Reflection

1. My expectations were to be able to look at a piece of art and be able to remember the year, era or art period it came from.  I think they were met because I had the opportunity to study new and paintings I've already seen before.

2. A couple courses I took this semester affected on how I decide if something is art.  I think art can be something someone creates out of any material.

3. I am looking at my original posting and I don't see that I posted a favorite artist in it.  My current favorite artist is a small town ceramicist.

4. In the beginning I enjoyed online classes, and I still do!

Self Portrait

Mike Parr

26 untitled self portraits

mixed media on paper

Kayta Medvedeva

Snowdrops

No other information was found

1. I chose the inspiration pieces because they were all different. I liked the broken lines in one, and the colors in the others.
2. I chose charcoal because I haven't explored with that medium a lot and I wanted to.
3. I wasn't able to achieve much value, I blended the charcoal with my finger.
4. This piece shows my happiness.
5. I applied line, value and scale. 
6. It was nice to work on this project to relax within the end of the semester. 
7. I wish it was more realistic, but it is more stylized than realistic.  

Journal

Brainstorming 

Module 12 & 13

The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art

1.  Before art pieces were being made and called Lowbrow, it was known as pornography.  It was a manifesto when it started, it had to do with surrealism, nudity, and a cartoon look.  It is cartoon like.  Artists take old pieces of work and re-create them to influence comics.

2. Lowbrow actually can relate to my art exhibition.  Not with the whole idea or concept, but just within the nudity.  In most Lowbrow artworks there is a human figure, which relates to my entire exhibit.

Tate Modern Video did not work or load.

An Acquiring Mind

1. Throughout this video several pieces of art were talked about.  There was so much information I can not even remember it all.  Otto Dix is an artist who does significant  portraits. The MET has a great collection of work.  Before an artwork can even be put on display, it has to be reviewed by several people during the acquisition process.

2. The actual individual artworks don't relate to my artwork, but the exhibition does.  The gallery in the video shows me how to set up a gallery, where to place things, where to hang paintings, sculptures, etc...

3. The films are very informative.  A lot of pieces of art are covered in these videos that I've seen, learned about or heard about in the past.  The third video added depth to the concepts I had to think about while creating my gallery exhibition PowerPoint.  The placement of every piece is important to setting up a gallery.  One piece can make a gallery look completely off.

Module #12

Why did you chose the videos you choose?

I choose Hockney on Photography because I enjoy Photography, but didn't know what Hockney meant.  After starting the video, I learned Hockney is a man.  The second video I choose was Andy Warhol: Images of an Image.  I choose this because I wanted my videos to be on related topics.

List/ discuss the key concepts you've learned.

David Hockney was a photographer in the 1970's.  David took series of images and created them into one in a panel.  In the beginning of his career he used a Polaroid camera to compose his images.  He would take many images to construct one whole image.  Through the polaroids he uses all different sizes too. He calls this drawing with a camera.  I find this very interesting.
Andy Warhol worked from magazines to create his art.  In his work you would often see cosmetic surgery, Coco-Cola bottles, and his most famous, Cambells soup cans. After Maryln Monroe passed away, Warhol produced a whole series of her with a printmaking technique.  The printmaking and screen printing technique was a great way for Warhol to create his work because you can use the screen as many times as you want as long as you take good care of it.  It was interesting to learn the process Warhol used to create his very famous works.  The Cambells soup can work was made with stencils.

How do these videos relate to the text?

These video relate to the text right in the title of chapter 22 "from modern to post modern."

How do you feel about these videos?

I really enjoyed the David Hockney video because I love his process.  He has inspired me to want to create one whole image with many small Polaroid images.  He uses up to at least 50 images into one project, so it will be an expensive project for me, but I still want to try it!
I also enjoyed the Andy Warhol informational video because I didn't know the process that was used to create all his works.  I knew the soup cans had to be with something with stencils, but I didn't know how.  The screen printing process is also shown.  It relates to a project I learned in ceramics with the ink and screen printing.

