James Audubon John James Audubon was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He painted wildlife, mostly birds. His paintings are very much done by observation, which I think the artist finds important. Each of the birds he paints is in its natural habitat, every detail observed from the real beauty of nature. Audubon documents nature using watercolor paintings of what he sees. Most of his paintings are done in an almost portrait-like style, focused on making the birds the subjects. Everything is also very detail-oriented. Every inch of plumage and feathers, as well as every aspect of the backgrounds and surroundings of the birds, are depicted with the most excellence. However, his documentation of nature was considered very controversial. He found it difficult to paint live, moving birds. So, he would often kill the bird first, turning it into a taxidermy, and then proceeding to capture the beauty of that bird. This attention to beauty and detail tells the viewer how in tuned the artist was to his subjects. It is clear that he had a real passion for birds, and painted them so beautifully that his skill cannot go unnoticed. Each bird looks majestic and lovely in its own way, and I love how Audubon manages to pull that off. This artist has helped the conservation of birds because as his paintings bring attention to their beauty, some of their desire to kill such beautiful creatures will dissipate. It brings awareness to the individuality of each bird, and I think that as people look at his work, they are filled with more of an appreciation of those lives. Also, because of Audubon, and organization was founded after him that is dedicated to the preservation of birds, which shows his true impact. Maria Sibylla Merian Maria Sibylla Merian was one of the most talented scientific illustrators. She held observation to be very important. Before cameras were even invented, she acted as the eyes for the world by painting highly realistic pictures of insects and flowers. Detail is prominent in her work, capturing incredibly accurate images for the rest of the world. As her art style developed, she began to draw from living beings rather than pinned or prepared specimens. Maria documented nature in a very extraordinary, detailed way. Many of her pieces are solely focused on the subject, devoid of any background color or distracting flourishes. Her work had a strong influence on scientific illustration, and she was actually the first to depict the different life stages certain insects go through. These detailed drawings tell the reader about her dedication to scientific illustration and how her work truly impacted the scientific community and the awareness of people around her. This artwork may increase the cause of conservation for insects and plants, as people will become aware of the beautiful world of smaller living being that inhabit the earth around us. There may be an increase in interest due to the beautifully done, detailed pieces depicting various insects and flowers. They make a person aware of how amazing the world around them is, causing an increase in a desire to protect that nature. Brandon Ballengee Brandon Ballengee has used his ecological field and laboratory research to study the developmental deformities and population declines in amphibians. Ballengee uses his combined interest in both art and science to pursue his goals and make a difference. He uses observation of nature to understand and research the structure of amphibians, along with the deformities and declines he has been noting. Then, he brings observation into the artistic part of his work, in which he creates a beautiful, vibrant piece highlighting the internal parts of the amphibian using preserved corpses of the amphibians and other species. The colors of each piece are vibrant and beautiful, many of his projects mounted on Plexiglas. These art projects tell the viewer of Ballengee's creativity and passion, intent on his research and artistic goals. This also shows the viewer that art, creativity, and scientific research can go hand-in-hand to make a difference in the world. Ballengee's work helps to increase conservation of animals because as he researches how human and non-human life alike are affected by climate change and other ecological issues. Ballengee partners with specialists of art and science, striving to understand localized environmental problems and spread awareness to the fact that we all, as individuals, have the power to make a difference for our earth and for the animals that coexist with us. AJames Prosek
