fifth post

I think creating the Value Scale and the Color Wheel were helpful to show how colors mix together and the variation of values that a work of art can have. However, making the Value Scale seemed kind of basic, because I've done it before a bunch of times. I liked working with the acrylic paint more than working with graphite because mixing the paints to become the perfect shade was challenging. Painting took a lot of concentration and precision which I preferred over trying to figure out the appropriate value for the square I would be working on. Working with a pencil, I think, was harder because it was difficult to get the values lighter and lighter. I think the most important information I learned from watching the two videos for this project where learning how to combine the colors and how to use graphite to make the value scale.

fourth post

1. Describe Color and it's effects on emotions. Use the appropriate vocabulary of color in your posting.

Color is created by the reflection of light on different pigments. Different colors make viewers feel different things. Red is a passionate color usually associated with anger, while yellow has been described as making people feel hungry and cheerful. The feelings that colors invoke are what are most important and difficult for an artist to create.

2. What is a theoretical aspect of color that most intrigues/fascinates you? Why?

I think that the fact that colors invoke more feelings than just primary feelings is intriguing. By primary, I mean sad, mad, happy, etc. McDonald's was painted yellow to unconsciously encourage customers to buy more to eat. It's incredible that colors impact our mood without even trying.

3. In the Color video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and its effects on emotions?

 Seeing the finished product of the Scottish painter's painting made a big impact on me in regards to color and its effect on emotions. When the painting, inspired by Venice, was finished, seeing the colors clash yet mingle was amazing and created a mood that I don't know how to describe.


4. In the Feelings video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and it's effects on emotions? 

Color can be used to create feelings and also create emphasis. Using all different elements and principles can assist the creation of emotions, such as shape and line. Using jagged lines and deep reds, browns, and blacks can create a violent, terrifying feeling, while swirly lines with blues, greens, and yellow create a calm, happy feeling.

third post

"Create a Blog Posting for the reflection journal on the creative and technical processes you followed."

The creative process of taking these pictures came to me easier than I thought it would when I saw the playground, basketball court, and school where most of these pictures took place. Keeping each principle and element of design in mind, finding 'models' for each was easy as pie. I would think of the word 'proportion' and look around, find something that could be easily interpreted as such, and just pressed the button. After taking the pictures, I uploaded them and edited them slightly to make them look more appealing using photoshop.com, whose editing system is very easy to use.

second post

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

In both videos, I learned what aesthetics are, and the evolutionary origins of art and aesthetics. These origins can be classified with sexual seletion, group selection, inter-subjective communication and social bonding, and by-product of brain evolution.

2. Which philosopher's theroy on aesthetics do you feel is most important? Be sure to mention the philosphers name, era (time in history), and contribtion to the aesthetic theory in your response.
I believe that Immanuel Kant, an 18th century German philosopher, has the most important theory on aesthetics. In his works on aesthetics, he argues our judgement is what makes us able to experience beauty and grasp experiences as part of an ordered, natural world with purpose.


3. What do you think about Changeux and Ramachandran scientific view of aesthetics and art? What was the most interesting fact you discovered from each speakers lecture?
I think that Changeux's and Ramachandran's views of aesthetics and art were interesting. I liked that they pointed out how certain things you see stimulate brain activity, and they showed pictures of the brain and what areas of the brain are active.

4. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

In both the videos and the text, aesthetics is discussed in depth about what it is, how to define it, etc. They both also talk about iconography and the laws of art, how to describe art, and how to discover and process the meaning of art.

5. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics in your reading? 

I think the films were interesting, but too long. It was hard to understand Changeux in the second film because of his accent, plus the quality of both films were bad so it was hard to see what the Powerpoints said to be able to take notes.

first post

1. How was the process of creating the GMail account and setting up the Blog?
2. What do you expect to learn in this course?
3. How do you feel about taking an online course?

Creating the GMail account, along with setting up the Blog, was incredibly easy. I expect to learn about the history of art in this course, and also expect to learn different techniques for creating art. I'm nervous about taking this online course because I'm afraid I will forget to check Angel or any of my other accounts and end up failing the course.