Module #11 (2nd)

Title: Anothony J. Sisti
Theme: A Dream World of Immagination

1. Dim lighting, not very bright in any areas, only directed to the artwork.

2. The walls are white and a dark grayish/ charcoal color.

3. Wood is used for basically all of the inner architecture seen inside the gallery.

4.  The movement flows very well throughout the gallery, easy to navigate, and see all parts of the gallery.  If you go in order you won't miss any pieces.

Art Work

1.  The artworks are organized by which exhibit they belong in.

2. The artworks in specific galleries/exhibits are similar by which the dates they are created.

3. If they are donated artworks and  not chosen ones for a specific exhibit, they are usually not the same concept or piece so that makes them different.

4.  All artworks of different mediums are framed differently.  If it's a fragile sculpture, it will be framed in glass, if it's a fine art piece it will have an basic frame on it, if it is a floor piece it will have the gallery barrier surrounding it.

5. The tags are the same color as the wall, but the writing is black for the while walls and it is white for the dark gray walls.

6. Depending on what type of medium the piece is, for example a sculpture or a painting, they range from what it looks like 5-10 feet apart.

Analyze (Steps 4 & 5)

The Window by the Alley is a piece I choose to analyze by the Peter Findlay Gallery. It looks like a side of a shed with flowers and bushes surrounding it.  The colors look like they are kind've a pastel palette look, creating a calming and relaxing mood.  The values in the colors make it look like the time of the day when the sun is going down, when it's about to get dark.  This piece reminds me of my dads barn that he does all of his building in.  The side of the barn looks exactly the same.  I think the artist had interest in the subject matter and that's why they created it.

  

I choose The Pine-Knot Home pencil, colored pencil and ink on paper piece because the subject matter interested me.  The texture created by the pencils and ink creates a wood texture, which as an artist I am focusing on.  The value in the foreground looks realistic but also has a semi-abstract feel to them.  The style of the artist is very clear, a very fun, playful feel.  This work also reminds me of my childhood because of the cute looking shed.  I feel like this was a place that the artist felt relaxed.

The last artwork I choose is the Telegraph Music piece done in watercolor and ink on paper.  I choose this piece to analyze because I love the movement throughout.  There is movement and rhythm throughout the whole piece.  The colors are very dark and gloomy which helps with the mood of the piece because it gives a dark and gloomy mood. This piece reminds me of a place I've been.  I live in the country so this is a view that I see often.  Again, I feel like this was a place that the artist often relaxed so that is why they choose it as their subject matter.

Module 11

Why I chose these 2 videos?
1. I choose the impact of Cubism because I think it is an interesting way to layout your subject matter on a canvas.  You really have to have an imaginative mind to do this.  I picked the Expressionism video because I am currently learning/ discussing abstract Expressionism in my Arts In Living class, so I thought it would be nice to get a little more information on the topic that we're not discussing in class.

List/discuss key concepts learned from the videos.
2.  Cubism had a great impact on art in Greece.  Cubism can be created on almost any material, creating mixed media in the process.  You see a lot of kitchen or food subject matters done in a Cubist style, perhaps because the subject matter in a kitchen already has more 'simple' shapes to create into a Cubist style.
The painting discussed in the Expressionism video has so much expression throughout every piece of the painting it is insane.  The colors each man and woman are waiting expresses their emotions, their facial expressions shows how they are feeling, the placement of their bodies and hands shows their emotions also.  Expressionism is a way to paint if you're stressed and would like to express how you're feeling to release those feelings.

How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
3. These two videos, The Impact of Cubism and Expressionism relate to the text because they both are styles of painting.  Not only painting, but styles of art.  The videos go into more depth with visuals than the textbook, obviously because the textbook is about the text mainly.

What is your opinion of the films?  How do they add depth to the readings in the text?
4.The Impact of Cubism adds a lot of depth to the reading because it has a constant visual for me to connect what the speaker is talking about to an example also.  This is wonderful because I am a visual learner.  The Expressionism video shows more visual examples than the book does, giving me more history of the paintings that I may have learned about in the past, helping me make connections.

