Module Four - Art Making/Material Exploration #1: Exploring Value and The Subtractive Color Theory Blog

Art Making/Material Exploration #1

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

I really enjoyed creating the Value Scale and Color Wheel.  My daughter created one as well because she said it looked fun.  I think that the only thing that frustrated me was making sure the Value Scale shading was good (I'm somewhat a perfectionist when it comes to things like these).  All together it was fun to do!

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

I would have to say that I enjoyed working with the paint best.  I feel that it is a more forgiving media to work with compared to the charcoal.  Plus, getting the perfect shade on the Value Scale kinda was driving me crazy…lol.  I like to paint so I enjoyed working with the paint.

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

For me, I think the most important discovery was the fact that cyan, magenta, and yellow are the true primary colors.  I never knew that before, it was kinda cool learning that.  It does make sense that the colors red and blue are too dark to be primary.  

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

The most important information that I learned from watching the videos were that when you create the value scale you have to darken the colors in layers instead of just pressing harder to get the darkest shade.  I found that interesting that you keep a consistent soft handle on your charcoal and make layers to achieve the desired shade.  Also, that the primary colors are not red, blue, and yellow.  They are in fact cyan, magenta, and yellow.  That was pretty neat to learn, red and blue are considered secondary colors. 

The Value Scale

The Color Wheel

Module Three - Project #1 Elements and Principles Slideshow: Photobucket

I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by this project.  I wish the weather was a lot nicer outside or that I liked the cold so that I could venture out a get some amazing photos.  But I have children and cannot venture out with them in this weather (and I do not like the cold myself).  It was difficult limiting myself to just my home, but I feel that I was able to capture all the elements and principles that were requested.  It actually forced me to think outside the box and not just at the normal things that I would find in nature.  I enjoyed that challenge.  I love taking pictures so that part was very enjoyable for me, I even had a mini photo shoot with my girls when they caught wind that I was taking pictures. :)  Even though there was a restriction there, I enjoyed the project.

Email and IM link:

http://s344.photobucket.com/user/Smkelly75/library/Module%20Three_Project%201%20Elements%20and%20Principles

Slideshow Link:

http://s344.photobucket.com/user/Smkelly75/slideshow/Module%20Three_Project%201%20Elements%20and%20Principles

I hope you enjoy!

Module Three: Color Theory and Emotional Effects

1. Describe Color and its effects on emotions. Use the appropriate vocabulary of color in your posting.

Color can be described as a function of light.  Without the presence of light there can be no color.  Color has many different effects on us as humans when pertaining to our emotions.  Color comes in many different hues, shades, and intensity to name a few.  Through many different forms of color we can enjoy a array of feeling and emotions when viewing them.  Some people are drawn to certain colors and others react to certain colors in different ways.  I am drawn to the color yellow, it reminds me of sunflowers, sun and warmth.  This colors makes me happy.

2. What is a theoretical aspect of color that most intrigues/fascinates you? Why?

It was interesting to learn that nothing has actual color in it.  All colors depend on the light and color is reflected light rays.  I also found it interesting that on the color wheel (or just the colors in general) reds, oranges, and yellows are considered to be the warm colors.  I can see how they have been associated with sunlight and fire.  Yet on the other side of the color wheel you have blue, green and violet that are considered cool colors.  These colors are associated with sky, water and shade.  Before this class, I never really gave it much thought.  I knew that they were considered warm and cool colors but never linked them to things in our everyday life.  That was cool to me and really brought more understanding to the color wheel.  I like being able to take what I am learning and linking it to something in my everyday life.  I like how colors are incorporated with our everyday life also.  For example a stoplight has red for stop and green for go.  Or a fire engine is red, like fire.

