Final Reflection

Create a post in which you reflect on the PROGRESS you've made this term in the following areas:
1. Use of color
I think my use of color has definitely become stronger over this term. I have learned to see colors with in white, and I have also learned to find colors with in other colors. my knowledge of the color wheel has also strengthened over this term. I have learned to use opposites to create shadowing and depth with in a painting.

2. Use of composition
I have learned that composition is a very important tool to use when creating a set-up. It makes a picture more interesting and also the space can create a specific feeling.

3. Your ability to create the illusion of different surfaces and textures
With my white objects painting i was just learning about using my brush to create surfaces and texture. The white backdrop which was a sheet was challenging to paint, but i think i definitely grasped that concept in the end. I believe this come out greatly in my Surface and texture painting (which would make sense.....)

4. Your ability to create the illusion of space and depth.
This was definitely a hard concept to grasp for me, atleast depth was. I believe fully blossemed in my last painting (the staircase one) I think I really showed my ability to show depth. Also in my Surface and Texture painting i used depth to my advantage, to show what objects were in front of the other.

Final picture

This is my final picture. The feeling I was trying to portray through my painting is a downward, kind of loopy feeling. I emphasized the corners of the railing. I wanted the painting to feel sad and almost lonely. I used mostly dark paint in hopes of succeeding in these emotions.

What I've Learned

I've learned:
-to independently work
-to answer my own questions
- to mix oil paints
- a greater understanding of the color wheel
- to define my lines in painting
- to perfect shadowing
- perspective
- to study a painting
- brushstrokes and how effective they can be in a painting
- i have learned to paint what i see rather than what i know the object looks like
---->therefore my paintings have been stronger
- i have also found it effective to use smaller brush strokes, and fewer brushstrokes, to emphasize a part of my painting.
- i have learned that paintings can be very meaningful, and some general. An example of this was when we studied portraits and the many different forms portraits can have.

This week.

This week I am going to use my time to finish my current painting, and also begin starting the optional 'self portrait' painting. I am going to make a traditional painting of my face, but use a lot of light colors (ex. purples, light blues). I am going to create symbolism, maybe, in the painting, but I am still debating whether or not I should.

leave some ideas if you want! :)

Observations on the History of Oil Painting

Who have been the major players throughout the history of oil painting? Why is this so?
I think Van Gogh, Picasso, Andy Warhol all were very important because they all made major statements through their art and revolutionized the meaning of art. But more specifically white men have been the major players through out the history of oil painting. I believe this is so because white men through out history have had more opportunities and have been more privilaged than nonwhites.

Who seems to be missing from the history of oil painting? Why is this so?
I believe that non white people are missing from the history.

Where in the world did most oil painting taking place?
Most oil painting took place in Europe and the US.

Where did all these oil paintings go? Why? How does where these paintings “live” affect who learns about them and why?
They are in some museums in Europe. and these paintings affect Europeans because they will become use to the idea of using oil paints and they will either form a love or dislike for it.

How has subject matter changed over time? Why?
im not sure if it has changed, but it has definitely expanded. I think people have become more creative with their ideas and used prior paintings to influence their works of art.

Sense of Place set up

my next set up is in the stairwell at school. I decided to do this because it is a huge challenge for me and focuses on proportion and definitely depth. I am looking straight down the stairs so it will be difficult to make things sized exactly how they look. the mood i am shooting for is an eerie and mysterious feel, which I hope to succeed in creating by using blacks and greys and a lot of shadow

---more to come

Feedback from White Objects and Texture paintings

Positive Feedback

- good edges
- challenging composition
- good color and depth
- specifically in background
-Nice shadow under pear
- good colors
- nice use of shading to create texture --> clothy look on Texture painting
- very realistic looking
- seen growth as an artist through paintings


Negative Feedback

- "too busy"
- fix bottom of jar
- need three colors on bow --> create more depth
- use brushstrokes to perfect bow

Why Oil Paint

Where does it come from? What is it made of? When was it invented?
Using your experiences this term, the concepts and terms we’ve discussed in class, and examples from art history to back up your opinions answer the following question:
WHY OIL PAINT?
With all the choices of materials out there for artmaking, especially in this day and age, why do artists still turn to oil paint? What does oil paint do that other materials don’t do?

- Oil paint was used as early as the 13 century in England
- used because of it's 'slow drying' property
- rarely used because they are hard to use and people prefered 'quick drying' paints
- some oil paintings found in caves dating from 650 A.D.
- oil is created by mixing pigment with oil

Oil paint is good to use because it dries slowly making mixing and shading easier. It also has a rich color thats end result is beautiful. Oil paint is also easy to use on almost any surface, so the range it has makes it subtable for almost any artist. the slow drying also allows changes to be made in the painting at a future time. Oil paint is also effective for it's distinct and thick look. It's ability to add a texture to a painting make's it a great choice of paint for artists.

What is a portrait?

