Unit #1: Visual Conversations: A contemporary Response
What is this unit prompt all about?
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Essential Questions for this project: |
This unit is about responding to an iconic and well known artwork(s) with a lens on art history. You will research the artist, the art movement this piece is categorized under while investigating the themes and ideas this particular piece is addressing and how that relates to the context in which it was created in.
Your studio art response to this work could take on the form of appropriation or could simply nod and acknowledge the original artwork and artist but show us another side to the ideas and themes addressed in the original piece, perhaps within the current contextual framework you live in and experience. You will create a completely new artwork but your piece is either a response to the original work or a transformed appropriated version of the work changing the theme and context, and perhaps even the media. Contemporary artists, as well as artists throughout history, have tackled this approach to making art. I'll provide example below of artists working today who have used an artwork from another time period to reinvent in a personalized way. |
How can we visually respond to an artwork made in a different time and place, exemplifying different ideas and ideals?
How can we visually respond to a work demonstrating our knowledge about the original artwork through the lens of art historical context? How can we visually respond in a way that demonstrates our own values while still connecting to the meaning of the original work?* *Perhaps we are doing so by highlighting what is missing in the original work or by using imagery that shows another contextual or cultural lens. |
Studio Outcome:
Your final studio should be in conversation with the artwork(s) you are researching from a chosen art movement. Your work may consist of 1 singular piece or a series of pieces.
MEDIA/FORM:
You may work in ANY media you choose, but I encourage you to work in 2D materials for the first project of the semester.
-any wet media (oil paint, acrylic paint, ink)
-mixed media and found materials: assemblage
-collage and photomontage, image transfers
-a combination of any of the above
Some possibilities:
-Remake/Retelling of an iconic/classic story from another viewpoint
-Changing the narrative of the original artwork and transforming it to reflect your own story or an aspect of your identity
-A "time capsule" of sorts of our world today, from a specific theme(s) or angle: capitalism and consumerism, gender issues, climate change, Los Angeles or merging it with other cities that represent "home" to you, etc.
MEDIA/FORM:
You may work in ANY media you choose, but I encourage you to work in 2D materials for the first project of the semester.
-any wet media (oil paint, acrylic paint, ink)
-mixed media and found materials: assemblage
-collage and photomontage, image transfers
-a combination of any of the above
Some possibilities:
-Remake/Retelling of an iconic/classic story from another viewpoint
-Changing the narrative of the original artwork and transforming it to reflect your own story or an aspect of your identity
-A "time capsule" of sorts of our world today, from a specific theme(s) or angle: capitalism and consumerism, gender issues, climate change, Los Angeles or merging it with other cities that represent "home" to you, etc.
Process Portfolio
exemplary example pages-link here
- 2 pages- Start of the year ideaweb
- 1 page- Notes: Guerilla Girls, other art videos
- 1 page- FTC - Mark Bradford
- 2 pages- FTC-Broad Artist
- 2 pages- Media testing (collage, 4 zoom ins with viewfinder)
- 1 page- brainstorm/ ideaweb- Project 1
- 1 page- initial ideas/research on ‘narrative’ or the artwork you are using as a conversation piece
- 1 page-FTC on a second artist of your choice-THEME or MEDIA
- 1 page- extra Media Testing in the media you plan to use for your project (do you need special materials?)
- 1 page- Developing ideas/Composition Sketches
- 1 page- FINAL PLAN -next Wednesday 9/20
Yao Lu
form/THEME/CONTEXT
Form: photography and photoshop/photo manipulation
Theme: Landscape painting, Industrialization, paying homage to ancient Chinese ink landscape painting
Context: born in 1967, Beijing born and based, professor of Photography
Theme: Landscape painting, Industrialization, paying homage to ancient Chinese ink landscape painting
Context: born in 1967, Beijing born and based, professor of Photography
Mark Tansey
Mark Tansey
Achilles and the Tortoise 1986, oil on canvas Artforum article about Mark Tansey's work, focusing on Achilles and the Tortoise-link |
Shirin Neshat-calligraphy on photo prints, exploring gender/culture
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Robert Lee Davis -working with collage and paint, exploring the changing definition of "home"
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William Kentridge- working with charcoal and animation
Art 21 Artist / Theme Lookup-link
Artists who work with 2D Mixed Media
Lari Pittman
John Baldessari Shirin Neshat Mark Bradford Tschabalala Self Lorna Simpson Nijideka Akunyili Crosby |
Mixed Media Pinterest Board-Link
Ian Murphy-Mixed Media Artist
Drawing Media Testing
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The Creative Process: In the Sketchbook
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The Creative Process: In the Studio |
1. 1 page Personal Reflection:
What are your goals for yourself in this class?
