Emphasis by Isolation

Many artists attempt to portray anomalies in their artwork in order to create a unique, captivating image. Oftentimes, however, it is only a single anomaly that makes the biggest statement. In the image below, by simply adding a single girl in the midst of a line of mannequins, the art piece conveys the idea/concept of conformity. The blank look on her face seems to connotate conformity with robotic, mechanical thinking; perhaps a form of brainwashing. Stewart (2012) describes why anomalies are so appealing to an audience, "Because we seek to connect the verbal and visual information we are given, a mismatched word or an isolated object immediately attracts attention".

Balance

Balance is an integral component of healthy functioning in life. The whole biological mechanism of homeostasis is concerned with maintaining balance within our bodies. The concept of Yin and Yang is concerned with maintaining not only psychological balance but societal balance. The artist of the picture below used the same bird, but through the use of balance, created a captivating contrast between the simple colors of white and black. The bird is both the same, and opposite, simultaneously. Stewart (2012) would describe the below image as a perfectly symmetrical balance. "The resulting form generally is physically and visually stable".  Perhaps the artist did this on purpose, but the resulting image looks strikingly similar to the Yin and Yang symbol.

The Passage of Time

One thing we never get back is time, we can't hold on to it, we can't make more of it, and yet it still dictates almost all of our activities while we're alive. Art is something that captures the essence of time and how time relates to the manner in which we live our life. With the increased availability of  cameras on our phone we have become a generation starkly aware that life is only a future memory and to relive the precious moments in our life, we need to find a way to capture them, through photographs, paintings, etc. Stewart (2012) describes art as a component in artwork, "while it is easy to overlook a force that we cannot see, the effects of time are critically important in all areas of art and design".

Art as Thought

What intrigues me most about being human is our ability to transform our thoughts into tangible reality. Computers, architecture, furniture, etc., are all testament to this unique human ability. However, in most forms of design the idea has been formulated, discussed with others, redesigned and finally implemented in order to create a functional object. Art, however, embodies the tangible form of our abstract thoughts, the creative aspect of our psyche. Stewart (2012) says, "the combination of tangible material and aesthetic complexity gives sculpture a unique power. (. . .) Through a miracle of invention, the best sculptures simultaneously embrace and transcend their physical nature". While functional objects may be helpful in a physical sense, art is beneficial to the mind and spirit by tapping into the abstract part of our mental nature.

Art as Storytelling

The one creative talent I've always possessed is storytelling. I never considered myself an artist though, because this was the extent of both my creative passion and talent. I can't draw, design, sculpt, or really apply creativity in a meaningful way using any other medium. However, throughout this semester I've discovered a pivotal component of art. Art is storytelling. It may not necessarily use words, but it perpetuates the aspect of humanity that not only craves, but requires, storytelling. Through visual aesthetics it allows the viewer to create a story of their own, a mythology that falls somewhere between the two contrasting dimensions of truth and lie, that conveys the essence of what it means to be human. And to me, as a writer, that is what is so beautiful. I am an artist. And really, every person is because we all have a story to tell that connects to the meaning of life, and an ultimate purpose underlying the triviality of everyday life. We are all connected at some fundamental level and storytelling, through any medium, assists us in reaching this realization.

Expanding Perspective: The Use of Expansion in Artwork

Expansion as it applies to art is intended to exaggerate the meaning the artist wants to convey to the viewers. When expanding upon a component of art, it is trying to draw in the audience to suggest a concept that is, no pun intended, expansive in our world/society/mind/etc. Stewart (2012) explains this concept: "the contradiction between the materials and the meaning suggests a new definition of nature". Consider the below piece. A child is pointing towards a mass of technology as if exemplifying his desire to have one of the pieces of technology that is essentially part of a pile of what appears to be discarded, useless junk. This is intended to illustrate the relationship between society (particularly younger generations) and technology. We are constantly lusting after gadgets, devices, and the newest and best form of technology, but in the end it only contributes to our excessive waste that has become the prevalent norm in the 21st century.

