Sunday, February 28, 2016

Logo

1.    Discuss what you thought about creating your logo.
I really enjoyed creating my logo: it allowed me to focus on the important objects within my life, and use those objects in trying to describe myself. I knew from the beginning that my design would involve musical instruments, but I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to utilize them.
2.    Describe the process: creative thinking skills and ideas you used in the logo creation.
I started my logo design with the idea that I would use a guitar and microphone crossing: to ensure that the logo would be balanced; however, I knew that I wanted to include more elements, but I wasn’t positive on how. In my second design I decided to maybe place a music staff wrapping around these two objects, but I felt it was redundant. When I realized that I should use the staff as a banner for my initials, the rest just fell into place. I placed a flaming heart behind these two objects, and felt that the logo was sufficiently balanced.
3.    What was the most important discovery you made in the creation of your logo?
The most important discovery I made in creating my logo was the interaction between different utensils. I originally designed the complete logo in charcoal pencils, but decided to use sharpies to accentuate certain objects, but also, to add more contrast. The use of sharpie over the heart was very subtle, due to the consistency of the charcoal underneath it,, but where the charcoal was used at a minimum(side of guitar), it allowed me to shade with more precision, and less bleed.
4.    What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos, powerpoint, and reading material  for this project? What is your opinion of the videos?

I found the information in the research material to be very helpful in designing my logo. The most important things I learned through the material was the importance of picking a logo that translates well across several mediums, and is scalable. Also, it is important to know your demographic, and whether the product logo will translate well across cultural lines.  In the Marmite video: as well as the Graphic Design video, I learned a lot and found the informational to be relevant and playful: I really enjoyed both of them.




Questions

Janet Fish (A
  A.    The Oil on Canvas scenery in Gustave Courbet’s “ La Source la Loue” intrigued me: To me, it illustrates the allure of the unknown. The ripples in the water make the viewer question, what is on the other side of this painting?  As the water appears to be flowing away from the darkness. Also, what is the light source illuminating the walls? The ominous entry into the cave leaves me asking many questions, as to whether the artist is trying to convey the power of the unknown, or something else. Erin Shirreff’s “drop ( no 14)” was the second thing that really intrigued me. This piece truly demonstrated the how versatile and nuianced different types of steel could appear. Using hot-rolled, cold-rolled and Cor-ten Steel, Shirreff contrasts these subtle differences through color and placement. The largest piece of steel on the right appears to have been cold and hot rolled in different sections: which changes the color and reflective quality. In addition, each piece of steel appears to have small striations from the rolling process: which feels purposefully arranged, so that the pieces can further contrast which each other. The reason this piece intrigues me is because it demonstrates the versatility, and nuisances of the medium: it feels very architectural and intentional in the way everything is arranged.

.     B.  To me, the two pieces that I felt a connection with both had one thing in common: music. Georges Braque, “Still Life on a Mantelpiece” demonstrates the relationship between music and life.  Braque achieves this by blurring the lines between the objects and background.  The music sheets in this painting, transform into the background; and the guitar neck breaks into obscure shapes, and is outlined with the same textured black as the background. Braque creates so many layers, that is becomes harder to discern what is the object, and what is the background. I believe this resonates with me, because it demonstrates how engrained music is in society.  My favorite piece of work, at the Albright-Knox was William Harnett;s “Music and Literature.” In my opinion, this Oil on Canvas piece demonstrates the frustration of writing music. The first thing I noticed was how the books were book-marked and carelessly piled: as though the subject who placed them was scattering to find something of meaning within the books. Harnett also conveys that the subject spent much time at this desk, because the candle has burned down to the bottom. The other thing that I noticed was the condition of the music sheet: it appears as if the writer has been fighting with this specific piece. All the other sheets are properly rolled, but one sheet  appears to be tattered, torn, folded, and stained: This illustrates that the subject has had a particular hard time with this sheet.

C.      Upon viewing Paul Gaugin’s “Le Christ jaune,” I became very curious about this oil on canvas painting. The scenery depicted in this painting leaves me questioning the artists intention. Was it to demonstrate this prominence of Christianity in Europe? Also, what is the significance of these colors typical to Fall? While I appreciated the color profile of this painting, I just don’t understand the significance of it.  The oil on canvas painting, by Janet Fish, “After Leslie Left,” also left me puzzled to the intention of this piece. The title insinuates that maybe a woman or cleaner had left, and this is the only trace of her existence left, but is the artist trying to convey her sadness for the things Leslie represented, or is she stating something else? Also, what significance does the bowl hold? It’s obvious that Leslie performed the roles of a wife/lover, or cleaner, but the presence of the bowl with bananas is maybe a reference to something that only the artist can divulge. 





, born 1938). After Leslie Left, 1983–84. Oil on canvas

Saturday, February 20, 2016

4

1. I really enjoyed creating the Value Scale and Color Wheel. I decided to try a 12 point color scale, just for the challenge: my orange didn't turn out that great, but it was an extremely informative procedure. The value scale was also enjoyable, and it didnt realize how hard it would be to make the charcoal shading consistant.
2. I enjoyed the color wheel the most, because it felt to be more artistic: even though, it was also quick procedural. 
3. the most important discovery in creating both of these was the understanding of how much technique is required in creating artwork in any medium. There is a very fine line in blending colors, and its hard to gauge how the color will appear when dry. 
4. I really enjoyed both videos and the most important thing i learned was the impact of hardness or pressure when shading. I am going to keep practicing with my charcoal pencils to perfect the technique.








Sunday, February 14, 2016

Slideshow

http://s393.photobucket.com/user/mattedwards2686/library/Slideshow%20Project


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I really enjoyed participating in this project: it allowed me to be creative and explore the city; however, the weather was brutal, so I kept my outdoor photos to a minimum. I liked re-examining and rearranging the objects within my living space: it facilitated a creative environment: where I could analysis various objects and their characteristics.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Module 3

              1.The concept that color is nothing that any item intrinsically possesses; rather it is the way in which light is absorbed or refracted is absolutely intriguing. The effect of color on our emotions is a fascinating area of research, given the complexities and variables of its effect. The meaning of any given color can be so diverse and multifaceted in the viewers emotional response and interpretation; aside, from the cultural differences that different colors are synonymous with.
              2.The most fascinating aspect of color for me is how fluid and delicate it can be; in relation to the environment, and our perception. In the Color video, the artist who was painting a landscape in Venice had troubles replicating the same emotion with the same color palette, because the lighting was different in her studio.  
3. In the Color video, the biggest impact to me was Mark Rothko’s commission for the Four Seasons Restaurant. The depth and emotion illustrated in his painting were intentionally made to feel patrons feel cluster phobic and uncomfortable; which I believe Rothko achieved in his final product. His ability to convey these particular emotions; specifically, discomfort is noteworthy, due to the fact that Rothko relied on intuition.
4.The transition during the Renaissance from religious art into humanistic art represents not only shift in the perceptions and purposes of art, but also dynamic shifts in the techniques, colors, and mediums artists use to portray emotion. Da Vinci exemplifies these differences in the Mona Lisa. He accentuates her individuality by literally making her radiate; which previously was only used to illustrate the power in God; therefore, I surmise that it is the context and techniques that elicit an emotional effect for me.