Reflections of this course....

My expectations for this class were definitely met. My main goal was to learn about art and get some more experience with it. I have never had any experience with it and have only gone to a few museums, but have never really looked in depth at the pieces I was looking at. I didn't expect this much work coming in, but the work wasn't difficult it was just stuff you had to put sometime into to be able to finish and get a good grade.

After going through this course, I would define art as a creative piece that is used to entertain and connect an emotion with the viewer. The idea is to portray what is going on in the artist's life, mind, or the world at the point in time, but it is up to them to be able to evaluate it any way you need to. Art isn't just something that hangs on a wall. It can be something we see everyday like an advertisement for a store or a billboard that is placed on the side of the road. Art is a lot more than a simple response.

In my first response I didn't really have a favorite artist because I wasn't very into art and didn't really know much about it. I think if you were to ask me today I couldn't pick a favorite artist, not because I don't know anyone, but because every artist is different and shows something different through their art. Not every artist is going to paint the same way and paint for the same reasons, I don't think I have a favorite anymore because there are still so many to choose from.

My answer in regard to taking an online class is still the same. I have taken online classes before and I wasn't concerned with how it was going to go because the work is a lot and you have to make sure you are prepared to do it and do it on time. I am a very organized and time management person so these classes are difficult for me. I have considered using the extension policy, but I had never had to use it for this class and although it would've been nice to have, I was able to finish everything on time with the best of my ability and maintain a great grade. I still have the same opinion about online classes, They are far from easy, but just like a regular class I was able to learn a lot.

Gallery Visit #3

This week it was difficult to get to a art gallery especially with finals be underway and for me almost over. This semester has been challenging and busy, but I have loved every minute of learning new things, meeting new people, and adjusting to a new school. But, for this final what I loved was the fact that I learned a lot about art. For the gallery I visited, I checked out the Google Arts and Culture Female Artists self-portrait gallery. The portraits were wonderful and definitely not what I expected from an online gallery. The first piece that I used for inspiration was Judith Lester's Self-Portrait painted in 1630 as an oil on canvas. The second piece I choose for inspiration was the "Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting" by Artemisia Gentileschi in 1638 and 1639 as an oil on canvas. The third piece I chose as my inspiration piece was The self-portrait of Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun painted in 1781 as another oil and canvas painting.  I chose these pieces because I feel like they are what I wanted to do something more realistic piece. I didn't do oil on canvas because that would have been a tad difficult and I am definitely not an artist, but I wanted to show something similar. I chose to draw my piece in pencil because it was the easiest way to erase mistakes (which I knew I was going to make). It was an inexpensive and quick way to know that I had some way to be able to make sure I could erase and fix any particular errors that would be made.

My biggest challenge with my self-portrait was the fact that I know nothing about being an artist or drawing so I didn't know really how to start or how to create a self-portrait. I did my best! I overcame this obstacle by just drawing an realizing that it didn't matter how much it looked like my piece as long as it looked similar and was somewhat of a self-portrait it would be okay. It was an extremely difficult to be able to pick the picture of what to use, but I overcame this by searching through selfies that I had taken in the past. This piece represents me because obviously it is me and I love that way I look in this initial picture. The picture I had based it off of is also a picture I took while visiting my brother in Missouri and the first time I have ever been to Missouri. It represents me and how I am an open book, plain and simple with how things work. Honestly, this piece didn't intrigue me as much just because I am not a artist so for me what I was more focused on was making it somewhat resemble the picture I had initially chose. I am truly impressed with my final piece!!! It may not be the exact same or a very close piece, but for me I think it was a good start and a good thing. I really am happier than I thought I was going to be with the final product. I had thought it was going to be a lot work.

For my piece I was able to use value and the contrast between the gray pencil and the paper. I didn't use color because I know it makes my piece look a little more amateur which I am. I wanted it to represent the artist. Color would've also given a way my eye color more, but the way I did it the darkness of the eyes stands out to the viewer. I do love my smile also so the value and contrast between the white and the darkened pencil marks help draw attention to this area as well. Using black and white I didn't use too many of the art elements and principles and just the two really of value and contrast in this piece.

Reflection of the exhibit....

I loved being able to create the exhibit. At first it was difficult to think of what I wanted to create an entire art exhibit on. But, after googling a few ideas one of the things that popped up was creating something about a natural wonder or a local landmark.  I automatically thought of Letchworth State Park. We are so lucky to live so close to this natural wonder of the world that most people will never get to see. But, we take advantage of this opportunity and don't cherish the beauty that comes from it.

No, this wasn't easy because finding pictures that truly did the natural wonder justice was difficult and I struggle with selecting the perfect ones. Plus, I wasn't sure what the theme was going to be other than Letchworth. But, I decided it was going to be showing the serenity and calmness that can come from being alone and experiencing something beautiful. We don't put down our electronics or put aside our lives enough to see what we are really missing out on. I loved this project and once I got started it was hard to stop. It did take me two hours to complete the whole thing especially with having to analyze and interpret each piece. But, I think it opened my eyes. I chose the background  I did because it doesn't take a way from the color of the pictures. It actually helps emphasize the colors I am trying to portray. I loved the light brown and the bold dark lettering. It all just comes together and I think if I was to actually create this exhibit in a gallery it would be amazing. I have never understood art and truly appreciated it until I was expose d to this class.