Culminating Questions #yolo

Culminating Questions

1. Which project was your favorite and why?
My favorite project during this course was my clay mug. This was my favorite because I got to choose whatever I wanted to make basically. This project was fun to do and I think my final mug looked really cute. This project was also one of my favorites because i could use the mug in the end. 

2. Which project did you like the least? What was it about this assignment that paled in comparison to others?
I think the project where we had to make the tiles was my least favorite for many reasons. Firstly, I choose a complex art piece and it was really hard to carve out the unique lines into the clay. I also think this was hard because it was the first time I did it. I disliked the overall assignment and I didn't like how my tiles turned out, although I did like the fact that we were doing it for Relay For Life. 

3. Which project taught you the most? - was it a technique, a skill, history, etc. 
I think the project that I liked the most was the Marilyn Monroe project or the Racism project because I learned a new technique. The technique I learned was image transferring. This is when you put paint or gloss on a canvas and put a photocopied image ink down. After the picture is and paint is dry, you spray the paper with a water bottle and rub your finger on the image. This causes the paper to come off and the ink to stay on the paint. I like this technique and I will use it in the future. 

4.Relay for life assignment.  Explain the significance of creating art for a greater good. Does this impact your definition of art?
I think it was a great idea for the art classes to contribute their art pieces to the Relay for Life Challenge. I think that the students may have put more effort into their work considering it will be sold and raise money for cancer. I think our class did an excellent job and hope to raise money to help Relay for Life. 

South African Art #5

As you prepare to form your expression of aesthetic judgment, you need to compare your initial reaction with the knowledge you've gained through the critical analysis process.

• Has your knowledge of the artwork deepened?
• Does this knowledge influence your opinion of the artwork?
• Has the meaning shifted in any way? If not, does this make the artwork less successful?
• Do you think the artist's use of elements & principles has helped to produce a successful artwork that clearly communicates its intended message?

South African Art #4

Cultural & Historical Context 

• What was happening at this time in history? (politically, socially)

The Black Sash was a non-violent white women's resistance organization founded in South Africa, in 1955 by Jean Sinclair. The Black Sash initially campaigned against the removal of coloured or mixed race voters from the voters' roll by the government. In World War II and the rise of more radical African political movements initially consolidated white rule in Southern Africa,Also in 1955, a Congress  Alliance drew up the Freedom Charter,a program of non racial social democracy. 

• How did the artist's personal life affect his or her decision to create the artwork?

Walter Battiss' long career as an artist has been dedicated to the study of man in his environment; first in the background and culture of Africa and rock art, and then later on in the analysis of this concept inits broadest sense. 

• How does the art relate to other artworks during this time?

This artwork relates to the other artworks during this time because they weren't in great detail or realistic. They were more abstract at the time with "bushman" techniques. 

• Were there any discoveries or movements that may have influenced the artist?

Walter Battiss was born a town named Karoo, Somerset East. His interest in archaeology and rock art began after his family moved to Koffiefontein in 1917.This remained one of his main influences throughout his life. 1955 he welcomed the appearance of calligraphic forms in his work, as well as the introduction of animal and human abstractions; the influence of Ndebele bead work in his art stuck with him from then on. 

• Was the artwork revolutionary at the time? How did people appreciate it when it was created?

No, Battiss' art were not popular or very well known at the time that he created the painting.

South African Art #3

Understand the purpose, message or idea that the artist was trying to communicate through the creation of the artwork.

• What does the subject matter tell you about the meaning of this artwork?

The subject matter of this artwork shows that the culture of the South African deals with fishing. It is basically describing one of the main things that the South African culture does. 

• What symbols are used, and what do they represent?

• How do you feel when you view the artwork, and why do you feel this way?

When I look at the artwork I feel almost connected and that I can relate to their culture. We fish a lot in our culture and it is a similarity we have with their culture. The painting also gives off the emotion or love and community. The "black people figures" in the painting are working together as a group or a community. 

• What mood is created by the artwork? How has the artist used the elements & principles to create this mood?

The mood created by the artwork is happiness and success. The bright colors contrasting against the dark figures make the mood light and happy. The painting makes it seems like the figures in the painting are "successful" which makes a viewer feel joy and happiness. The bright colors help create this mood. 

• If the artist was attempting to use an artistic technique, has it been used effectively to help convey meaning?'

Battiss' art technique is abstract. Mainly most of his artworks are abstract in some way. Fishermen Drawing Nets is a primitiveness style and a figurative painting. Primitivism is the value of a simple and unsophisticated, expression as a philosophy of life through art. It is a figurative painting also. 

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.” - Twyla Tharp

South African Art #2

Use the ELEMENTS to explain how the PRINCIPLE is achieved. Use the principles and elements of design to accurately analyze your selected artwork.

Since I have chosen two artworks I have decided to just analyze the one I like the most. I have chosen Fisherman Drawing Nets, done by Walter Battiss. In Fisherman Drawing Nets, Walter Battiss achieves movement through the use of line. When one looks at the painting their eye moves side to side with the lines of the "net" in the painting. The viewers eyes follow the swaying of the nets. Battiss also achieves emphasis through the use of color. The contrast between the colorful nets and the black silhouette create much emphasis and focuses the viewers eye more on the net. 

South African Art #1

1. Your initial reaction to the artwork can be very interesting. You may not think that this is an important step, but it provides the foundation on which to build the rest of your knowledge. Some questions to consider while looking at the artwork include:

• What is your first impression of the art work? Describe what you see.
• My impression of the first artwork is it looks like a group of people living in a little village. This makes me think they live close together so they would act as a family. The second painting gives me the impression that this is how they get their food. They fish. It gives me the impression that a group of people go out together to catch fish for the village (in the first artwork).
• What does it remind you of?
• The first artwork reminds me of a little village in South Africa. It reminds me of South Africa because of how simple the houses are and the sand also reminds me of it. The second artwork reminds me of 
• How does it make you feel?
• The paintings don't really make me feel any emotion. The first artwork is so simple that it doesn't give me an emotion. The second artwork kind of makes me feel an emotion. When I look at the painting i feel as if they are a family or community working together to get food for everyone. 
• What questions do you have?
• QUESTION FOR MRS ROSE - In my final painting I want to incorporate a little bit of each of the paintings. Can I ?
• Feel free to elaborate on these questions and explain your thinking process.
  
  
  
  
  It was hard to decide between these two artworks so I chose them both. Maybe when I create my artwork I will incorporate both of them into one. 

Fishermen Drawing Nets - Walter Battis
Houses in the Hills - Gladys Mgudlandlu