"This is Me" Self Portrait

I created this to see if I could sketch myself and to see if other people thought it looked like me. I have always liked to draw but I never really consider myself good at it, I just do it for the fun of it. One thing I wish is that I had more control over my shading, if I did I think my pictures would be much better. Also I never seem to be able to draw a nose correctly, overall I think its a good representation of me :)

A slide show of my favorite works of Art

The art of this culture.

I recently took a cruise and had the opportunity to visit Mexico. I love the Mayan culture, they were able to combine art and science together. The beautiful building in the background for example was also used as an observatory.

I love this piece of architecture.

This is the gorgeous Burj Dubai hotel, located in Dubai of course. I would love to one day see this in person, but at $2500 a night for the cheapest room I do not think it will happen anytime soon.

My favorite artist

Leonardo da Vinci is by far by favorite artist, and not just because of his wonderful artworks. Da Vinci was well ahead of his time. It is well known that he was also a scientist, but I do not think people realize how accurate he really was. Lenoardos glider for example was recently constructed (something Leonardo himself never got around to doing) and it was shown that it really could fly. Could you imagine where the world would be right now if he would have lived long enough to test this and some other ideas he never got around to?

High Museum Paper

I was lucky enough to visit the High Museum of Art in Atlanta Georgia while they were having an exhibition titled "The First Emperor".  I am glad I got to see this as it was a great exhibition. In fact I think I would have to say the entire exhibit was my favorite work of art. I especially enjoyed the terracotta worriers and their terracotta horses. This exhibit taught me something that I did not know, that being that these were the first "mass produced" works of art. They were each cast from a mold and then the individual features were added by hand to make them appear to all be different. It goes without saying that this work of art identifies a historic moment in time. This was the first emperor of china and he wanted to make sure he was remembered for eternity and I think he might have fulfilled that goal.

I also got to visit the "Louvre Atlanta" exhibit, I enjoyed it very much as well. I have always wanted to go the museum in Paris, so being a poor college student this was the next best thing. It was also a very interesting. It contained the piece of art that I liked but would not take home, a bronze statue called "Lion Crushing a Serpent" by Louis Barye. Even if it were possible to take this work of art home I just don't think it would fit in very well with my house, but I loved the detail of it. This exhibit contained several works that felt sad to me, one of them was a pictured of a women and her children. Unfortunately the high would not allow me to take pictures while in the museum so I am unsure of the author, but the painting was very "dark" to me and that aided in the sadness it conveyed.  The art that shocked me was of an Egyptian sculpture. It was shocking because it was on display at the Louvre in Pairs for more than 80 years before it was discovered to be a fake! 

In the decorative arts and design collection there was also a large solid silver pitcher that reminded me of my grandmother, because she would have love to have something like that on display in her own home.

When comparing the folk art and contemporary section to the rest of the museum I would have to say that I could relate to the folk art section much more than any other part. I guess this is because this section contained more or what I could consider "arts & craft" style works of art. This type of art seems more like something the everyday person could make themselves contrast that with the huge elaborate paintings in the other sections of the museum. I just felt more at home in that section then anywhere else.

The entire experience was great and it was very meaningful because I  turned it into a date and got to spend time with my girlfriend. She enjoyed the experience as much as I did and I think we will most certainly be going back sometime in the near future to explorer other aspects of the museum.

Poetry Slam

Resting low in the western sky,
giant_ red_ orb of fire.
Painting the heavens with
an artist’s hand,
The sun set in a glorious haze
of orange and red.
Setting the sea ablaze
with light and fire.

Sunset
by Elizabeth Melton Parsons

My right brain, my left brain.

I was curious as to which side of my brain was the dominate side so I did a little research and found a test to show you which side of your brain you are using (Source below).  

Which way do you see the figure below spinning? If clockwise then you are using your right brain, if counter clockwise you are using your left.

I would not have believed this if it wasn't for the fact that when I first pulled this up I seen the figure turning counter clockwise (I had just finished my algebra homework, Left brain function), but after a few seconds, the figure seemed to switch direction and was spinning clockwise. It turns out that I use the right side of my brain more as this is the default direction for me. With a little practice you can consciously control which side of your brain you are using and the direction the figure spins.

The orginal artical can be found here http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22556281-661,00.html

My photographic eye

The theme of this project is "Things seen around Carrollton in the rain".

Fashion as art

I think fashion and art go hand in hand, but they can also be combined together to make a statement. Alyssa Milano, dawned this dress made entirely of vegetables in order to promote vegetarianism. Now while I could never personally give up my steak and hamburgers, I do like the artistic quality of this fashionable statement. 

I'm having another catharsis

My life is like a ripple in the water. Just as a drop of water seems so unorganised and completely random in the beginning, so too was my life. It seemed so unorganised  at the begging of the semester, I had just lost my job and I wasn't sure if I had made the correct decision to return to school. The pressure of going from a full time job, to full time student has not been easy. But just like a drop of water, if you stare at it long enough you eventually begin to make out patterns and a mathematically symmetry begins to emerge. Now that we are nearing the end of the semester these patterns are starting to make sense in my life and I am hopeful that I will be able to continue on my journey and complete my degree.

This music video is a true work of art

This is not your typical music video, but it is definitely a true work of art. Most people take computer graphics for granted, but they forget that someone has to design them and make sure all of the parts fit together exactly right. It must have taken the artist hours to render the computer graphics, and make sure that the music track overlaid exactly to the animation. Its something that has to be seen to be appreciated, and that makes it a work of art in my opinion.