Module 10

Select, Analyze and Describe

1.  "Another Mask from the Deep South."  Above is the first mask I have chosen, this mask has a ton of texture, value and form.  The form of this mask is very three dimensional, it has a lot of different characteristics to it, making it more interesting.  The variety of materials used in this mask create a variety of texture, looking smooth, rough and soft in the lighter material areas.  The scale of the mask looks like it is within proportion.

2.  "Jaguar mask from the Chiriguanos."  I chose this mask above because I can relate to it personally: in my one ceramics class I was required to create a mask and I made an elephant mask.  Therefore, both of these are animals, and I've made an animal mask.  There is implied texture on this mask that is created by the painted lines on the Jaguars face, and theres also texture on the teeth.  There is emphasis on the nose/ front of the face of the jaguar, it being the first spot your eye focus' on.

3.  "Fern Mask," from Thomas Murray.  This dark, textured mask is created out of ferns.  I choose this mask to analyze because as an artist, nature has inspired me to create my art by memories form my childhood.  Therefore, I am going to use some type of nature to create this mask.  The value in this mask is varied, while staying dark in most areas and even darker in the deeper areas.  It almost looks like the texture on the mask has movement going on, but it doesn't.  The mask is most definitely not in proportion, it's more of an abstract created mask.

Plan Your Mask

1. Nature - trees
2. Color - browns, blacks and ashy
3. Texture - tree bark

Sketches and Final Mask

Elements and Principles

I used several elements and principles in my mask.  I used line throughout the entire thing, using the line to create textures, value, shape and patterns.  In my mask, I choose to create a tree bark texture with the use of charcoal and colored pencils. In doing so, I created movement throughout my mask.  

Process

As an artist, I portray nature in my artwork through memories of my childhood.  I was often outside as a child, therefore a lot of my memories involve nature, so I try to use the textures of the nature I enjoy reminiscing memories about.  I enjoyed making my mask because I am working on a series of tree textured artworks, so this was the perfect project for me to be working on!  I like the end result of my mask, having it look semi- realistic but also being fun and playful as a mask.  

Module #10 Films

1. I chose Hinduism and Buddhism because they are topics I often get confused, therefore I wanted to learn more about them.  I've learned about them in the past, but I can't always keep the two straight. The Hinduism video wouldn't work, so I choose the African Art video instead.

Buddhism
2. Buddhism began in India, by a man, named Buddhism and he was born in 563 B.C.E.  When he came into a 'normal public life,' his life began to end, due to old age.  There is a Buddhist temple here in New York State, and the largest one is located in Indonesia.  There are many important factors to the Buddhism temples.  A lot of the structures created around the temples are made out of granite.  

African Art
2.  African art is shown in sub- Saharan Africa through almost everything.  Through everyday functional ware, such as kitchen utensils, everyday outfits, especially in the dresses and flow outfits that are hand made, and even through the hair styles of each and every person there.  Dancing and music is an African ritual, which shows African Art through their outfits and the movement through their bodies.  The masks used for rituals are usually made out of wood and straw.  Nomadic African Art is recreated through sound, color and movement.

3. The videos relate to the text because they correspond with one another.  The text talks and goes in depth about African culture and art, and so did the video I choose.  The book is sometimes hard to read along because it doesn't have the constant visual as the video does, but it still has a lot of photographic visuals.

4.  The films are very interesting, pouring out so many facts you can't remember them all!  But, the facts and knowledge given though these videos help me as a visual artist hear and see simultaneously what they are talking about or trying to explain.  Being able to use a visual aid (the video) helps me to remember facts, times, visuals (hair, outfits, etc...).

Module 9

1. I choose the Albrecht Durer video and The Drawings of Michelangelo because they both connect to something I'm interested in.  I love drawing, and seeing what famous artists made because inspiration can always be found.

2. Michelangelo's drawings can be viewed at anytime by any students.  That is the drawings that are left, because a great amount of his drawings have been destroyed by Michelangelo himself. It is said that if Michelangelo knew he was looking at his drawings, he'd be cringing.  The contours of Michelangelo's drawings are very, very strong.  Throughout most of his drawings, it was usually a figure and they were almost always very accurate.

