Module 9 Video Review

Videos:               #1 Velazquez            #2 Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master

1. I wanted to learned about the life of Diego Velazquez, therefore I watched the documentary titled: Velazquez. In the documentary, Albrecht Durer was mentioned as someone that Diego Velazquez copied, so it peaked my interest in wanting to know why Diego Velazquez copied his style.

2. In the documentary, Velazquez, it mentioned that Diego Velazquez had a great friendship with King Philip IV and the royal family. Velazquez had one the biggest libraries of his time because he was not only a painter, he was also a scholar, engineer, and architect. Most of his portraits are based on reality. He trained in Italy for couple of years to learn from other famous painter’s lives work such as Raphael, Davinci, and Michelangelo. He also, mimics the style of Albrecht Durer in his portraits. His lives work was either portraits of the royal families, or the opposite of them. In the Documentary, Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master, it is mentioned that Durer has a particular interest in hands and the process of aging. Many of his works of art illustrate these two concepts. Durer had completed his first self-portrait at the age of 13 years old. He also composed many prints for artists to use the method of using grids and human anatomy, similar to the same process Leonardo Davinci used. Durer was involved in politics and he was around when Martin Luther had the reformation movement going against the catholic church.

3. The videos had similar information compared to that of the textbook because they all mentioned famous art work that both Diego Velazquez and Albrecht Durer created that are known worldwide. However, both documentaries go further in detail about these artists life.

4. Both videos have provided me with more understanding about both Diego Velazquez and Albrecht Durer. Also, the readings helped me to understand the artist movements that were taking place when these artists were alive.

Art Making/Material Exploration: Exploring Line

1.) It was very interesting using my own hands as a subject matter for drawing. I never really looked at all of the details that are involved in something as simple as my hands. Here you have your hands, that are usually what you are using to create other things and art with. In this case, you are using the hands you create art with, and show casing them as the focal point instead of anything else.
2.) I selected to use pencil because I do not have charcoal, and because I feel like it is less messy and creates a variety of values really effectively when used properly.
3.)It felt extremely awkward and uncoordinated, as I expected, to create a drawing with my non-dominant hand because I do not hand the same control with that hand as I do with my dominant hand.
4.)I think my sketches are surprisingly very accurate drawings. I did use my dominant hand to shade in and go over my drawing that I sketched with my non-dominant hand to complete it, which helped me to feel more satisfied in its overall outcome.
5.)I would not consider using my non-dominant hand to create art in the future. I felt like I struggled and my art began to look abstract rather than realistic because i struggled to create a straight line. It was frustrating, yet interesting, but overall it was not enjoyable for me.

Module 8 Video Review

Module 8

Video – More Human Than Human

1.)    This was the required video to be watched.

2.)    The key concepts of this video were about how we all see art and how we interpret it. Many images we see that are of the human body are extremely unrealistic, yet we still interpret them as the human body anyways. This goes back thousands of years even, to the Egyptian civilization, where they combined human bodies and animal heads. However, their art did also possess a regular side, or more realistic creation of the human body. Their style was unique, as was their architecture as well. The Greek civilization was another that was fixated on the human body, specifically of the athletic body. They believed that your shape should be that of perfection. The Greeks were actually the first to create a replica of the actual human body.

3.)    The video and text relate because they include much of the same information on how we view the human body and of how it is represented to us in the world and through art as well as how we interpret it. The video does go into a bit more detail about the different civilizations and their contribution to this topic.

4.)    I enjoyed the video because it really helped me to get a good visual and understanding of what was being taught in a more interesting way than simply through text.

Video – Late Gothic Art and Architecture: England 1400 – 1547

1.   1.)    The reason I chose this video was because I was interested in knowing more about the art and architecture that came from, and survived, the 15^th and 16^th centuries throughout England in such a hard and bloody time.
2.   2.)    The key concepts of this video explain that some of the greatest art was created in this time. Throughout the 15^th and early 16^th centuries, extravagant cathedrals and parishes were built, many of them being the result of kings creating their own permanent churches, often trying to out-do the last. These cathedrals were excellent opportunities for architects to be able to create amazing works of art that they otherwise couldn’t possibly showcase on such luxurious and grand scale.  Some of the incredible artwork included religious images on stained glass windows, tapestries, tombs, sculptures, pendants, jewels and charms. Into these parishes went a lot of money, competitiveness, and good works - the idea that these pieces were good for your soul. Saint Georges Cathedral was very chivalric. Saint Mary’s Church in Warwick was a memorial church containing tombs and more. In this time, the Catholic religion was very big and the belief that you should live a good life and die a good death gave great love for these grandeur cathedrals filled with lavish, religious works of comfort. Throughout this time, with battles going on, there was much destruction. Stained glass was smashed, gold plates and chalices were melted, and sculptures were attacked. Only a fraction remains that survived this cultural disaster.
3.   3.)    The videos relate to the text because they both discuss the art and architecture, such as stained glass, sculptures, tapestries and others that were created at this time. They both explain the devastation that England experienced throughout the 15^th and 16^th centuries and how the art and architecture was effected. Although, the video was able to get into more detail of the works of art, the kings and the time period surrounding the topic.
4.   4.)    I enjoyed the film because I was able to see actual footage of the insides of these lavish cathedrals. The intricate designs throughout, especially on the ceilings. It is truly incredible to see what beautiful things people can design, especially so many years ago.

