Illusion of Motion

Different Color/Same Color

Faith Ringgold

Color is used in this quilt to emphasize the mood of the jazz music. Powerful strokes blue swirls on a background of red creates an exciting feeling. Blue is also used to outline the musicians in the piece. This choice of color demonstrates the vivacity of the people.

Money as Art

I like this picture of Orchids made with money because the artist transformed ordinary money into beautiful, realistic flowers. Orchids also happen to be my favorite flower.

Sound as Art

Synesthesia

 

"Synesthesia for the Times ", 67x47 ", 2010, acrylic, tempora, water-based pigments on canvas 

Money as Art

The currency below is used in the Republic of Nepal. I like Nepal's use of animals and natural settings to decorate their currency. Each bill is a different shade or color which makes it easy to determine which bill is which.

Grid Structure

Example of Tight Grid Structure

Annie in Yellow Sweater • 8″ x 10″ • Oil on Canvas Panel

                                                                    by David R. Darrow

Example of Loose Grid Structure

 
Barry McGee
Untitled (detail)
2002
mixed media on glass
dimensions variable
MA-MCGEB-00086

Chuck Close

Chuck Close creates large scale paintings of portraits that appear to be an actual photograph. This painting of Lucas Samaras is my favorite because it captures the mysteriousness and edge of Samaras. Close's ability to include distinct  details such as the wrinkles on the forehead and fly ahead hairs amazes me. Had I not research the work and method of Close, I would have assumed this image was a normal photograph; therefore, Close's goal to create a large-than-life photograph was met.

Repetition of Form

In this advertisement for Ipods, repetition of form of both the triangle and lines unify the picture and makes use of the empty space.

Yellow Slithering Snake

     Andy Goldsworthy creates pieces of art in nature He often uses natural materials such as sticks, leaves, and stones. This piece is my favorite outdoor, permanent work of Goldsworthy. The snake appears to be in his natural environment, slithering on top of the stone. The use of the yellow coloring of the snake contrasts very nicely with the brown and green of the surrounding environment. Goldsworthy uses interesting textures that make the snake seem more realistic.

Gestalt Principles in Everyday Life

This image uses the gestalt principles of repetition of form and color.

Louise Nevelson Box

    Louise Nevelson creates artwork using multiple boxes within a box. In this particular piece, Nevelson arranges different sizes of spheres, circles, and objects that are similar to chess pieces within the large box to create a balanced and symmetrical design. I like this piece because there are objects within the box that at first appear familiar; however, the objects are not representations of actual object but are multiple shapes combined to form an interesting figure.

Lucas Samaras Box

The boxes of Lucas Samaras are anything but ordinary. By incorporating the actual form of the box into the artwork, Lucas Samaras transforms a simple box into a piece of art that appears to take on a life of it's own. This box is my favorite of all of Samaras' work. The menagerie of birds that he chose to place on top of the box mimics a life like scene; however, the wide variety of birds would not typically be seen together in nature.   

Enchanting Joseph Cornell Box

Creating stunning pieces of artwork through the use of forgotten memorabilia, pictures, trinkets, and other odds and ends, Joseph Cornell has made a name for himself in the world of artistic design.  This particular box captured my imagination on the first day we were introduced to the work of Joseph Cornell in class.  Surrounded by darkness, the "unicorn princess" (which I just decided to name her :) ) takes an active role in her happiness and decides to create peace and light in her life. This piece demonstrates an individual's responsibility to choose to be happy. :)

So, what is form and content all about?

Whenever I hear the words form and content, I immediately assume I know what the words mean. Even though the definitions of the words are simple, they can be tricky.

Form: the shape and structure of something as distinguished from its material (Merriam-Webster)

Content:something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts: a poetic form adequate to a poetic content (dictionary.com)

The definition of these two words may seem simple; however, when asked to find a picture to demonstrate the two concepts, things get confusing. This may be because I tend to over analyze everything and make things more difficult than they really are. SO, what is form and content all about? This is my attempt to demonstrate the two concepts.

This owl ( :)! ) is formed by using natural materials such a pine cones, leaves, and acorns.


I believe the content of this picture is warning against relying too much on technology as opposed to traditional forms of transportation and materials.

What are some examples of different types of designs?

Always one to be interested in color, position, and coordination, I find myself drawn to the creative world of interior design. Combining art and intelligence with a love for effective use of space and a splash of beauty, interior design transforms a living area or any other type of room into a piece of artwork. I chose the picture below out of a Southern Living Magazine because I believe the designer maximized the use of the natural beauty of the outdoor setting to create a warm and welcoming feel within the room. By coordinating the color scheme from the outside environment, the designer invites the guest of this room to enter a space of relaxation. The cute puppy just makes this picture even more wonderful!

                          

Another one of my favorite design types satisfies my hunger for both creativeness and food! Culinary design involves the use of food to create pieces of art that is both yummy and appealing. The artist of the dessert below uses the complementary colors of red and yellow (personal favorites of mine!) to create a visually interesting plate. The use of the cinnamon stick serves the purpose to create different lines of interest within the art. After all, who does not like to have their pretty pie and eat it too? :)

                                   
                                                    
Designers of fashion have an immense impact on both the social and emotional state of people in society. Fashion design is "the art of the application  of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories"(Wikipedia.). The fashion world is ever changing and constantly transforms to answer the call of society for creativity, usefulness, and elegance.

                              

What is Design?

Design: the arrangement of parts, details, form, color, etc. so as to produce an artistic unit; artistic invention. (http://www.yourdictionary.com/design)

The picture below demonstrates this particular definition of design because it uses various brushstrokes of color to form a piece of art. I like this piece because the seemingly insignificant brushstrokes create a beautiful picture that captures the emotion of the musician.