One of the first places El Greco stayed for a while to create art was Rome.  He stayed at a palace, and worked on pieces inside Rome too.  El Greco's paintings often connected to religious forms because they were places in churches, monasteries and medical places.  One of his paintings that include Angels, called "Angels from Above," is a medieval painting.  El Greco was also commissioned at a Cathedral to create religious figures.  The figure of Christ was often the focus point in his paintings.

3.  The videos related to the text in our book because they are both talking about the figures of the time.  Not just the basic figures, but the way they were sculpted or drawn, perceived and finished.

4. Both of the videos have a ton of information that was interesting to learn.  By these videos, we know a little bit more about each of the artists that we wouldn't have known by doing our own research or reading in the textbook.  It's nice because the videos are on one subject which means all of the information we're receiving is based on one subject, letting us expand our knowledge on that one subject, rather than 25 in a unit.

Module 9

1. I enjoyed using my hand as subject matter for this drawing because I like to get all the lines and creases/ textures.  It was also nice because I could choose how I wanted my hand to sit.

2.  I choose charcoal because it is a more flowing material rather than pencil, and I thought that would be the better option because we had to draw with our non-dominant hand too.

3.  It was pretty difficult, but I have had to do it before in a few assignments, therefore I think the more practice you do the better you can become with your non-dominant hand.

4.  Yes, I do think they are successful.  Obviously the left hand that was drawn with the right hand has  more form and value, but I still think the contour I drew with my left hand is accurate, and could be better if there was more value.  Although, it was hard to do value with my left hand.

5. I would consider using my non-dominant hand to create work in the future.  It would have to be a series or a piece of work that I had made it known I was using my left hand (non-dominant) though.

Module 8

Why did you choose the video from the list?
I choose The Measure of all Things: Greek Art and Human Figure because I am taking a course in Figure Modeling so I find it very interesting to see how the human figure is made.  Currently, I am learning the proportions and scales while making human busts, whole figures and iron pores out of clay and plasticine.

List/ discuss the key concepts you learned from each video.
1st Video:
The Venice of Willdendorf has many larger sculptures of her made, but she is really only 4 inches tall, craved from limestone, and its worth sixty million dollars! Although she is an unrealistic body form of an average woman, she is formed with larger breasts and sexual organs because she is a symbol of fertility.  

2nd Video:
The human figures in greek art are known for the emotion shown through the sculptures.  It is said that the greek often worked out, working on their bodies because the greeks often compared their bodies to each other.  The greek sculptures were often smiling, and had a very nice posture that was created.

How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the texts in terms of content.  The text has a section on sculpture, and it goes into depth on how carving works, and into even more depth onto the human figure in sculpture, which relates to the Venice of Willendorf.  The sculptures shown in the greek video are very similar to the ones in the textbook.

Opinions of the films, and how do they add depth to understanding the readings and art concepts?
I really enjoyed the information that was given in the videos, but the ads were kind've annoying, but definitely not the worst thing in the world! The videos give more detail on certain pieces, show more visuals and the visual aspect helps me tremendously because I am a visual person and artist.

Architecture:  The Science of Design

1. I learned that skyscrapers are made up of two different parts. The whole structure that is above ground, and the whole structure that is underground.  I didn't know that, that happened until the text and videos taught me!  The very cool fact that I learned is that very tall buildings can sway back and forth up to a whole meter!  When it's windy out, it's common for the elevator to stop! (#525 reason I don't take elavators)

Last Call for Planet Earth:  Sustainable Development and Architecture

1a. In this video I learned that floors can be made to cool and heat homes.  In the winter, they run warm water through to warm it, and in the summer they run cool water through.  I have heard of heated concrete floors before, but never heated floors by water!  From the opposite of floors, I learned there can be roof gardens made with a platform of stone!  These are ways to bring nature into buildings.

2. The videos relate to the text in many ways.  They show how architecture is made not just for tall buildings, but in column structures, structures with arches, architecture made out of concrete and even steel.

3. I think the films are informational and educational, but they are a bit dated so we might be missing some more modern information that has been added since the films were made.

4. I choose this video because I had no knowledge on how architecture in buildings are designed.

4a. I choose the second film I watched due to the title.  The title intrigued me by the first part, "Last Call for Planet Earth."

