Mia's Blog

Digital Pictures of Color

2008-03-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

While trying to learn about color we did an activity in which we were set into groups to document color in it's everyday use. We walked around the area surrounding the Georgetown campus and took photos with a digital camera of various uses of color. It was basically impossible for anyone to find this activity challenging because color is so prevelent in our lives. We automatically had some form of attraction to the color red for obvious reasons one being the boldness of the color. This is also why it is used in society to an extreme degree. We found through our study that red was primarily used as a warning color, for example stop signs and warning labels.

Athough we also found the color on advertisements which is somewhat the opposite intent of the other examples. It is still logical of course to use the color red for advertisement because of it's ability to capture attention. We documented this by taking a picture of a row of coca-cola bottles that lined a shelf in eistien's.

While I understand the intent of the activity, I didn't find it helpful. I couldn't help but find that every idea presented was common sense or common knowledge. That is just my personal opinion, it may have been very useful for others. Also I think our group focused on the color red far to much, and in result I no longer want to speak of it.

color wheel

2008-02-21T12:49:00.000-08:00

While most thought the color wheel was terribly redundant, I found it a bit useful due to my lack of experience with paint and mixing paints. Unlike many I had never had to create a color wheel, and although most of it was common sense I found mixing the colors good practice. I also lack experience in painting in general, never having painted except for maybe elementary school. Surprisingly I am a fine arts major so I figure I should learn basics sometime soon so this was rather good timing. While towards the end it was extremely monotonous, I can say that a learned some basic skills I had been lacking.

Logos

2007-12-06T11:11:00.001-08:00

The logo is something that is necessary in the world of advertisement. It is a simplified image that translates the purpose of the business it represents. It in most cases is a simple silhouette such as the one above.

gestalt

2007-12-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

Gestalt

2007-12-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

Gestalt has many definitions, but the one that applies to our studies is the idea that a configuration of patterns is greater than the sum of it's parts. While the individual parts of a image may be useless or meaningless by themselves , when combined with other units it creates a meaning that would not be possible without the individual units.

Conceptual Proposal

2007-12-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

My conceptual project was one that was centered around basic observation and documentation of a changing environment. I proposed that every day a picture should be taken of a room in student housing over a year span. After getting the pictures they should be displayed chronologically on a board. This makes it simple for the viewer to identify the shifts and changes in the environment. This idea I must admit has been exhausted and is not so original.

Sol Lewitt

2007-11-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

The Sol Lewitt piece production was an excellent way for us, as students to learn one aspect of conceptual art. The Lewitt approach was much more focused on pattern and reassembling the same patterns into a larger piece which were different every time. While I did not find any fufilment in the final piece, I understood and found interest in the actual movement and action creating the piece. The idea of every person getting the same set of tools but ending up with all different results is something that I find intriguing to say the least.

Performance Proposal

2007-11-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

While I originally thought my proposal was simplistic and easily performed, I soon realized alterations were necessary. I overestimated the relationships between the performers therefor they could not capture each other's characters. So my proposal transformed into more of a game, in which one person posed and shut their eyes and their partner imitated. Then the partners switch roles, so on and so forth. It was successful after the alterations but failed in it's original state. I am not a huge fan of these types of activities.

Performance Art

2007-11-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

The first activity that I participated in was Paulette's. The activity involved my partner and I locking hands and spinning in circles until we gave up. This was unfortunate for both my partner Maggie and I because neither of us were feeling very well. This lead to us doing two spins and quitting. With maybe more energy, the activity would have been more successful. The next activity I participated in was the boat drawing activity. I made the mistake of continuing my first line past where it should have gone, but I like to think I redeemed myself by the end. Anyway after finishing the boat drawing I compared it to my partner, Ian's, boat drawing. His was much more interesting due to the fact he went outside the guidelines. Then I had to participate in Bart's activity in which Hernan, Amanda, and I stood in a circle guessing fabric. It was ok, a bit confusing.

Mirror Activity

2007-10-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

So basically what we did was hold a mirror in the position that we could see our partner's face. We imitated what our partner was doing, while walking further and further away from each other. Your focus had to be only on your partner, who was in essence imitating what you were doing. Because we were unaware of what face we were making, we relied on our partner to mimick our expression. This process became terribly circular until, in a perfect result we would be creating the same face. This was an example of performance art, in that the participators were the tools that portrayed a function necessary for it to become art. Because of the weather it was not terribly enjoyable, but it still accomplished what it was intended to. Besides for finding it rather ridiculous, I just was cold.