Graffiti

I found this graffiti while driving though Atlanta one night. This was the best picture I could get of it. Do I think it is art? This example no, however I did see some very artistic examples of some graffiti on the side of a train car, unfortunately I was not able to get a clear picture of them since the train was moving :(

Midterm Extra Credit 15 points

This is a picture of me by "The Shade" which was made by Auguste Rodin. It is located at the High Museum of Art. This statue was presented to the city of Atlanta by the French government in memory of those who died in the Orly air crash.

Dance

This is a funny video by comedian Judson Laipply called "The Evolution of Dance". If you think of dance as an art form then this guy will take us though its history with laughs along the way.

Ionic & Corinthian Columns - Midterm Bonus.

Here are my pics of Ionic and Corinthian Columns. Both of these were found in Carrollton.

Art on youtube 2

This is a really cool example of street art.

Art on youtube 1

This is an example of sand paiting. Its makeing pictures using sand a glass top with a light under it. Neat stuff.

Diorama Drama

The diorama that evoked an emotion in me had to do with Animal testing and it just happened to be made by one of my Team mates, Amanda.
This brought out both Anger and Sadness, as I was angry that people can treat animals this way and I also felt sad for the Monkey.

This diorama taught me something I did not know/realise. That if you don't spay / neuter your pets then it can casue more strays to end up in the pound and be put to sleep :(


I thought this diorama was very creative. I liked the 3D aspects of this one.


I have something to say about this dirorama. I thought her diorama was very cute and a good way to promote adoption.


The message in this diorama could be considered propaganda. At least to me it reminded me more of an add for a movie theater than what I think the message was suppose to convey.

My blogroll

Besides blogger I enjoy these blog sites.
http://www.thoughts.com/site/land1?gclid=CI3rq9rrvpgCFQazsgodtBOGaQ
A place for general blogs on all matter of subjects.

I also enjoy reading my friends blogs on myspace.
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.home

http://www.green-blog.org/
A good place to learn about going green

A bolg about Technology
http://www.2dayblog.com/

And since I am a nerd, a blog about Science
http://www.sciencebits.com/

Art and human behavior

The image to the left is an artist conception of neurons firing in the brain. I thought this was fitting for human behavior since when you break behavior down into its basic parts it all originates from the brain. Also I've always thought that the arrangements of neurons have an artistic beauty in themselves as they look like a forest of trees.

Art and the human condition

This is a picture of the 15ft tall superman statue in Metropolis IL. I thought it did a good job or representing the conditions we would like to find in all of us.

Art and the human struggle

This picture to the left is from an artist named Greg Collin, and is titled "The Struggle Within". If I could afford it I would love to have the original which is an oil on canvas. I thought this was a perfect example of the human struggle. How each and every day we all have the struggle with ourselves and decide if we are going to make the right choices or not.

Art and human nature

I think part of human nature is to want to explore the things around us. When I see the picture to the right I immediately wonder "Whats down that road?", "Whats on the other side of those trees?". I think this artist did a good job at catching this curiosity of human nature, whether that was the intention or not.

My Diorama

My diorama has to do with the way we are polluting the environment. 

There are two parts. First there is a hole on the side of the box that if you look though you will see how nature use to be. There is a glacier, a stream, and a forest.

When viewed from the other side, you see the effects mankind has had. The forest has been cut down, a factory has been built and an oil spill is killing the wildlife. 

Meet this artist I know.

Sarah, aka Seduff, is a 28 year old TV editor from Australia. She has a BA in Media Studies/Graphic Design. She spends her free time editing videos on youtube. She likes to take TV shows she enjoys and re-edit the scenes. One of her favorites (and mine) is a British TV show called Doctor Who.
Sarah is a true artist in the sense that she edits in such away that the clips (although pre-existing) become a story of their own. She can make the clips take on emotions that were not present in the original episodes from which they were taken.
Even if you are not familiar with the shows, you can get an understanding of them because of the way they "become" an episode in themselves.
Below is an example of her work titled The Lonely Angel. Again, these are clips which are taken from many different episodes of Doctor Who and joined to make something entirely new.

Why I believe this film is a work of art.

The 1998 film What Dreams May Come is a true art work on may different levels.

First, the story line, while triadic has an underlying meaning that can be interrupted in several ways. The way I take this message is that you are the only person that can make yourself happy. Chris (Played by Robbin Williams), is not happy even in his death. He finds himself in Heaven and although surrounded by wonderful beautiful landscapes, he is unable to be happy. He eventually finds a way to save his wife from Hell (of her own creation) and the two are once again able to be together.

Second, the art work in the film painted by Chis' wife Annie (Annabella Sciorra), is not only good art in and of itself, but it becomes part of the beauty in heaven. In fact it becomes the world in which Chris now travels. Oils and Paint become "alive" and take the place of the flowers and trees.

Third, although the movie starts out very depressing, by the end it lifts your spirits in such away that you cant help but feel rejuvenated by life. Isn't that what all good Art should do?

I’m having a catharsis.

I was recently laid off from my job which I had held for 8 years. Like many Americans I was now suddenly faced with many decisions. The art below represents what I was feeling at the time. There are many different feelings shown by the many colors, going in all different directions. Lots of paths for the colors to take, just as there are lots of paths I could now take in my life. I think the spot in the bottom right which is dominated by a large patch of color represents the current path I am on; the path to finish college. If you look closely you will notice there is also a hint of blue right in the middle, this could represent internal cleansing.

Free Post

This is my personal blog for an Art class that I am taking at UWG. This class is not required for me as I have already completed my core classes in this section. So why am I taking it? Well I had thought about taking this class back when I was trying to complete my core but was never able to work it into my schedule. Since I now have all the "free time" I could want I decided this would be a fun class to take.

I just added the class so I am not exactly sure what to blog about yet so for now I will just leave you with this. I feel that art can take many different forms, take for example the motorcycle below. Could this motorcycle be functional art? Its both pleasing to the eyes (mine at least) and makes a statement when ridden.