Blog Video Review

1. Key ideas/concepts I learned from the videos:
Through the Eyes of a Sculptor:
I didn't realize how much time and effort are put into full body sculptures.  There is a huge process from the start of sculpting a real model, to the installation which involves heavy machinery and equipment.  Every stop has to be a careful and safe step because you could ruin the casting of a piece at any time.  (I just made two plaster molds for the first time yesterday in ceramics, so I somewhat understand the timely process).
Glass and Ceramics:
I learned that glass is made out of silica, which I knew what that is because I have to mix my own clay in ceramics and silica is one of the most dangerous components of the clay.  It is not a good chemical to breath in.  Also, artists use already colored pieces of glass to put into window murals. The most common technique for glass stained windows is the lead technique.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the text because they both touch and go into depth on some of the topics discussed in the text. For example, readings and the videos relate because they both go into detail about sculpting a piece, and the very time consuming installation of a piece.  The text talks about the process of casting and the modeling of a figure, which the video does that also.  The second part of the text (chapter 12) talks about the glass stained windows and ceramic functional pieces, even going into detail how the specific ones from that artist are made.  


3. What is my opinion of the films?  How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation and Craft?
Through the Eyes of a Sculptor:
As I said before, this video shows you literally every step you need to know.  For sculpture and craft, it shows sculpting the woman, getting her every curve and angle correct, then casting her body, to installing it.  I never thought about installing big sculptures, but now I know how some of them are installed! Very slowly and carefully with machinery equipment. 
Glass and Ceramics:
I didn't realize you had to 'fire' the glass so many times.  I did a glass blowing class at Corning and I didn't realize how much "behind the scenes" work is put into the glass.  They show the whole process from the start, to forming a shape you may want while using many different materials to do so, which ever the artist chooses. Ceramics can be used for many different purposes, from functional ware in the kitchen, hip replacements and on train engines!

Blog 1: (2 blogs because neither did both projects)

Both projects:

https://andreademmintasevski.blogspot.com

Project 1: http://artwithaliyah2.blogspot.com (Second person up from me because the 1st didn't do the project.)

For some of the images I agreed with the elements and principles, but not all of them.  I feel like some of them were forced because she just used things that she already had in her apartment instead of going out and looking for specific things.  I do see other elements and principles in some of her photos that she may not have noticed.

Project 2: https://dantekiddart.blogspot.com (First person up from me, didn't do both projects)

None of his choices were the same as mine, although one I was intrigued by while in the gallery.
Gustave Courbet's piece of work, it's very dark and spooky, and I was wondering more about it.  Possibly where is this place, or what is maybe hiding in the dark area?

4. I have always like the 'pop' art kind've look, and in one of the blogs both a Maryln Monroe piece was in there along with the Cambell Soup Cans.  Both pieces are by Andy Warhol and they're both pleasant pieces to look at.

5. I do feel like this is valuable, but I do think it could be more valuable.  Personally, I added the whole card title that was at the albright knox, so for some of the works I don't even know the names by just looking at the blog.

6. I don't have any comments yet, but I'm sure they will be insightful!

2 Artworks I made a connection with:

 Jean-Francois Millet

Les falaisees de Greville

(The Cliffs of Greville) (1871-72)

Oil on canvas

Elisabeth H. Gates Fund, 1919

I felt a connection with this work for a couple reasons. 

First off, because I really enjoy painting landscapes myself, 

and I'm absolutely  obsessed with the way the water

meets the land.  Secondly, because I love when artists

create a landscape in their own style, meaning, not

completely realistic, but not completely abstract either. 

Claude Monet

Chemin de halage a Argenteuil (Towpath at Argenteuil, Winter)

1875-76,

 Oil on canvas, 

Gift of Charles Clifton, 1919

The same reason I had a connection with the piece above is

almost why I had a connection with this one.  I had recently 

created a abstract landscape of letchworth, with the same

type of brushstrokes here that Monet used.  I feel a connection

with Monet's work because he inspires me to make more

abstract, my own style-type landscapes.