3. In the Color video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and it's effects on emotions?

The biggest impact on me in regards to color and its effects on emotions is how color is used to create an emotion within us.  Whether bright colors of red and blues make for a depressing or violent mood or subtle colors like creams and lighter shades make for a more harmonious, happy mood.  Bold colors express strong emotions and finding the right match of colors can cause a pleasing effect on the artist and the audience viewing the art.  Feeling come through art in the form of shapes and colors, and it is these feeling that creates these artworks.  I remember when painting my first child’s bedroom I read an article on what colors you should not paint in a child’s room because it is those colors that will provoke certain behaviors in the child.  Yellow definitely was on that list of do not paint because it was believed that babies cannot sleep in a room painted yellow.  I find it amazing that colors can dictate our moods.  

4. In the Feelings video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and it's effects on emotions? 

In this video the biggest impact on me in regards to color and its effects on emotion is when colors were referred to light and dark referring to anger and happiness.  I like learning about how the colors were made and that blue was a more expensive color because of how labor intensive it was to create the color.  This color was used in the most important parts of paintings.  This video seemed very grim to me, except for the section on the Mona Lisa.  The narrator kept pointing out the dark images and dark feelings behind the painting and what those things translated to.  Those painting definitely gave me a morbid feeling on the artists views of that time. 

Module Two - Blog: Video and CNN Article Review

Module Two - Blog: Video and CNN Article Review

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

In the video Aesthetics: Philosophy of the Arts, art is not defined as something beautiful, but rather art implies a beautiful idea.  Beauty and art are very different things.  Many philosophers over the course of time, from Plato to Weltz, have given their views on what they believe art to be.  What makes something a work of art was the common question that each philosopher answered.  Each in their own way helped paved the way for what art is thought of today.  Whether art was the idea of beauty, the rules of composition, or was able to present the values that define human life.  Aesthetics concerns itself with beauty or rather the nature in which beauty is perceived. 

2.  Which philosopher's theory on aesthetics do you feel is most important? Be sure to mention the philosopher’s name, era (time in history), and contribution to the aesthetic theory in your response.

The philosopher’s theory on aesthetics that I feel is important from the movie is that of German philosopher Walter Benjamin from the 20^th Century.  In 1936 he states that the concept of art has changed dramatically by the technological advances of the world.  This allows for the unlimited reproduction of any art piece.  Art is no longer unique and unrepeatable; photocopies can be made as well as posters.  I think that this is important because with the technology changing all the time, how we view art and also how we create art changes with it.  Art has become more readily available to us through photos and videos.  As time goes on we continue to add more ways of creating and duplicating art.

3.  What do you think about Changeux and Ramachandran scientific view of aesthetics and art? What was the most interesting fact you discovered from each speakers lecture?

I am not totally convinced on their way to view the aesthetics of art.  While very interesting, I feel that art is creative skill based on ones imagination.  To view that piece of art and decide whether you enjoy it or not is just that, a choice.  We know what we like and do not like.  While I can respect the point that art is a non-verbal communication of emotional states, knowledge, and experience.  Or whether it is science and follows the eight laws of Art.  I feel at this point in the class that art is art, not a conscious or unconscious neurological theory of the experience.

4.  How do the videos and article relate to the readings in the text?

I think that the videos added to what we read in the text.  They all covered where art came from, the philosophy and aesthetics of art, and how we have viewed and interpreted art through time.  They both explain why and how we are drawn to certain pieces of art.  They gives us a better understand as to why we react differently to pieces of art and how and why our brain processes this information differently.

5.  What is your opinion of the films and article?  How do they add depth to understanding of the topics in your reading in the text?

I enjoyed the films and article.  The article seemed to repeat what was in the films, but all three gave me a better understanding of art.  They have forced me to view art more objectively rather than just saying I like or do not like a piece of artwork.  The videos and article added more depth to the reading, gave more examples.  This allowed me to grasp a better understanding of what I was reading.  While I am not sure I agree 100% with the CARTA: Evolutionary Origins of Art and Aesthetics video, it has definitely sparked an interest.  Thinking of whether viewing art is more of a neurological science, definitely an idea I will be considering going forward when creating or viewing art.