What is a portrait? Choose three portraits, paste them into your post (include the artists’ names) and describe how the artist uses color, composition, and subject matter (objects, setting, clothing, etc.) to communicate something about the person whose portrait they’ve made OTHER than what the person looks like.How do the artists you’ve chosen address the concept of portrait? How do they work within the tradition of portrait-making OR how do they reinvent the concept of a portrait?

portrait 
–noun
2) a likeness of a person, esp. of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph: a gallery of family portraits. 2) A verbal picture or description, usually of a person


Georgia O'Keefe by Alfred Stieglitz
This picture doesnt have a background so the person in the painting is the only part that one can see. She is wearing a black turtle neck shirt. The colors in the painting are black, white, and a median color. This adds a mysterious touch to it. The shadows in the picture make the mood thoughtful, but not creepy. This 'portrait' is literally a picture of a person that captures the subjects essence. When I think of the word portrait I think of a picture of a person, and that is what this picture is of.

Shiva At Whistle Creek by Sally Mann
This portrait is more creative than the first. It has a background, which adds a very creative touch to it. The background is blurry though, so the person in the picture is still the main subject. The subject in the portrait is also not looking directly at the camera, so that is also different than most portraits. The contrast between the skin of the subject and the background is HUGE. so this causes the attention to be directed towards the person rather than the background. yet the background has a really cool look to it. The blurred water adds a contrast of it's own, as well. The moving water is white and black. The mood that this picture creates is calm and also thoughtful.

Self portrait by Chuck Close
When I look at this picture it falls under the category of traditional portraits. Though the picture is creative in the sense that it is made in a medium other than paints or sketching, the subject itself is looking straightforward and there is no real background. There are a few different colors with in the portrait: black, grey, blue, green, white, light brown, red, and skin tones which add to the picture.

A Sense of Place

Edward Hopper creates a mood by the colors that he uses and also the shadows in the painting. you can also see part of what the figure is looking at, so you get a ' sense of place '. The colors in the painting are light so that creates a mood as well. The mood in this painting is 'soft' and almost 'thoughtful'. it is a calm scene. the purples, whites, and light orangey tones add to this mood.


Andrew Wyeth
The mood in this painting is dark and mysterious. The dark browns, blacks and greys add to this mood. You can see a field in the distance, which creates a 'sense of place'. The curtains being blown open create a sense of mystery and a breeze, making the painting come alive. Also the fact that the curtains are see - through adds an effect that is torn and almost creepy -- the effect is dreary.

la pregunta:
1)What has been the most challenging aspect of the course so far?
2)In what areas have you progressed the most and how have you progressed?
3)How does looking at examples of painting from throughout history affect us as painters today?

la repuesta:
1) The most challenging aspect of the course so far for me is making sure objects in my picture look realistic, with out focusing on every little detail. i think i succeeded in doing this in my "white objects" painting. It was more difficult than i thought it would be to make pots look realistic.
2) i think i have progressed the most in my ability to move out of my comfort zone and attempt to do something that is a challenge for me. i have forced myself to concentrate on working on a painting as a whole, not just small portions of it at a time. i think this has allowed my paintings to grow more, and also gave me more time to begin working on details like shading.
3) i think looking at paintings throughout history has helped me to be inspired, and also allows me to study techniques that i like, and attempt to mimick them, yet, turn them into my own style. Also, it allows me to become a better artist because it shows me how to make a painting look realistic, and why.

Texture and Surface set up

Option 1

Option 2

This is the one i chose:

my newest set up for the Texture and Surface painting

SOME famous paintings.

The painting I chose is Desmoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso.
I chose this because a) Picasso is one of my favorite artists and b) because the picture is colorful and abstract, which I love. Picasso uses the entire canvas and this adds interest to the painting and allows a viewer to move from area to area and continually have their attention be captured.
The different colors used in the painting bring life and movement. Each figure looks to be moving and the background against the figures adds contrast.

A little background to the painting : Picasso began working on it in 1907 and it became famous because of it's story. the picture was originally featured two men that were suppose to be a sailor and a medical student, and the women were suppose to be prostitutes. this painting is important because it explored a topic other artists were too afraid to paint on canvas.

Creating the illusion of surface and texture

Banquet with Mince Pie, Willem Claesz Heda

Still Life with Peaches and a Silver Goblet, Jean Simeon Chardin

Vase of Flowers, Jan Davidsz de Heem

Each of these artists create texture in a different way. Jan Davidsz succeeds in creating texture by moving his brush in lively strokes to make the flowers look 3D. His use of shadows and shades make objects look flat (like the table) and shadows help make objects look in front of other objects. The different colors and shades of the same colors help make the picture look alive and make each flower distinct from the other flowers.

Chardin's use of white makes the painting have multiple illusions...from the fuzzy peaches...to the shiny goblet...to the bright grapes....and to the shadows on the walls. the colors mixed with white creates fuzz on the peaches and makes the painting look realistic. the mixing of the dark color for the goblet with the white makes the goblet look shiny.