James Prosek is an artist, a writer, and a naturalist. His focus seems to be on fish and other various animals. He goes out into the field in different areas of the world and conducts observations and research in order to learn more about that species and about how the live, as well as what factors may be hindering their thriving. Prosek then uses those observations he made in order to create his stunning artwork. He believes that drawing from observation will increase your coordination and help you become a better observer of the world. Prosek documents nature through water color paintings and drawings, many of his pieces done either on wood or on material with a toned background. His pieces are beautifully colored and intricately detailed, truly showing how strong his observation skills are. Many of Prosek's works are also focused on silhouettes of birds, fish, and other creatures, rather than depicting all of the details. Prosek does this to explore the beauty of the form of those creatures, rather than knowing exactly what kind of animal it is and what it looks like. We, as people, are so quick to label things, and Prosek wants the viewers of his work to learn to appreciate the beauty of the world without knowing everything about it. Through this, the viewer can develop a deeper sense of respect for the artist's work. It is very admirable that he found a way to use his education in naturalistic ideas and his artwork to create something new. This tells the viewer to remain observant, and always look for opportunities and passions together to make something full of originality. Prosek's artwork encourages conservation of animals, more specifically trout and birds. Worldwide Trout, an organization founded by Prosek and another naturalist, is an on-going conservation effort attempting to help conserve the trout worldwide. The presence of trout is important because they help our water to stay clean. Prosek has also been partnering with the founder of Patagonia, which is selling T-shirts that feature Prosek's artwork. Patagonia is very dedicated to the conservation of trout, which is why they are always pointing others toward joining the World Trout Association. 9/27/2017 0 Comments Finished Final Identity ProjectThis week I was able to complete my final Identity Project piece. Above is the first step took after drawing all the skin of the face and hands. I tediously pieced together small photos with a darker background, most of them portraits of refugees and various images of my friends. The next images will show the progression this idea will take. These photos show the piece put together as a whole. The hair is completed with photos of refugees and my friends and loved ones, and the skin blends into photos with tan or skin-colored backgrounds. Behind my head
9/27/2017 0 Comments 3D Leaf ExerciseToday in class, we continued the study of observational drawing by drawing leaves. We were each given a leaf to draw, and told to complete the 3D composition within 15 minutes using 3 colored pencils. Again, I struggled to finish the drawing that quickly, especially because my leave was so complex. The leaf I was drawing was torn and ragged, causing my job to become much more difficult. The photo above shows how much I managed to complete within the time frame. After those 15 minutes were up, and since I was not yet completed with the drawing, I was allowed to finish it. This is pictured below. I really enjoyed this exercise because it allowed a break from our other larger projects and continued to help me practice my observational drawing skills.
9/27/2017 0 Comments 3D Cup ExerciseYesterday, class began with a challenge. We were instructed to use one color to draw the red silicon cup in front of us using either cross-hatching, stippling, or shading. I chose to use shading. But here's the catch: we had to complete this drawing in 15 minutes. This was a challenge for me, as I have never really practiced much speed drawing. I struggled to get the shading just right in order to give the cup that 3D look. I got some of the basic shadows completed, but the hyper realistic look proved difficult for me to accomplish in 15 minutes. Nonetheless, I think this exercise only helped my hand-eye coordination to become stronger.
This week we have been brainstorming final identity piece ideas. I struggled to find ideas for awhile, and I only got as far as planning to draw a portrait of myself. I wasn't sure how to find a deeper meaning in my work, until Mrs. Whitney asked me what message I wanted to convey about myself, and what I really value. That's when I realized that I value people, whether that is people in need, my family, or my friends. So much about my identity is centered around the love of people and the desire to help them and show them how much they are cared for. I have been thinking a lot about refugees, and my desire to help them. So, for my project, I am planning to draw a portrait of myself and do all the shading and color by filling it with pictures of other people.
9/14/2017 0 Comments Finished Personality Box ProjectThis week I finished my personality box project. This project is focused on objects that I feel identify my personality or that I find valuable. I covered the outside of the box with colorful paper, a gold theme being carried throughout. The inside of the box is layered with photos, which I consider to be objects, of my friends and family, people that I value and have had a significant impact on the person I am today. The photos are also full of memories and feelings, abstract things about myself that I cannot capture other than through pictures. and artwork. I also included clippings from letters or notes from people I love in the background. One of them is a note from my boyfriend, and the other I cut out of a letter I received from my best friend when she was living in Europe.