2 Artworks I want to know more about:

James Ensor

Le feu d'artifice (Fireworks), 1887

Oil and encaustic on canvas

George B. and Jenny R. Mathews Fund, 1970

I would like to know more about this work because of

the title and the colors.  I, personally, don't feel as if I've

seen any fireworks this color.  It's interesting to me that

they picked oranges and yellows, with the title being 

fireworks, because fireworks are often reds, whites,

blues and maybe greens too.

Gustave Caillebottle

Etude pour Le Pont de l'Europe 1876

Oil on canvas

Bequest of A. Conger Goodyear, by exchange, 1974

I got super excited when I seen this piece while walking through

the gallery!  I have recently studied abroad and I would love to know

where this bridge is located exactly because I walked along quite

a few bridges that looked just like this.  Especially the London bridge,

above and below the bridge had this pattern throughout.

2 Artworks that impacted me:

Marc Chagall

The Flying Fish, 1948

Oil on canvas

Room of Contemporary Art Fund, 1949

The reason that this artwork impacted might 

be odd, but this is literally what I thought when

I saw it:

    "Oh, this reminds me of my wedding day one

day in the future.  Farm like, with animals around

and making my husband, family and friends take

too many pictures with me all day."

Ben Nicholson

White Relief, ca. 1937-38

Painted wood

Gift of Seymour H. Knox, Jr., 1960

This piece impacted me on a very personal connection.  I have

always been an artist for as long as I remember, and also for as

long as I can remember my dad has been a wood-worker.  We 

work very well together as a team, he builds a lot of pieces for 

me and then I paint, and finish them off!  We sell a lot of pieces

together, and I will never forget this bond.  This wood-made 

piece definitely reminded me of my father and I.

• Creating this logo was a super fun for me because I've actually been thinking about creating a logo for myself for a while now.  I've had lots of ideas go throughout my head within the past year since I started my own little business. 
• I knew I definitely wanted to create a logo that had to do with art and photography. Therefore, I chose photography, and I wanted to incorporate my name 'Lindsey Kotas'.  I placed my last name 'Kotas' into the actual camera form.  I used some of the colors in my logo that I really enjoy.
• The most important discovery I found in my logo is that there's so many options in creating a logo.  Therefore, I think the most important thing is that I should eventually try out different logos and see the feedback I receive from the public and clients.  Different logos may bring in different cliental depending on the theme and colors in my logo.
• The most important thing I learned is that when you create a logo for someone, you need to know all their expectations for you to have a happy client. The reading gives a ton of information on Graphic Design, making me realize it's literally always around us.  Graphic Design is how we can create logos, especially if we were to use Photoshop- it would possibly give the logo a more finished or professional feel due to the quality of photoshop. The Graphic Design: What's in a Logo video was very outdated I feel, but it still gave worthy information.  

• I enjoyed making the Value Scale, because I love graphite.  But, surprisingly I've never made a color wheel before, just always look at references for one, so I'm glad I had the opportunity to create my own.
• I enjoyed the Golden acrylics because I've never used that brand before and I really liked how smooth they blended together.
• The most important thing I discovered is that some people don't believe red, yellow and blue are the primary colors, and that magenta, cyan and yellow are the primary colors.
• Previously talked about above in the bullet point, I found it fascinating that red and blue are too dark to be primary colors, and with magenta, cyan and yellow can create blue and green.  I guess from the videos I believe that yellow, blue, and red will probably stick in my head as the primary colors but I do understand the concept of cyan, magenta and yellow.

1. Every single color affects how people feel when they see that color.  There's warm colors and cool colors. The warm colors are red, orange and yellow, and the cool colors are blue, purple and green.  The cool colors are seemed to be more of calming colors, and warm colors sense feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility.

2. Throughout my art education degree I've learned that there's a variety of people and animals that can see different colors.  Not every person can see all colors, and some can see hundreds more of colors due to the amount of cones that they have in their eyes.  Dogs only have two cones, and we have three as humans.

3. I really enjoy that green relates to nature and brings you comfort when you see it, especially because this relates to me personally.