Heda also uses a similar technique as Chardin. His use of shadow and white makes objects look realistic. The shadow on the table cloth uses a lot of white shades and grey-ish black shades. The white and black on the table cloth also distinctly shows the creases in the fabric and the folds -- giving the cloth a 3D and delicate look. Heda's use of value not only makes things look 3D and infront/behind other objects, but it makes light look like it is glistening off of the shiny objects.

Color Mixing Chart

My color mixing chart!

White Objects Thumbnail Sketches

my picture. not quite done yet...


my spot!!!

my lovely pallet

the point of view i was using for my picture




My thumbnail sketches for the "White Objects" assignment

Studies In Smallness

Items I painted for my still life

Reflection on Studies in Smallness

when reflecting on my "Studies in Smallness" process I realize that it was rather challenging. I enjoyed the process, though. It was fun because I was just getting acclimated to using oil paints so I got to experiment with them and mix colors. It was difficult because sometimes I would make a shade of a color that I didn't exactly want, then I had to add more dark colors or more light colors to make it the right shade. This process took a while to get use to. I
In the end the process was successful! (and enjoyable...) I made 2 successful paintings, and I am still trying to find time to finish the last.... :)

Using Composition As A Tool

Using composition as a tool
Composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art. It can also be thought of as the organization of the elements of art (color, line, shape, form, space, texture) according to the principles of art (movement, balance, emphasis, contrast, proportion, pattern, rhythm).
Look carefully at the paintings below. In which painting does the composition take the painting beyond being just a picture of everyday objects? Which composition is the most interesting and why?
Choose the painting you think answers these questions and paste it into a post on your blog (don't forget to add the title, artist, and date). Answer the questions above using the vocabulary we've been building in class.

I think the picture Custard Cascade by Will Cotton, 2001 is a good choice for this homework assignment. I like this picture because nothing is quite centered. There are objects in every spot, so this uses space. There is no empty space either! This painting also uses form and shape. Proportion is also used. The proportion and differences in shape between the cake, cupcakes, and various fruits is superb! Texture is also used in this painting. The texture on the different tasty treats make the painting look realistic. The whipped cream is very well done. Contrast is used as well, as you can see. The left side is brighter and the right side is darker.

Studies in Smallness

My finished pictures! :)

Morandi vs. VanGogh: Color

Morandi

VS.

VANGOGH

the color in VanGogh's paintings are much more brighter, cheerful colors. the colors in Morandi's are dull, but with a lot of tint. they have a darker hue. There is also a lot of detail in Morandi's picture while Vangogh's doesnt. Neither of the artists use pure colors. VanGogh also uses a lot of cool colors, and then some whites. I believe Morandi uses mostly Warm colors....and some whites.

What I Know

http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complementary_color

The Primary Colors are... yellow, blue and red

The Secondary Colors are...purple, orange and green.

You Create Secondary Colors by... mixing two primary colors. For example red and yellow create orange.

Complimentary Colors are... colors opposite from each other on the color wheel. It is always a primary color mixed with a secondary color

Two Ways You Can Emphasize A Painting... 2 possibilities are to add bright colors to make an object in your painting pop out! Also, you can make colors darker or lighter, and you can add texture by maneuvering brush strokes.

If I Were Trying to Create a Shadow On an Object in a Painting I Would...mix colors to make the 'complimentry colors'. The colors add a sense of depth and are usually darker and a tint of blue or green depending on your painting.

If I Were Trying to Make An Object Look Far Away I Would... use brighter shades of the same color. You wouldn't want to use white because that would make the painting look flat and less realistic.

These Are The Steps I Would Take To Build a Painting... first I would plan out what I wanted to do in my sketch book. Then I would discuss the idea with a partner (if required to). I would write the date and requirements in my sketch book. Then I would make a small calender to organize my work process. Then I would begin.

A Painting I Remember

Describe a PAINTING you've seen in person. Include where you saw it and what makes you remember it.

I really like 'Water Lilies' by Claude Monet. I enjoy this painting because it is colorful and it is obvious that it took great skill to produce. I also like it because it looks realistic when you glance at it from a distance. But up close you can see all the work that went into creating it.

My Skills As An Artist

Describe your strengths in art. Describe the aspects of artmaking that you struggle with.

I think my strengths are actually using charcoal and pencil. Painting is a challenge for me because I can get a little messy. I enjoy painting though. I think it's fun.

Why I'm Taking Oil Painting

Why did you sign up to take this course?

I am taking oil painting because I enjoy working with paints and mixing. I think it's fun to create different colors using other colors. It is also cool to imagine something in your mind and turn it into a work of art in reality.
I also enjoy seeing other people's works of art. It is usually inspiring. I also like learning about the history of other famous artists. I don't know if we will be doing a lot of Art History in this class. But I hope so.

There's nothing like the smell of oil paint after a hard day.