Duchamp

2007-10-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Duchamp has created a world all his own, and sadly a logic only his own along with it. While art is said to be meant to push barriers of reality and create a new vision, Duchamp seems to have trouble translating it to the viewer. One major problem you can pin point is the fact that he had to publish an explanation. Art is supposed to convey it's meaning visually, Duchamp's viewers were stuck with a visual that had to be backed up verbally almost defeating the purpose. While there are successful pieces of abstract artwork, their success hinges on the fact that the viewers is permitted their own interpretation. The problem with Duchamp was that he had such a specific meaning and purpose for the work, that in fact viewer interpretations were wrong. Having a specific meaning is fine as long as it can be conveyed visually, Duchamp has to explain his idea in a terribly long essay, which in result loses the interest of the viewer.
I can admire Duchamps deeply thought out "logic", his idea is complex and relates to the interaction of these fictional pretenses. None the less there is almost no relation to any idea that a viewer could grasp just by viewing the piece. This is another problem when I am reading Duchamp's notes on his own piece, I do not see the humor he finds so evident in the work. Perhaps I could understand the humor if I intensely studied his logic and writings, but without that information I am rather useless. As far as the male to female attraction thing goes, the logic is so foreign in general that the idea of attraction in Duchamp's mind is incomprehensible.
There is a line between abstract and insanity, and I believe Duchamp is teetering on that line. I may be terribly ignorant but I think visual communication is key, and that if you cannot portray a feeling or thought on the material given then you have slightly failed. While I think the piece is visually interesting, I think Duchamp fell short at getting his back story across through his art.

Pattern Making

2007-10-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

I found this rather frustrating, but the end result was semi satisfactory. The hardest part I found was the lining up of the patterns and making symmetry work in my favor. Although I believe I might have screwed up with the directions, I'm pretty sure I got the basic concept of the activity. The activity also helped me learn more about illustrator, and made me a little more comfortable with the software.

Gestalt

2007-10-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

Gestalt is translated in many different ways but essentially means; A collection of physical, biological, psychological or symbolic entities that creates a unified concept, configuration or pattern which is greater than the sum of its parts. For example when you can use to smaller concepts and combine them into a whole piece that corresponds in some way to the other co-part.

2007-09-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

String Activity

2007-09-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

The string activity was an interesting approach to a lesson on simple lines and the way they interact. While I found the concept of the activity rather enjoyable, the untangling ruined most of the fun I could have had. Everytime I went to tangle a string I found myself always thinking of how tedious it would be untangling the same string. Being a terribly lazy person I hesitated on knotting the string over and over purposely avoiding clean up. It was also nice because it was a good contrast to the lecture type style of teaching. The activity provied not only information but also provided a visual that was tangible.

Lines/Shapes

2007-09-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Which of the images are lines?
a,b, and c
Which of the images are shapes?
a,b,c, and d
What makes a line?
A line is a marking that can vary in size and thickness and also has a starting and ending point.
What makes a shape?
A shape is a form that has no recognizable starting and ending point, and in result is a more complex figure.

Kandinsky

2007-09-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

Towards the center of the piece the forms are more round and the angles are less severe. The form with the purest and most vibrant color seems to be centered in the middle in a horizontal direction. There are about nine black lines all of which have a slight curve and vary in thickness. The black lines also contrast and overlap on the rounder more vibrant forms underneath. As you reach the edges of the canvas the forms seem to get larger and have less interference or overlapping. There are contrasting shapes, for instance there is a red half circle and a blue petal shape overlapping the purple rectangle. The black lines seem to be used as dividers in a shape by separating through the use of different colors. The artist used both warm and cool colors, but all colors used are very vibrant. Some shapes such as the red half circle and the blue petal shape have a bit of a white glow surrounding their edges.
The choice of vibrant colors makes me think the artist wanted to create excitment or an ecstatic feeling. But, because of the white glow and curved forms there is a sense of control which eliminates any frenetic thoughts the vibrant colors might arouse. This piece has an intentionally playful spirit that is shown through the color scheme as well as the rounded and loose forms. The color variation also shows the artist's intent to keep atenttion, which is also true with the variation of lines and forms. The piece as a whole has a laid back tone without being sloppy.
Personally I do not appreciate this piece. I find the bright randomness of the colors to be a somewhat shallow attempt at keeping the viewers' attention. While I like the idea of the contrast in shape and lines, the lack of symmetery and evenness made the black lines look like a careless after thought. The colors succeed at catching my attention, but stop short of making me interested in the meaning or concept of the piece. The playful facade is entertaining for a few moments but then I end up finding myself looking for something more tangible. I have trouble relating because the piece is so abstract, which again loses my attention.