Defying Gravity

A powerful element in art is the act of defying what we consider normal, natural laws of nature. One of the most obvious laws of nature that we use to construct our perception of reality is gravity. Stewart (2012) describes gravity as "the most immediately noticeable when we begin to construct a three-dimensional structure. Lines, spaces, and volumes must be organized according to the laws of physics while simultaneously meeting our aesthetic objectives". However, when artists realize that gravity can be used as more of a malleable tool than a concrete rule, their artwork becomes liberated on a fundamental level. Stewart (2012) recognizes this by stating, "when we begin to analyze the uses of gravity in sculpture, we soon find that it is an asset rather than a liability". The below artwork illustrates this realization perfectly. After all, gravity is simply an elemental aspect of our Earth. In space, and ultimately in the Universe, gravity is no more than an elemental component, rather than an absolute constant. The image below makes the audience question what our world might look like if gravity simply ceased to exist.

The Paradoxical Nature of Art

I have to share Jason Silva's YouTube video "The Paradoxical Nature of Art", because it encapsulates some very important aspects of what makes art so attractive to us as viewers. Primarily this video touches on the concept mentioned in class that "Art is a Lie that Makes us Realize the Truth". I would go further than this by saying that it simply expands our perspective by dragging us into the mind of the artist, revealing a new world and perspective that we perhaps wouldn't have considered otherwise. If you enjoy the video, you might want to visit Jason Silva's YouTube channel called "Shots of Awe". Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl0A7Jl6_GU&list=UUlYb9NpXnRemxYoWbcYANsA

In the Line of Sight

A sight line takes advantage of different perspectives based on angles. (Stewart 2012) This idea is based on the premise that depending on the perspective a viewer takes, a different image will be seen. This is a bit like how we as human observers experience life itself. Although the same situation may happen to many different people, depending on each unique perspective everyone will view it differently. This does not mean that any one perspective is necessarily right or wrong, merely different. "In the Line of Sight" is an art piece in France which utilizes this concept to project images made from flashlights onto a wall. Depending on where in the room the person views the artwork, they will see a different conglomeration of shapes projected onto the wall.

Speaking in Metaphor

Of all the tools utilized in artwork, (written, visual and/or auditory), metaphor is my favorite. This is because not only does it employ symbology (see previous posts), but it often makes the statement or message much stronger than it would have been, had it been stated in a more straightforward manner. "Metaphorical thinking can be used to connect an image and an idea". (Stewart, 2012, pg. 167). This is the simplest depiction of the role of metaphor in artwork, but on a more profound level it can express emotions, longing, and passion perhaps the most strongly of any other artistic tool, while also being one of the most integral to the essence of the artwork. Consider the picture below. The image of the universe, although not stated explicitly, is a metaphorical representation of the author's thoughts, or mind. Thus, it depicts not merely a single fleeting thought, but an absolute infinite consumption with the person stated in the phrase.

Beautifully Alive

I love Stewart's (2012) comparison of the contrast between the two words anesthetic and aesthetic. As touched upon briefly in the previous post, language can convey a lot of the present day culture's symbology and subconscious processes through its structure and composition. The words anesthetic and aesthetic are separated only by a single letter, however, their definitions are completely opposite in meaning. An anesthetic "is used to induce insensitivity or unconsciousness". (pg. 169) It numbs us and deprives us of feeling. An aesthetic experience, on the other hand is characterized by, "enhanced feelings and expanded understanding". (pg. 169). Thus, the simple, yet profound reason we seek out and find ourselves attracted to beauty is because it makes us feel alive. The simple act of being an artist who creates a beautiful piece of art, is one of the most enlivening experiences on the planet.

Symbology- Language of the Subconcious

Iconography; Literally "describing images". The study of symbolic visual systems. (Stewart, 2012, pg. 159).

Symbology has been around just about as long as humanity itself. Cultural, historical and even psychological references are subtly imbued in otherwise meaningless icons and convey trends and values associated with a given time era and/or culture. Thus, iconographic artwork is rife with messages, only because of the widespread meanings assigned to those images. Below, is one of the most common pieces of iconographic artwork in our modern day culture. Instantly, regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, etc. the viewer is familiar with the individual in the painting, even though it is not explicitly stated. Interestingly, if we were detached from our present day culture and the history of that culture, all we would see is a random man.

