Module 11

1. I selected to watch the Dada and Surrealism video and the Expressionism video. I chose these two videos because I wanted to learn more about each concept. I have heard the terms used before but I did not know the details of each.

2. Key concepts I learned were the different images that demonstrate each concept. I liked how the videos used artists examples of each concept and how the artists uses and expresses that concept. Most of the works of art, I have never seen before so it was interesting to learn new pieces and to learn the details of the works.

3. The videos relate to the readings in the text by going into further detail about each concept and showing works of art that relate. I think it is helpful to see works of art and relate it back to the readings as well as the videos going into more detail about each concept and each work of art. The text explains concepts and the videos do the same but on a more detailed scale.

4. I always like watching the films because I prefer them over reading. It is always helpful to get a better understanding of the topic than just what the text is stating. Again, I think incorporating various works of art into the videos adds a greater understanding to the concepts of expressionism, surrealism, and the dada movement.

module 9

1. I liked using my hand at the subject for a drawing. I feel like tracing hands is common when your learning to use a pencil and draw and tracing shapes. So, this was adding to that by looking at the lines in my hand and the shape of my fingers. I am not a good drawer so I was interested in how it would turn out.

2. I chose to use pencil for my media. I mostly chose this because it was the only utensil I had available besides a pen. I have never used charcoal before.

3. Creating a drawing with my non dominant hand was hard. I can barely draw with my dominant hand so using my left (non dominant want) was definitely a task. It was hard to put shape where I wanted to because I am not use to drawing with that hand.

4. Looking at my finished drawings I think they are successful. They actually turned out better than I thought they would since I cannot draw at all. My non dominant hand came out better than I thought as well. I thought it would end up not looking like a hand at all. Overall, I think my hand drawings are successful studies.

5. I would not use my non dominant hand in the future because I had a hard time doing this. I feel like I grip the pencil wrong and it is harder to add shape where it is needed. Although my non dominant hand drawing turned out fair, I would stick to using my dominant hand in the future.

Module 6: Video Review

1. Key concepts I learned in both videos was the processes of each type of art. Glass making, ceramics, sculpture, installation, and craft. For sculptures, I wasn't aware of the long process in first picking stone and what needs to be done during that process and after. I learned just how much time and effort is put into making sculptures and other forms of art. In the glass and ceramics video I learned the difference between the two which I wasn't aware of. They are both created with fire but ceramics usually have a clay base. I also learned that heating ceramics at different temperatures creates different types of ceramics.

2. The videos put a visual to what they text is stating. The videos went into more detail of the process and exposed the steps that go into creating various forms of physical art. I think the videos putting visual to the text allows me to fully understand the process instead of just reading and creating a process in my head, the videos help me see what happens when making sculptures, glass, ceramics, etc.

3. I like watching the videos because I learn better that way. It personally takes me forever to read because I have to reread things and especially going over the sculpting process and such, it was better for me to see how it is done rather than reading.

Module 6

1. http://blogging-my-art.blogspot.com
http://lilymac334.blogspot.com/

2. When looking at project #1 I think most pictures have more than one element in them. This is something Kayla stated in her blog posting which I agree with. I think the pictures she used fit well with the element she chose. The same was for Lily's post. She explained how one of her pictures had about 4 different elements in it but she also explained why she chose the one specific element for that picture. I agree with their elements and I think in each person depending on what you see first, you can see a different element than what was originally noted on the picture.

3. I didn't get a chance to make it to an art gallery so I didn't have any pictures that were the same as my own. I did however look at the images both Kayla and Lily took from their visit and noticed they had a few of the same pictures. I think this is interesting because of all the works in the gallery they had similar interests or works that caught their eye.

4. Body and Soul was one work of art that stood out to me. This was in both blogs that I read and I think it is one image that stands out to a number of people. I think this is why I connected with it, it was reoccurring and I enjoyed it every time I saw it. Another work of art that interested me was Kill Yourself. I don't get what the artists message is and I would like to know the meaning behind this work. I noted that the shapes and colors the artist uses is unexpected from what the text reads. I would like to know the decision making process behind this work of art.

5. I enjoyed reading other students blog postings. I think it is good to view other peoples work to reflect on my own. I enjoyed seeing the different images for the various elements since there is so many and they can be used in different ways. I liked that I could look at pictures and responses at the same time rather than just reading a discussion post. I think this process helps you connect more.

Module five

This is an image of my sketches for my logo. I chose the one on the top left to do as a final. The one on the bottom right as well, just adding color in my final image.

This is an image of my final with color.

1. At first I wasn't sure what type of logo I wanted or what I wanted to draw. I really think I am not creative so I knew my logo would be really simple. I also am not a good drawer so that was another reason why I knew I would be taking a more simple route.

