspot.com/

                Project 1: http://seanellisaed200.blogspot.com/2013/09/stylewidth480pxtext-alignright-width480.html

                Project 2: http://seanellisaed200.blogspot.com/2013/09/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html

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?

Yes, the elements and principles are visible in the images provided. There are multiple elements and principles, but the one identified is the most relevant.

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, unfortunately not.

4. Were 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?

Yes, I was very interested in the Jackson Pollock Drawing – it seemed to be exquisitely sloppy and haphazard, though there were some figures hidden in the piece. This image interests me because of the hidden images and messages that it can represent to many different people.

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

Yes, I found this assignment to be very helpful because it allowed me to better understand my own work. It was also interesting to hear from my fellow classmates on their experiences and the incite that they have from these projects.

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

Yes, in fact some people had many of the same pictures and views as I did. It was helpful to read others points of view and see that many agree with your own work and opinion. 

Project Two Review:

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog

http://tcronin830.blogspot.com/

                Project 1: http://tcronin830.blogspot.com/2013/09/elements-principles-slideshow.html

                Project 2: http://tcronin830.blogspot.com/2013/09/project-2-art-gallery-visit-1.html

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?

Yes, the elements and principles are visible in the images provided. There are multiple elements and principles, but the one identified is the most relevant.

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, unfortunately not.

4. Were 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?

Yes, I was interested in Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash, 1912: Giacomo Balla, Italian. This picture is very interesting. I am not sure what it represents, but it is very interesting to look at the images and take from them something new each time. I would like to know what the artist was trying to represent through this piece.

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

Yes, I found this assignment to be very helpful because it allowed me to better understand my own work. It was also interesting to hear from my fellow classmates on their experiences and the incite that they have from these projects.

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

Yes, in fact some people had many of the same pictures and views as I did. It was helpful to read others points of view and see that many agree with your own work and opinion. 

Module Six - Blog: Video Review

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

Through the Eyes of a Sculptor: This film explains the views of sculptors and the creation of a piece of sculptor as art. Fine art includes painted portraits and sculptures of the human figure, was not useful, but rather made for beauty and visual consumption only. The historical distinction made between craftsman and artists was that crafts and therefore craftspeople were useful while artists whose work was that of beauty and not functionality were not.

Glass and Ceramics: This film explains the process of glass and ceramic making, along with the components used to create each. Glass is made from one of the most abundant substances on the Earth, which is sand. Glass is created by heating and cooling these components together and then blowing the glass into a specific form.  Glass is often used to create specific forms and is well known for stain glass pieces such as windows. These stain glass windows can even be used to tell a story or a point in history. Ceramics are being used just as much as glass and for just as many purposes.  The quality of the components is what determines the use of the ceramic. Ceramics are commonly used for dishes, floor tiles, and even bricks. These materials are commonly replacing wood and  stone for their abundance of materials and use.

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

These videos provide and in depth view of how materials can be used for both sculpture and craft. They both provide and interesting explanation on the different methods and techniques used to create glass and ceramics. The videos help anyone who reads the text to better learn the material using a different media and each video provides useful examples that explain the topics.

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

I enjoyed the films because they were both very helpful in understanding the text. The films were very in depth and provided good examples to relate too. They were kind of stale, but that was mainly because they were probably meant to be educational.