Exploring the aspects of shelves, I split the box in half with a piece cut from the lid of the shoe box. On the shelf is a small compartment designed to hold the small shell casing that belonged to my grandmother, This is an object that I have always seen as a small part of the history of my family, since it belonged to my great grandmother and my mom passed it down to me. It is simple, yet beautiful, and I have always valued it. On the shelf, I also included a shell I found on the beach on one of my family vacations, as well as a small wooden heart that my grandmother bought for me on our trip to the NC Art Museum when I was younger. There is also a small string of charms hanging from the roof of the box, which was a table decoration on the table at last year's prom. These objects are full of memories for me. On the bottom shelf, the floor of the box is covered with a decorative card that I received from my friend in Europe. Inside, she wrote words of encouragement, which were much needed at the time I received them. Her love and friendship has been a huge part of my life, and that is why I chose to include the card. Sitting on top of the card are my corsages from the past two proms that I have gone to. One is full of red roses, and the other is decorated with a white rose. These objects also hold significant meaning and memories to me. Glued to the front side of the shelf is a bouquet of dried roses mounted on a small platform. These roses are still beautiful, despite the fact that they are dried. They still reflect the memories and love of the people that I care about. I will always be able to look back on those memories, especially through these objects that I have collected. 9/14/2017 0 Comments Clay ExerciseIn class this week, we were introduced to a new exercise using clay. We were given a ball of clay and instructed on how to create a head and face. I personally have not worked with clay very much, so my experience is limited. But I enjoyed the project despite my inexperience. While it did not turn out exactly as I envisioned, it was a growing experience to me and I was able to learn more about how to handle clay. After I finished the exercise, I did not have a strong attachment to the project, so I decided to let the clay be reused. I had a lot of fun squishing it and deforming the fact into some interesting expressions.
9/11/2017 0 Comments Research BlogEl Mac The human face is vivacious, animated, and full of beauty and emotion. Proportion, texture, motion, and color are all vividly displayed in the countenance of each person. Artist El Mac utilizes this beauty of the human face through graffiti, fine art, and photo-realism in his stunning artwork. Mac creates massive murals and smaller compositions of people, emphasizing the underlying implications of emotion, empowerment, and the influence of culture. Usually these murals are of friends of El Mac, of people from the Mexican Culture, or of anonymous subjects. The color, size, dynamic, and splendor of Mac's work has become well-known around the world, the beauty of his masterfully crafted portraits inspiring other artists and the community around him. Although Miles MacGregor, known as El Mac, was born in LA in the 1980s, he was also raised in Pheonix Arizona. His father was an engineer and his mother was an artist, so Mac naturally grew up studying art. He grew up around mostly Mexican and Chicano culture, a factor which later became one of the biggest impacts on his artwork. Although he did not undergo training at an art school or become an apprentice, he was very much influenced by his mother and her love for art. He began learning to draw portraits by sketching family members and friends, his developing into something deeper. Most of his knowledge and skills are derived from his study of classical artists and the Mexican and Chicano cultures, one of the reasons his work is so important to art history. His avocation for these cultures have become inspiring images of empowerment and beauty, while also commenting on the constant immigration issues going on in the world. The aspect of street art also makes Mac's art important, because street art allows the world to see and understand Mac's emotions as well as his impact on society. Throughout his career, Mac has been commissioned to do several murals around the world. Some of these murals have become well-known landmarks, especially the collaborations with graffiti artist Retna. Mac's work never fails to inspire and uplift, the stunning detail and power of his compositions outstanding. Throughout Mac's work, he uses mostly acrylic paint and spray paint. Most of his work can be defined as photo-realistic graffiti, his unique style intriguing. Utilizing the spray paint, Mac puts a contemporary spin on the conventional human portrait. He uses rippling, continuous contour lines to give the piece motion and proportion, most of his work focused on the detail and emotion of his subject's face. A majority of his portraits seem to be of women, although he has done male subjects as well. All of his pieces seem to reflect a look of solemnity and power, strength and dignity adding to the beauty of both his mural work and his smaller indoor pieces. His goal is to create portraits that depict anonymous Mexican laborers and indigenous people who would not typically have a place in the history of portraiture. Mac attributes his inspiration to many of the classic artists and symbolists such as Caravaggio, Vermeer, Klimt, and Mucha. Another of Mac's influences was his mother, who was an artist, and is the reason he began creating art in the first place. This piece, titled "Nuestra Gente" (Our People), is a collaboration between El Mac, Mando Rascon, and Pablo Luna, done in Pheonix, Arizona. The background designs nearest to the face were painted by Mando, and the darker designs around the edges were