Consumerist Propoganda

This poster I created is a reflection of the subtle psychological repercussions of capitalism on the psyche of our collective culture. With a predisposition to judge others according to their possessions, we oftentimes become consumed with the idea of creating an identity for ourselves rooted in the materials we accrue over a lifetime. Rather than thinking for ourselves we become consumed with the constant flow of advertisements, the reputation of certain brands, and what our belongings convey to others about who we are. In order to truly experience life and think critically about the world around us and the meaning of our personal lives, we must break out of this mind set and stop being so consumed with this materialistic lifestyle.

The Power of Change

Ideas are interesting things, they are malleable, complex, and have potential to be insightful. We don't always notice how powerful change can be, especially when incorporated into artwork, but with just a few tweaks to the background and/or nature of the art piece, a whole new idea can be portrayed. Stewart (2012) states, "any compositional change affects the conceptual impact of an artwork." That's right, even the miniscule, last minute changes make a difference. The below artpiece is a reflection of how conceptual variations can influence artwork. By adding the turning gears it gives the mind a mechanistic, almost robotic quality.

More than the Sum of its Parts

Art is like a puzzle. The pieces by itself may not be particularly meaningful, or even look like anything at all for that matter, but placed together in the right sequence, it can become something spectacular. Stewart (2012) suggests that oftentimes it is better to look at art in terms of its conglomerate parts while in the constructive phases, rather than as a whole, so as to avoid creative paralysis. (pg. 132)I can attest to this concept as it applies in writing also. When composing a novel it is difficult to envision how every scene will fit together to convey the overall plot line most effectively, but if instead you only focus on the individual scene you are writing, then eventually it will find a way to come together sometimes even more perfectly than you imagined.

I chose this art piece below because you can clearly see that the artist constructed the image piece-by-piece to create a captivating image of a young girl, who looks like she has a fascinating tale to tell. However, if the artist had become too fixated on the end product, the artwork might not have turned out so beautifully.

Art with a Message

The 21st century is ripe with socio-economic-political issues. Art is one medium to express dissatisfaction with the current zeitgeist and propel the audience into action. A successful artist connects the audience not only with the piece at hand, but with the deeper meaning of the artwork as it relates to the subtle idiosyncrasies of the current dystopian elements of our world. I love political art that pulls people out of their comfort zone and asks them to question the cultural norms that seem so natural and real to us. Only then can we more objectively examine the fish bowl we reside within.

Stewart (2012) describes this type of artist as an artist with conviction. "Creative people value existing knowledge. Since new ideas are often derived from old ideas, it is foolish to ignore or dismiss the past. However, creative people also love change. Never satisfied with routine answers to familiar questions, they constantly consider new possibilities and often challenge the status quo." (pg. 129).

I'll let the following example speak for itself. Does it make you question a lifestyle you believe is natural or normal?

Etc...

This piece is an abstraction of the word Etc.

Etc. is an abbreviation which can have nearly endless implications, so with this piece I wanted to portray three different scenarios or possibilities. The first is a flowery, artistic abstraction, the second has sharper edges and is composed of arrows implying directionality. The last letter reminds me and the Yin and Yang symbol and is a bright reminder of the variety of life and shapes in the world.I would have liked to do more with this piece, but this is the second rendition of my original piece which I like a lot better, but am not fully satisfied with. If given more time, I would have experimented more with the background colors and would have made the E and possibly T more abstract. This piece was created using the stroke, paintbrush, borders, gradient, rectangle, and spray can tools in Illustrator.

The Power of Creativity

We are often told as children to stop daydreaming, get our head out of our clouds, and pay attention in school. This is part of the process of robbing us of our imagination (see previous post), and one in which none of us are completely immune to. As time progresses we learn to learn what we are taught by our parents and school; passively receiving and regurgitating information, and basically ignore our nonsensical childish whims.  However, there is untapped potential in creativity. It is what makes us human, what makes us unique, and what equips us to be instigators of change. Curiosity prompts us to explore our world, question what we are taught, and genuinely enjoy the experiences we encounter. Stewart (2012) describes a good designer as one who brings an insatiable curiosity to each project. I truly, genuinely hope that humanity, has a resurgence of curiosity and imagination, because ultimately, I believe it would make our world a more beautiful, interesting, and exciting place to live.

Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking

"Convergent thinking involves the pursuit of a pre-determined goal, usually in a linear progression and through a highly focused problem-solving technique," (Stewart, 2012, pg. 117). 

"In divergent thinking, the means determines the end. The process is more open-ended; specific results are hard to predict." (Stewart, 2012, pg. 119).

I really don't want to go off on a tangent on this post, since this issue is one which I feel strongly about, so I will do my best to be short and concise. There is nothing inherently "right" or "wrong" about either of these forms of thinking, however, if we have too much of one or another it can lead to psychological and/or societal consequences. I believe the reason modern society is so intrigued with literature, art, and film which portrays divergent forms of thinking is likely due to the strong pressure in many facets of our social lives to exhibit ONLY convergent thinking. For instance, creativity is only encouraged so long as it falls neatly into socially acceptable forms (for example: in STEM disciplines, whereas creativity in artistic or social disciplines is mostly ignored, or at least not highly esteemed).

Art is a beautiful medium of expression because it forces us in many respects to think divergently, drawing on our own thoughts and ideas rather than someone else's.

I highly encourage anyone that hasn't, to watch this phenomenal Ted Talk by Ken Robinson, illustrating in more depth the complex issue I've mentioned briefly above.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity

How abstract is abstract art?

I'm going to be a bit of a devil's advocate here, because, as mentioned previously, I'm a psych major by trade. The subject matter I'm going to address is one that, in a way, is rather humorous to me; abstract art. I know some people derive a great deal of satisfaction from abstract art, but some of it just seems silly to me. I remember when me and my now-fiance first started dating I stumbled across an abstract painting that looked like someone had just gotten pissed off and thrown random splatters of paint across a canvas. But, for whatever reason, he seemed to enjoy it.

Here's where my psychoanalytic though-process comes in.

The mind, by definition, is an organization-initiating mechanism. It makes sense of things. So to create something with no definitive purpose or explanation, is that really true artistic ability, or careless lack of inspiration? Or, on a deeper level, perhaps a portrayal of subconscious processes, which then, would give it a meaning? And, if the piece does indeed mean something tangible to the artist, does that make it any less abstract? Or, would it make it less abstract if the viewer knew about the purpose behind the seemingly random strokes? Or is it simply up to interpretation?

Hmm...

Stewart (2012) states "regardless of the initial motivation for their work, both artists and designers constantly scan their surroundings in an omnivorous search for images and ideas. (. . .) The most improbable object or idea may inspire motivation." (pg. 114).

So, perhaps, abstract art is simply the unlikely interpretation of an improbable idea. At least, that's the best definition I can come up with.

Claustraphobia

There are few universal fears in human kind. Claustrophobia is one of them. For generations people have subconsciously identified with the fear of being confined within a small, limiting, trapping, space. I don't find myself attracted to a lot of art pieces, but I absolutely love the simple yet profound message communicated by the image below. The artist used a technique here known as "grouping" defined by Stewart (2012) as grouping visual units by location, orientation, shape, and color. (pg. 68)
By making the trees in the center darker, and more pronounced than the other trees we instinctively group them together, creating the appearance of a small space. The reason I am so drawn to this image I think is due to its contradictory nature. We typically visualize freedom as existing within nature, especially when looking at the sky. But this piece brings up the disheartening idea that perhaps we aren't free, but trapped within a life, or a world we don't understand; one that is multidimensional and perhaps infinite.

Mother-Son Montage

This photomontage is composed of pictures of me and my son from the time I brought him home from the hospital until now-- he's almost 19 months old. The main photograph is the most recent one, taken about a week or so ago, whereas the other layered photos are older pictures taken of me holding Rylan. I made them blurred, and a bit opaque to reflect the passing of time. I focused on the layering of my arms around Rylan's little body to convey the idea that no matter how old he gets I will always be there to pick him up when he needs me-- my job is to be there to support him as his mom. One of my favorite aspects of this piece is the picture of Rylan as a newborn- when he was only two days old, being cradled in the curve of my arm. I layered different pictures of Rylan at varying ages on his face to show that although time has passed, he is still the same person that I gave life too. I love my little boy so much so this piece is very special to me!

