Why do people make art?

At the beginning of last term I asked you to consider several questions:
Who is an artist? What does it mean to be creative? and What does an artist need to be productive and creative?
You wrote very thoughtful responses on your blog. We discussed these ideas in class and you practiced much of what we discussed in the weeks following.

At the beginning of this new term, let's ponder a new and perhaps more difficult question...
Ever since the beginning of time (see below), people have been making pictures, making art...but why?
WHY, DO YOU THINK, DO PEOPLE MAKE ART?
Answer this question as thoughtfully and thoroughly as you can on your blog.

Reflecting on the 4 Hour Project.

You have been working on a very short project here at the end of the term.
It is quite different from anything else we've done so far this year.

On your blog, describe how you feel the project is different from the others we've done and how that has impacted the work you've done.

Describe your process. How has it been going? What has happened along the way? Be specific.

The more you write, the more I know about what you think, the better I can assess your learning so...write a lot. Be descriptive.

The Book Project...progress and planning.

On YOUR blog, DESCRIBE your original plans for The Book Project.
What's the story you're trying to tell?
Then write about how it's going...what challenges have you faced so far?
What's going well? What isn't?

Drawing the Human Figure From the Inside Out.

Today you made a series of drawings of the human figure.

In your own words, describe what the goals for today's drawings were.
How well did you achieve these goals? Give specific examples from your process and/or from the finished drawing. You might even describe what challenges you faced.

Shades of gray.

Today you made a charcoal drawing of light and dark objects using additive and reductive techniques.

In your own words, describe what the goals for today's drawing were.
How well did you achieve these goals? Give specific examples from your process and/or from the finished drawing. You might even describe what challenges you faced.

Studying Nighthawks...for a discussion on Wednesday 10/28/09

This is a painting called Nighthawks. It was made by an American artist named Edward Hopper.
This week we're going to study this painting in depth.
1.
Begin by pasting this picture into a post on your blog and labelling it with:

• title
• the artist's name
• where the artist is from
• the year it was made
• and what medium was used to make the work

2.
Write your first impressions of the painting. What do you see?
3.
Do a little research on this painting (there's lots of info on the web about it). Try clicking here or here if you need a little help. Who was Edward Hopper? Why did he make this painting? What is it really all about?
4.
Now...as we study the principles of design this week add your analysis of the painting to your post. Describe HOW the artist uses The Principles of Design to communicate his ideas. Be as specific as you can in your description.
5.
USE THIS POST AS A WAY TO BE PREPARE FOR A DISCUSSION OF THIS PAINTING IN CLASS ON WEDNESDAY 10/28/09.

Finding images that are balanced.

Find four images on the internet each representing a different type of balance. Paste the pictures into a post on your blog and label each one to show which type of balance is being represented.

The Principles of Design

Today we will discuss The Principles of Design.
On your blog you should create a post in which you'll take notes on the new vocabulary you learn.
Vocabulary words you should know are in bold in the presentation.

You will continue to add to this post over the next few classes as we build our knowledge of The Principles of Design.

Be sure to check the labels below.

Reflecting at mid-term.

Today in class we discussed the skills we've developed so far this term.

Now, on your blog, carefully and thoughtfully write a paragraph that describes the progress you've made so far this term as an artist.

Make sure to:

• refer to the lists we made at the beginning of the term about "who is an artist?" and "what it means to be creative".
• refer to the rubric you just filled out in class.
• refer specifically to things you've made or done in and out of class.
  

Reflecting on Found Object Sculptures.

Insert a picture of your Found Object Sculpture (found on Picasa) into a post on your blog.

Describe how you began. What object inspired your project? What were the formal qualities it possessed that inspired you to turn it into something else?

Describe any feedback you got from the scavenger hunt conversation we had in class today.

Keeping in mind the original expectations for the project and the conversation we had in class today, describe what about your sculpture is successful and what you could have done differently.

What's in the Sack?

Today you made a drawing of bags filled with different materials.

In your own words, describe what the goals for today's drawing were.
How well did you achieve these goals? Give specific examples from your process and/or from the finished drawing. You might even describe what challenges you faced.

The Changing Still Life

The goal for today's drawing was to keep up with the changes that were happening to the still life so that your drawing always looked just like the still life did.

On YOUR blog, DESCRIBE IN DETAIL at least three things you had to do to accomplish this goal.

The Potential of Found Objects.

Below you see a group of sculptures made from found objects similar to the ones we've been "playing" with so far this week.

On your blog write in response to the following questions:
What is it about objects or parts of objects that gives them the potential to become a part of a sculpture like the ones you see below. In other words how or why did the artists choose the objects they did? Use specific examples from the pictures below.

(note: if you click on the pictures you can see them larger)

Reflecting on my first critique.

On your blog describe BOTH the positive AND critical feedback you got on your story collage/drawing during the critique today. Then answer the following question...How did it feel to get feedback from your classmates today?

The work of Ingrid Calame

Take 6 minutes to watch this video and then...
1. On YOUR blog answer the following question: Does this seem familiar?
2. THEN describe:
-who Ingrid Calame is
-HOW she makes her paintings
-WHY she makes her paintings the way she does
3. THEN post a picture of a painting made by Ingrid Calame that you appreciate and describe why you appreciate it.

Reflecting on the first full week.

Here's what we've done over the past week and a half:

• describing a work of art (with the postcards...)
  

• collaborative drawings (with the penguin, remember?)
• pour paintings (remember the mess?)
  
• mapping the still life (draw, but don't)

On your blog answer the following question:
What do all these activities have in common?
Feel free to think of more than one thing and be sure to be specific and describe what you mean in detail.

Re-visiting observation/description activity.

Last week you attempted to describe your observation of a famous painting so that someone else could draw it. Look at the results (the person's drawn version) carefully.

On YOUR blog describe what worked. What parts of their drawing look like the actual painting?

What was missed? What parts did they not get and why?

What would you do differently if you were to do this activity again?

Re-visiting my pour painting

Spend a few minutes carefully observing the pour paintings you made yesterday.
Discuss with your partner the potential images inside the paintings.

Make a list of the potential imagery you discover. Try to list at least 8
Here's how it might look on your blog.

Imagery in the pour:
1. monster screaming
2. volcano erupting
3. bird flying
4. person lying down
5. etc.

Giving up control: POURS

Describe the process of creating paintings through pouring paint you experienced today. How did it work?

How did it FEEL to give up some control over the shapes you created? Describe any surprises.

Collaborative Drawings.

Describe your experience making collaborative drawings in class today and answer the following question:

How did having someone else work on your drawing add to or take away from the final result?

The Artist's Habitat.

Due Monday September 21.

Who is an artist?
What does it mean to be creative?
In 3 or 4 sentences describe what an artist needs to be productive and creative?

How to use this blog.

You can use this blog to check to see that yours is up to date. I will post reminders of what I expect to see on your blog.