What are your goals as an artist? As an artist, what type of work are you hoping to create? What media/art forms do you want to continue working with and elevating/pushing your technical skills in this media/art form? What media/art forms do you have little experience in but high interest in learning more about and trying out in a project this coming semester? What initial ideas do you have about any of your projects? What causes/issues in the world do you care about deeply? I'd like you to write these down as they may fuel some of the work you end up creating. What themes/ideas are you quite interested in? ART 21 THEMES Did you explore any specific themes or ideas in your work last year? How might your work continue in that vein? Are there any artists (dead or alive) who come to mind as artists you admire in terms of their artwork (innovation, style, ideas, media)? Who do you aspire to make work similar to? 2. 2 pages Gallery Review
Go to this folder in our shared Google Drive to read a detailed description of this assignment
3. 1 page -2 Mini FTCs Directions: -Explore the Guggenheim's Storylines Exhibition here-LINK This is an interactive site that unfortunately does not work over school wifi but will work at your home wifi. Spend some time looking at at least 10 pieces of work and reading about how this piece fits under the umbrella theme of the narrative or storytelling and ask yourself what other more specific themes this piece is exploring. -Choose 2 artworks/artists to do mini FTCs about. A mini FTC is a half page in your sketchbook, 3 column write up with bullet points addressing the FTC prompts HERE and also attached to this assignment. 1 column for Form, 1 column for Theme, and 1 column for Context. Please watch this video introducing Form/Theme/Context as it goes very in depth and will help you with this assignment. -It is important you use ART SPECIFIC vocabulary when describing the work under the column of FORM. See this vocabulary handbook for support. As a reminder, use 1 artwork to analyze Form, and for Theme and Context, it would be wise to look at more artworks by the specific artist and learn more about the artists background to fill in these areas. Please refer to the FTC Analysis page under the Resources section for help. 4. 1 page- Initial Ideas Draw out at least 3 sketches/ideas of where you could take this project. Make annotations (written descriptions) of what media you might use for this work and how your choice of imagery helps support your message/idea. You may have 1 idea that you are feeling very attached to, and if this is the case how could you visualize this idea in 3 different ways. 5. 1 page-full FTC on self selected artist exploring storytelling in their work. I've provided a long list above. -See this page for examples of excellent FTCs 6. 1 page -Developing Ideas / Composition Planning/Research Delve into more detail about your favorite of the 3 ideas you jotted down for initial ideas. Or perhaps you can combine the best of your 2 ideas together to create something new. Answer these questions as you write about your envisioned work: -How does this idea address the theme of the narrative? -What more specific themes/ideas does this piece address? (check the THEME LIST) -What additional research do you need to do to really understand and know your topic? For example, if you want to approach this like Frank Romero's Police Brutality painting series, you'll need to research the history behind these injustices. -How will the media (FORM) support the theme of your work? Think about the visual effects you can create with particular media and how it will help the intended mood/meaning for your work? Create 3 compositional sketches envisioning more detail about your favorite idea. Do you have to do any additional media testing in order to start your project successfully? 7. 1 page -Final Plan |
Media Testing-You should all try AT LEAST 3 types of media techniques using a photo reference from your camera roll (take photos of your media testing OR stick the media testing directly into your sketchbook) -at least 1 dry media -at least 1 wet media Options for media testing: -wrinkled paper layer using matte medium with acrylic color stain -experimenting with positive/negative space and zooming in with torn paper, masking tape, ink and graphite -image transfer with colorless blender -photocopy collage on cardboard with translucent matte medium color coating -textured/multi-patterned surfaces-using modeling paste, masking tape, gesso |
Final Idea/Final Plan Critique
1 page in sketchbook-The final idea page is a thorough plan in your sketchbook of what you plan to do in your project before you begin.
The final idea page should include:
VISUAL:
-a quarter to half page sketch in color of what you imagine your project to look like.
-Think about your layout and composition (organization of shapes within the picture plane).
-What type of compositional balance are you using? Symmetrical, Asymmetrical? Where will the visual weight lie in the image? What size/scale do you intend for your work to be?
WRITTEN:
-INTENTION: What is your "thesis statement" or intention of this artwork. What is the message/meaning in this piece related to your story/identity?
-PERSONAL CONNECTION: Where are you in this piece? How is it a reflection or snapshot of who you are?
-FORM SUPPORTING THEME: How are you expressing this message visually? This can be from a variety of things: your chosen color scheme, use of value contrast, materials, imagery, how you create visual emphasis etc.
-ARTIST INSPIRATION: What artist has influenced your ideation so far? Explain what you are "borrowing" from them.
-MEDIA: What media will you use in this project? How will your choice of media support your message/meaning?
-PROCESS: What will your steps be in making this work? List out your steps of what you need to acquire, what you need to do first, second, third etc.
The final idea page should include:
VISUAL:
-a quarter to half page sketch in color of what you imagine your project to look like.
-Think about your layout and composition (organization of shapes within the picture plane).
-What type of compositional balance are you using? Symmetrical, Asymmetrical? Where will the visual weight lie in the image? What size/scale do you intend for your work to be?
WRITTEN:
-INTENTION: What is your "thesis statement" or intention of this artwork. What is the message/meaning in this piece related to your story/identity?
-PERSONAL CONNECTION: Where are you in this piece? How is it a reflection or snapshot of who you are?
-FORM SUPPORTING THEME: How are you expressing this message visually? This can be from a variety of things: your chosen color scheme, use of value contrast, materials, imagery, how you create visual emphasis etc.
-ARTIST INSPIRATION: What artist has influenced your ideation so far? Explain what you are "borrowing" from them.
-MEDIA: What media will you use in this project? How will your choice of media support your message/meaning?
-PROCESS: What will your steps be in making this work? List out your steps of what you need to acquire, what you need to do first, second, third etc.
Examples of Final Idea pages
Final Plan Group Critique
Critique File Download
critique-_whats_my_story_.docx |
Artist Statement Guidesheet
artist_statement_identity_mixed_media.pdf |