2. For my logo I wanted to incorporate images I tend to draw whenever I have a pen/pencil and paper. Usually if I am bored or something I will write my name and hearts at least 20 times (I don't know why). Another thing that I thought of was my first tattoo. This was a suggestion in the directions and my first tattoo has a heart incorporated into it. This is why I chose the heart. I chose to do the letter T for my name to represent myself. I knew my logo would be simple for the reason stated in my first response so I connected the two images as so.

3. I discovered that I am really into hearts for some reason. I have a tattoo with a heart incorporated into it and in the case of my tattoo and my logo I created, I feel the heart represents love. I know that a heart usually means this, but it can also mean different things. I didn't realize how often I draw hearts and I really don't know where it came from but I have always done it in any of my notebooks throughout school.

4. I thought it was interesting that the bottle image of the company was unchanged for 103 years. I also didn't know the process the companies have to go through when changing their image. It made me realize just how attached to images and logos people are. When you're walking down an isle of a store you look for that same bottle with the same colors and the same logo, change that up and a customer can bypass your product. I thought it was interesting the focus groups they had to put together to almost create a brand new product that wouldn't lose preexisting customers.

Module Three

1. Specific colors have cultural and/or individual associations. These associations have affects on emotions as well. For example, in certain context, red can mean danger while in other contexts in can mean love. The context provides clues to a color's meaning. Another way color has effects on emotions is how blue is not associated with many foods. I thought this was interesting and something I did not really think about. Blue is associated as a appetite suppressant. Therefore, more foods are reds and other colors. These are examples of how color effects emotions.

2. The theoretical aspect of color that most intrigues/fascinates me is schemes. I chose this one because color schemes are used everywhere, more than I realized. I also did not realize how color schemes come about. Using different areas of the color wheel to create different schemes is interesting to me. Another thing that interested me about schemes is that the values and intensities of selected colors affect emotions and the associative impact. This can be seen in creating a scheme for a room when decorating. This is why schemes are most intriguing for me.

3. In the color video, June Redfern's painting when she was on the bridge in front of the water, had to biggest impact on me. I thought it was interesting that she said she likes the peace and quiet when she was on the bridge painting and I noticed how she started her painting with red, orange, and yellows. I think her mood of peace and quite is associated with the colors she chose to start with. Later in the video, she notes that red is a good ground to start on but I think when she was painting on the bridge I noticed how it was quiet and calm and the colors she was using when she was explaining her mood.

4. Jacques-Louis David's painting of the Renaissance had to biggest impact on me. As the video stated, I was not familiar with the story. When it was further explained, the colors and shapes and framing puts focus on the action. It is dark all around the men and behind the action taking place and puts a focal point on what the artist wants to be the center of attention. This is also a dark and sort of negative action and story so darker colors are used. There are not many bright colors used in this painting and this sets the tone of a darker story.

Module 2

1. Key concepts I learned are the aesthetics of art and the different theories of it. Different artists hold a different style and view of how art is made, interpreted, created, etc. and the aesthetics of that are very important. I also learned that how individuals interpret are come from their own experiences and feelings. This can be how their brain works, what they see, and how they feel. Each individual has their own way to interpret works of art. Some see colors first, others lines and shapes, others cannot see color. This makes way for a variety of opinions and feelings towards works of art. In this module I mostly learned that there are different ways to appeal to different individuals and that personal experiences and feelings have a lot to do with how they interpret a work of art.

2. I feel that Francis Hutcherson's (18th century) theory on aesthetics is most important. He emphasizes on the beauty, harmony, order and design. He believes that human beings have a sense of beauty and harmony. I think this is the most important because this is what I learned most in module 2, that each person has their own sense of what is art and what is beauty and what they interpret as good art. I feel that Francis Hutcherson's theory relates most to these concepts.

3. The most interesting fact about Changeux's lecture was that he stated "art makes us aware of oneself as another". I thought this was interesting because art can make an individual realize, think, and interpret ideas in ways they would not ordinarily. I think this means that an individual can figure out different parts of their personality and learn more about themselves through art.
The most interesting fact about Ramachandran's lecture was his explanations of how art is creating images which stimulate different parts of the brain. This was interesting to me because there are many ways to view different pieces of art. I liked his simple example of how people can see a drawn cube in a different way. Put that on a larger scale, and an individual can see a work of art very different from another just by the way their brain works and what stimulates their brain.

4. The videos and the articles relate to the text because they further explain the aesthetics of art and how art is interpreted. I think what I learned most in this module is how art is interpreted on many levels, such as the brain, through they eyes, and how emotion and experiences play into interpretation as well.

5. I enjoyed the article. It helped me further understand the mental and how the brain works in reference to art. I personally learn or "pay attention" more to text than I do a video so I learned more from the additional article than the video. The video was helpful in getting definitions that relate to art and how it can be broken down. Some of it was hard to follow but I think the articles and the video take what the text states and added more in depth information which allows for a overall greater understanding of the topics addressed in this module.