Course Evaluation

1. What were your expectations for this course and where they met?

I didn’t know what to expect until I read the syllabus for the course.  I had never taken an art course online so I wasn’t sure if we would have to actually do some art or if it was all just writing online in the blog or discussion forum.  I didn’t know how we would have to submit the art work that we did.  I obviously expected to learn about different artists and types of art and those expectations were met. 

2. Now that you've been through this course, what is art? How would you define it now compared to your initial posting?

Looking back, in my initial posting I wrote “I would say that art is everything around us - music, photographs, paintings, nature, etc.”  I still think the same things.  Art is all around us, it’s everything.  Even throughout this course and learning about different types of art, I still agree with my initial posting. 

3. Who was your favorite artist in your original posting and who is your favorite visual artist now? If there is a difference, why do you think so? If you have the same favorite artist, why do you think so?

In my original posting I didn’t have a favorite artist and I don’t think I do now, either.  There are all kinds of art that appeals to me by all different artists.  I really enjoy the work of Georgia O’Keefe.  I’ve liked her since grammar school when we did flower art work then. 

4. Now that you've completed this course, how do you feel about taking an online course? Is your answer the same as it was in your first posting? How is it the same or different?

I really enjoy taking online classes.  I took another one this semester and have taken many before.  It allows me to work on my own in my own time which is when I do my best work.  I’ve always liked online courses, including in the beginning of the semester so I would say that my answer is the same.

Self-Portrait

3 inspiration pieces:

http://www.googleartproject.com/collection/whitney-museum-of-american-art/artwork/new-york-interior-edward-hopper/34486054/

http://www.googleartproject.com/collection/fundacion-mapfre/artwork/the-brown-sisters-1988-nicholas-nixon/27814732/

http://www.googleartproject.com/collection/fundacion-mapfre/artwork/madonna-mexico-df-graciela-iturbide/29710370/

1. Why did you select the inspiration pieces?

I selected the pieces that I did for inspiration because I really liked them.  I didn’t copy their work and two of them were photographs but I really enjoyed looking at the work and at the way the people are portrayed in the pictures.

2. Why did you select the media to create your self-portrait?

I chose to draw with pencil.  It is much less messy than charcoal and you can erase with a pencil, which is a bonus :)

3. What challenges did you face in creating your self-portrait and how did you overcome them?

I am awful at drawing so I literally just kept trying to copy the picture as closely as possible and it still didn’t really work out for me.

4. How does this piece represent you?

I don’t really know how this picture represents me.  Maybe with my glasses, but I don’t have to wear them all of the time.  Also, my hair is curly in this picture and it is usually straight.  I just liked this picture of me.

5. What elements and principles of art did you apply in this work?

I used emphasis when I darkened in certain parts and line.

6. Did you enjoy working on this project?

I did enjoy working on it.  I tried my best even though it maybe isn’t my best work artistically.

7. What do you think of your final artwork?

I think it’s okay, I guess.  I don’t really think it looks like the picture but I tried and I enjoyed myself while creating this work.

Art Critique

1. Which projects did you review?

I reviewed Chelsea Randorf’s exhibit, “Pop of Life.”

2. Why did you select the Exhibit you critiqued?

The title drew me into opening up this PowerPoint presentation.  I was always interested in pop art so the fact that I didn’t do my exhibit on it and I could critique someone that did was what did me in.

3. What challenges did you face in writing the critique article and how did you overcome them?

I used the words “I” and “you,” which I wasn’t too sure if we could or not.  I thought that since it was my opinion, it was okay to use them.  I found it easy to write about this exhibit.  It was interesting to me and I liked reading what she had to say.

4. How do you feel about critiquing your peers work?

I never really like critiquing other people’s work.  I never know why they do what they do or why they wrote what they wrote.  Everyone has something different in their lives and that may be the cause of what they do and if I don’t know about it, who am I to judge?

5. Would you like to read the critique your peers wrote about your Art Curation Project?

Yes, I would.  I know I did a good job, with 100%, but I would be curious to see what someone else has to say about it.

6. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your finished article and why?

I would say 8-10.  I’m not sure if my critiquing is exactly what was expected but I did my best.

7. Did you enjoy working on this project?

I enjoyed working on creating my PowerPoint and being able to see other people’s.  It was good to see what my classmates did for their exhibits, too.

Module 15

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
I chose to watch 'Greenberg on Pollack: an interview by TJ Clark,' & 'An Introduction to Italian Renaissance.'  In the first video, it was an art critic & historian discussing Jackson Pollock's methods to his art & the legacy he left behind. The art critic, Clement Greenburg, had the opportunity to be in one of his studios. He talks about different transistions throughout the galleries which he didn't really find appealing. In the second video, it discusses how art was criticized. The techniques that were used critiqued how they illustrated their work, balance, realism, along with perspective. 

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Criticism project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not?
The videos related to the creation of my project. They showed different critiquing techniques to very different artists as well as time periods in which the art was so different from each other. Our projects were a lot different but it helps after watching the videos to give me some ideas on what to do/write when critiquing.

3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of art criticism?
I thought the films helped my understanding. I always knew what criticism was but I know I always don't feel 100% comfortable criticizing someone's work when I'm not entirely sure on why their work is the way it is. 

Art Project #4 Journal Entry

When picking a theme, I wanted to originally do something with abstract art of trees but then on our discussion forum, someone posted a suggestion about trees of life so I just went with it.  There were so many incredible pictures to choose from, it was hard to pick the ones that I wanted in my slideshow.  The theme of my slideshow is "Trees of Life," which is the title as well.  I focused a lot on the emphasis, colors, lines, and balance of the artwork that I found.  A lot of them were similar in the sense that there was an emphasis in the art with lighter colors, darker ones surrounding the edges.  It was an interesting project that I had fun with and enjoyed putting together.

Module 13 & 14

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

The four videos were “The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art,” “Displaying Modern Art: The Tate Approach,” “Bones of Contention: Native American Archeology,” and “An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan.”  In the first video, “The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art,” it talked about the lowbrow artwork.  There are different parts to this art and was greatly influenced during a certain time period in history.  The second video, “Displaying Modern Art: The Tate Approach,” talked about the changes in the 1970s.  There were museums that were set up during this time period that changed a lot, as well.  There are different issues, both intellectual and aesthetic, that were examined.  The different style was developed using themes for displaying exhibitions.  The third video, “Bones of Contention: Native American Archeology,” discussed a lot about the findings of the Native American remains.  It was debated about whether or not the remains should be returned to their ancestors.  The fourth video, "An Acquiring Mind; Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan," discusses his life as a director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  It talks about the art that was collected over 31 years, during his time there. 

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.

The videos relate to my project because they discuss any problems that they might have ran into.  Some of them may be similar but a lot were mainly just very interesting to hear about.  It’s important to understand some of the struggles they may go through, as well.  The videos also show connections throughout history and that kind of relates to my project because there might be pieces in it that have some sort of history and connection.  They way one of the video talks about grouping things in a thematic way was interesting and that is kind of how my project is as a whole. 

3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of the art concepts you practiced while creating your curation project?

I really enjoyed these films.  They helped a lot with thinking about how I was going to present the art work that I am using in my project.  I understand more about linking it to history, placing it in a way that is understandable to the viewer, and the problems are a big part of it all but with different ways of working through them.