Rythm of Art

"Visual rhythm is similar to musical rhythm. In music, rhythm is created through the organization of sound in time. (...) As with music, the rhythm in a visual composition can take many forms"(Stewart, pg. 83). I think the text describes the essence of rhythm beautifully. An orchestra is only powerful when it follows a rhythm. To me, drawing on the previous post(s) about patterns in nature, rhythm is simply another way of describing a unification principle, a more aesthetic description of something that helps create order from chaos. The below picture illustrates a breathtaking use of rhythm in artwork for me. Rhythm in this piece comes together to create a piece that reminds me of a visual depiction of infinity.

A Matrixed World

Let's start with a little bit of a mind bender. Quantam physics has recently revealed the somewhat horrifying reality that we live in a holographic universe. (For more information, please reference YouTube I don't have the expertise, nor the time to say any more). What this means, in simplistic terms, is that what we think we know is nothing more than a projection, like a movie on a screen. THAT is what makes our fascination with patterns and grids all the more interesting. Nature, like the construct of our minds, operates according to patterns. In art, patterns are described as "any visual element repeated over an extended area". Contrastingly, a grid, "is created through a series of intersecting lines"(Stewart, pg. 72). My personal theory is that our attraction to grid artwork that follows certain patterns is due to our subconscious recognition that we live in a matrix-ed world, propagated through the holographic repetition of cyclical patterns. The artwork below is an example of both patterns and grid-work in design. 

Don't Judge Art by its Surface

I have to draw on my psychology background a little bit for this post. Art is such an interesting tool for expression, because, as Photoshop clearly acknowledges, it operates in layers. People who don't understand art (I am not immune to this), oftentimes see only the surface layer. This can be explained by a simple little psychological school of thought known as Gestalt psychology which asserts that, "visual information is understood holistically before it is examined separately" (Stewart, pg. 68). More simply put, we seek out unity in the world. Our minds don't like to confront chaos and confusion, but art, (or at least the more fascinating art, in my opinion) is intended to bring us out of our comfort zone. Consider the image below. At the surface level the image appears to move, but upon closer inspection it is the ingenious use of lines and patterns that creates the illusion of movement. The mind is so easily tricked. 

Life in Color

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The reason for this is the instant emotional and mental connection we feel when looking at a frozen moment in time. But could it also be attributed to color? Black and white photos convey a different message and overall mood than do color photographs (See the Dichotomous Nature of the Self post). The Bezold effect, proposed by color theorist Wilhelm Bezold, explains this phenomenon by positing that change in a single color can substantially alter our perception of an entire pattern (Stewart, pg. 42). I included the picture below to illustrate this effect. By only utilizing a single color in the center of the image it capitalizes on the overall message of the poster and draws the audience in like moths to a flame.

Art & Technology

A fascinating topic for me has always been the relationship between art and technology. Our present and future world is rampant and highly dependent on technology to function. Art emerged as a tangible form of self-expression and awareness. We are the first species to be aware of our mortality, and thus leads us to question who we are, what our purpose is, and how we got here. Art is a way of helping us release these potentially anxiety-laden thoughts, and in our modern age, technology is the perfect medium to help us express these complex philosophical and psychological reflections. We can do so much more, I feel, with the tools technology equips us with and thus I pose the question if new media artists can actually convey much deeper, more philosophical, questions to their audiences, than their predecessors could by utilizing the highly complex and wide-ranging functions technology presents us with?

Dichotomous Nature of the Self

I created this image with essentially two basic layers (although there could be additional layers if one wanted to really dig deep.) At the heart of this self-portrait is the idea of duality; basically the dual nature of the self, and the relationship of the self to life. The cloud represents life and the potential situations that life can bring, sometimes dark and painful, and sometimes unexpectedly wonderful. How we live our lives has a lot to do with how we respond to these situational circumstances, but on the other hand, they also mold us into who we eventually become. To truly realize who we are we have to experience both sides of life, painful and dark, and joyous and bright. Pain reveals the essence of who we are, while joy reveals the potential we have, and the inner goodness we have to offer the world.