Module 7 - video blog review

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

In the video, Architecture: The Science of Design, one fact I learned is how skyscrapers are usually built with the use of concrete, cement and steel beams. One thing that the video points out is that concrete has good compression qualities but since it is a brittle material it fails under tension. For this reason, steel beams are also used because they have good tension resistance. When combined with concrete, it ensures that a building is safe from both compression and tension. In the video, Frank Lloyd Wright, The Man Who Built America, one of the many facts I learned about the architecture designs of Frank Lloyd Wright is that his buildings were a part of nature. One thing that it is impressive is his last architecture design, which was the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, is a circular building in a society where rectangular buildings are most common.

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

The videos are related to the textbook in the sense that the textbook talks about the same concepts of architectural design. However, the textbook talks more in detail about the different types of structures that exist outside the United States, gives more of a clear view of the actual drawings and designs of the supporting columns, as well as the foundation.

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

In my opinion the films were both good to watch and learn from because they help you to further understand what you read in the textbook. They added depth to the understanding of architecture and how architecture itself is its own type of art. Also, in architecture one can see aesthetic and creativity.

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

I choose the two videos because one speaks about the science behind architecture design, as far as, how are the structures built and what makes them safe for the general public to use. The other video I chose to watch, about Frank Lloyd Wright, was because in the past when I visited the Guggenheim museum in New York City I was fascinated with his work and I was curious to learn about his thought process behind designing and building it.

Module 6 - video review

Module 6 Video Review

1.) Through the eyes of a sculptor

In this video the key concepts that played into the creation of a sculpture are the aesthetics, the modeling, and the shape of the sculpture being created. Everything has to interact with the technicalities of the sculpture. for example, what marble can handle, how far can it be extended, how fragile it can be, the resistance and where it will be located (indoors/outdoors). By applying these concepts, Emanuel Fillion has become very successful as a sculptor. From his point of view these are the most important step to take in order to be successful in creating sculptures.


1.) Glass and Ceramics

This video is more technical, explaining the creation of glass and ceramics, as well as their applications. for example, glass is made from sand and is not a true solid. It more viscous and fragile. the applications in which it can be use in architecture, in art, it can be used as a source of insulation. Ceramics, on the other hand, start with a clay base, and the temperature in which is is cured plays a major role. For example, ceramics cooked at a temperature of 1100 degrees Fahrenheit, will create bricks. the same type of ceramic at 1500 degrees Fahrenheit will create plates, foundations for homes, and art designs.

2.)  In the videos, you get a view into the sculptors point of view and process. In the book, you get the same information, but it gets into more details, separated into 4 different steps. The steps describes are modeling, carving, casting and assembly. The book says that "modeling and assembly are considered additive processes. The sculptor begins with a simple framework or core or nothing at all and add materials until the sculpture is finished.Carving is a subtractive process in which one starts with a mass of material larger than the planned sculpture and subtracts, or takes away, material until only the desired form remains. Casting involves a mold of some kind into which liquid or semiliquid material is poured and allowed to harden." This information is how the videos and the text relate.

3.) My opinion on the videos is that they helped me to understand the processes further of creating both sculptures as well as glass and ceramics. One of the things i realized is that a sculptor can actual use both glass and ceramics to add to the aesthetics of the sculpture. Also, I learned a lot about the different applications that exist for these materials, outside of being used for art alone, such as within architecture and for practical uses.

Module 6 - Reviewing Peer Responses to Artwork

1.)
https://fundamentallyart.blogspot.com/2018/09/module-5-pianting-picking.html


https://fundamentallyart.blogspot.com/2018/09/module-3.html?showComment=1538936112378#c3777229068564636495



https://artclasschamp.blogspot.com/2018/09/albright-knox-art-gallery.html?showComment=1538937146148#c446919882355257126


https://artclasschamp.blogspot.com/2018/09/art-project.html?showComment=1538937507144#c7906448116266631004


2.) With one of the artists, I didn't agree with some of their choices for the photos taken and the elements/principles chosen for them. I feel that many of them could have been categorized differently or could have at least fallen into more than one of the categories. With the second artists photos I agreed very much with their choices and really enjoyed looking through the photos. There were a few I was actually quite impressed by.

3.) Neither of my peers chose the same artworks as I did in my blog from the art gallery visit. There were paintings in my peers blog that I saw at the gallery, but not ones I choose to write about.

4.) Yes, there were some pieces of art that interest me. In particular, Maybe This Time It's The Angel Of Death from the Little Dancer series because of its deep reds and the very bright angel. I found this piece to be so beautiful and full of meaning. It mostly caught my eye because I love the colors, but there is a little boy cowering by the wall, staring at the angel. The title and the image give you a lot to think about, which left me very curious. I would love to know what gallery this was at, what the meaning of the piece is and I would also love to see more by the artist, Jonathan Rogers.

5.) I think it was interesting and helpful to read my peers blogs and to get a view of other students take on the projects. One of my peers went to a different art gallery than I, so it was interesting to see art that I did not view on my visit. The other student went to the same gallery and noticed some pieces that did not catch my attention. I found this process to be helpful and valuable.

6.) I enjoyed reading the comments on my blog, I may have missed the requirement to blog about my photos from the elements and principles, which someone pointed out. Its nice to get feedback on work you do, especially from other people who are doing the same.