painted by Pablo. El Mac did the center subject, the stunning profile of the woman glancing downward and to the right. The entire piece is painted in only gray, white, and tan. The woman's expression is serious, her lips parted slightly and the shadows on her chiseled cheekbone and jaw giving the piece a dramatic effect. Her long black hair is flowing, a few small wisps brushing across her cheek as if there is a slight wind present. There are white spirals in her hair, reminding me of floating dandelion seeds. She looks to be of Mexican or Chicano culture, which would correlate with Mac's style, but it is possible that she is of different race. There is a rather large, silver earring dangling from her ear, possibly a symbolic element in the piece. Looking past the face, it can be found that there are graffiti-like designs creating a circle around the subject, and then extending to a shade of darker gray. The entire piece is done in such a way that you are still able to distinguish the brick-like feeling of the surface, each rectangle still somewhat noticeable. This piece makes me feel drawn in and inspired, questioning the deeper meanings it could hold. In a way I feel invigorated because the power and fearlessness of the woman El Mac chose as the subject. Her beauty stuns me, and the mystical element of her expression is gripping. The whole piece is created with precise strokes of spray paint and acrylic along the brick surface. Throughout the piece, you can see the spirals and precise strokes used by Mac to enhance the dynamic feeling of the work. There is almost a geometrical feel to the whole thing, especially in the highlight and shadows defining the subject's cheekbone, along her jaw, and in her hair. Each line of spray paint almost seems to vibrate and ripple off the brick surface. The patterns and letters surrounding the woman do not have that look, but rather are solidly filled in and outlined with defining borders. The whole piece gives a sense of power, beauty, and mystery. Every stroke of spray paint and acrylic fits the piece together as a whole, and despite the fact that it was a collaboration of multiple artists, it is cohesive. It's as if through this image, you can see right into the emotions of the subject. Her personality and even the sound of her voice can be imagined just through this one representation of her. Standing alone in the city of Pheonix, Arizona, her beauty goes unrivaled, and Mac's ability to portray the beauty of the human face remains unmatched. This piece was done by El Mac in Viet Nam during his tour to different countries. The piece was done on the outside of the Sán Art independent artist space there. He did it based on a photo of his girlfriend's grandmother, Kosoom. This project took much time and patience, especially considering the perpetual heat, humidity, rain, and mosquitoes that were in odds against Mac during his work. But his perseverance caused him to push on, working hard so that the piece turned out just how he wanted it to. This painting strikes me as very personal. He used a subject that he knows personally, continuing with his theme of culture and strength. To me, the woman's face displays both warmth and power. There is a faint smile decorating her lips, yet there is wisdom and experience reflected in her eyes. She looks like someone one would be able to confide in, reminding me of one of those warm, grandmother figures who not only have a caring spirit, but also inhabit a strong, meaningful character. Because of this aspect, the piece makes me feel interested and happy, and I almost wish I could sit down and listen to the stories she, Kosoom, has to tell. Through examination of the piece, it is noticeable that Mac chose to use colors that would match the mural's environmental surroundings. Even her skin and her clothing has a slightly green tint, a teal glow running along her shoulders. The piece seems to fit right into the area around it, nestled in the shadow of the trees and jungle atmosphere around it. For this piece, Mac once again used spray paint and acrylic. He started with basic underlying shades and slowly built up the the spray-painted details and highlights. Just like the last piece, the shadows and defining highlights are made up of careful strokes, the colors forming spiraling patterns that seem to ripple, giving the piece a dynamic feel. Every line alludes to so much detail, the dramatic shadows and wrinkle lines portraying the woman's inner strength and emotion. This style is unique and very interesting, something that El Mac has clearly mastered. Ultimately, it is clear that Mac's artwork is not only beautiful, but also powerful. His talent and passion for his artwork is inspiring, drawing your attention to the deeper meanings of his artwork. His modern spin on portraiture is stunning, and each of his pieces speak of beauty, empowerment, and culture. El Mac strikes me as someone who truly sees people for who they are, rather than all the stereotypes and expectations that may burden those people. He has the ability to convey all of the emotions and characteristics of a person just in the way he paints their face. This talent is something I strive for, and I can only hope to someday be as influential as this artist. Works Cited https://soldart.com/a/el-mac/][
http://www.complex.com/style/2012/10/25-awesome-contemporary-portrait-artists/el-mac http://www.isupportstreetart.com/artist/el-mac/ https://streetartnews.net/2015/06/nuestra-gente-new-mural-by-el-mac-in.html http://mac-arte.blogspot.com/2010/08/viet-nam.html http://mac-arte.blogspot.com/ http://elmac.net/about http://www.complex.com/style/2012/10/25-awesome-contemporary-portrait-artists/el-mac http://www.streetartbio.com/about-el-mac-biography https://www.kcet.org/shows/artbound/el-mac-making-the-ordinary-extraordinary |
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