4. I was surprised that orange brings feelings of food, warmth and physical comfort.  I never really thought about what the color orange brings to me, but I suppose I can think now that I know orange is a lot of spice colors, etc..

http://s350.photobucket.com/user/lindseykotas/embed/slideshow/Elements%20and%20Principles%20of%20Art

Module 2

1. Aesthetics: Philosophy of The Arts
A few different philosophers opinions stood out to me and took me by surprise.  One was that 'an artist copies a copy, their copy is an imperfect copy of a perfect copy.' You never really think that an artist gets almost all of their ideas from other artwork, and then they change it.
 Chanqeux & Ramachandran Video
I didn't know that the evolutionary origins of art and aesthetics were sexual selection, group selection, intersubjective communication, social bonding and by product of brain evolution.  This video really showed me that there is so much 'behind the scenes' of science in art that I didn't know about.
CNN Article
I found it very interesting that not only us adults, but babies can decipher a visual face due to coarse information being triggered by emotional response.  We are emotionally engaged when the detail orientated part of our visual system is distracted.

2. Morris Weitz is the philosopher that stood out to me the most, he incorporated family into his art, which is why I think I am most connected with his theory because I incorporate family and my personal life into my art, and that is not the only quality we share.  He also believes anything can be art, it doesn't have to be hanging in a museum, he still believes creations that aren't labeled in the art category can be art.  He believed that certain art movements fit into aesthetics, and the one that he related to most was anti-essentialist which was big in the 1950's.  "Art is whatever we may call it, no mater the object." -Morris Weitz.

3. Starting off, it was hard to understand Chanqeux at first, until you really focused in on his voice.  I loved Rakmachandran's sense of humor, techniques and way of talking about art that most artists and people wouldn't necessarily think is funny. The most interesting fact I think from Jean-Pierre Chanquex is that the discovery of symbolism was in Spain and the discovery of artistic competition was in France- Homo Sapiens. The fact from Vilayanur Rakmachandran that I thought was most interesting is how he had no interest in art 14 years ago but now he believes the goal of art is to distort or change art to have pleasing effects on the brain.  He is now doing research on pieces of art that he visited when he was younger with his family.

4.  The videos and the articles have a lot of content on scientific standings behind art within the body and the brain.  The videos discuss certain types of art, for example Indian sculptures, Picasso and religious pieces.  The textbook goes into great detail about themes of art and what art even is, therefore the correlation between the textbook and the reading and videos is that they all explain a lot of details that happen in the art world.  Meaning, not a lot of people think about the themes of art or even think about the science behind it, the only science I think I ever learned about art is the left and right sides of the brain, and what they do.

5. Reading the article and the textbook were probably my favorites out of all the choices.  The article was short and sweet but informative, along with the reading in the book.  I liked the way the book was wrote, it is an easy read for me (I usually don't comprehend much while reading.)  But I think this one as interesting enough for me to where I could focus and highlight etc..  The videos were okay- Hard to understand the one speaker, but got use to it eventually.  I like that the videos go into more depth about content in the book.  For example on page 13 in the Arts In Living textbook, theres a section called Creating and Creativity (pg 12.) but it talks about nerves in the brain, "Scans showing nerve traffic pathways though the white matter in the brain.  Arrows point to regions where nerve traffic slows in individuals identified as creative." quoted with a photo- which this photo and quote goes into much greater detail in the videos provided.

First Week

• For me, setting up the blog and the new gmail account was fun!  I like to do these kinds of things, so it makes me especially excited to blog throughout the semester. 
• I hope to be able to look at a piece of art and know what time period or era it came from, even just to recognize if it's historical or a modern piece.  
• I enjoy online courses for the fact that you can some-what work at a pace you want within regulations, time-lines and guidance.  I hope I enjoy this online experience as much as previous online classes I've taken!
• From step 3, never giving up sticks with me.  Throughout my life, I've had several things push me down, but I always get back up and keep trying.  A growth mindset is a great quality to have, it just shows that you can always improve on yourself, and you have the ability to do so. Lastly, I believe having goals is important because it always keeps you moving towards something you're trying to accomplish, and once you complete those goals, you should always make new ones to achieve.