Videos
Power of Art: 1 Caravaggio, and El Greco: Rediscovering a Master
1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.
Caravaggio I choose because it's a name I'd heard before with interesting stories attached that I'm pretty unfamiliar with. Thought this would be a perfect opportunity to learn more about him. El Greco was a name I wasn't familiar with versus the other options available, and I wanted to broaden my knowledge on a master artist.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
Power of Art: 1 Caravaggio goes into the life of the infamous Spanish painter Caravaggio. He starts off as a painter outside the norm, by skipping "learning" to draw, and goes right into painting. This seemingly drastic step mirrors the tenor of his life, pushing against the norms of the time, challenging boundaries. He's noted for being a voice for the poor and pauper.
El Greco: Rediscovering a Master was a much drier video to watch, versus the very dramatized telling of Caravaggio's story. I had to rewatch the video to retain information from it to share. Basically, it discussed the large impact he had on artists of his time, and thereafter. Such as extremely influential artists like Picasso.
3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The films went over life of the specific artists of their eras which also happened to be the eras within the book.
4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to the understanding of the readings and art concepts?
The Caravaggio film was enjoyable to watch, and the El Greco film was not. The additional characterization added to my understanding of Caravaggio was enlightening. The struggles of an artist surviving in the time they live, with the skills and views they have, are interesting to me. El Greco's life was much less dramatic, but still, he maintained his own form of respectable defiance of the standards existing at the time.
Making Art
1. What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing?
I've done a similar exercise before, drawing my hand, though not with my non-dominate hand. You always hear about hands being difficult to work with, which I stand by, but I'm not that great of an artist.
2. What media did you select - pencil or charcoal? Why?
I selected a pencil because it's easier to work with. Charcoal gets messy pretty fast with my dominant hand, and I couldn't imagine how unrecognizable trying to draw with my non-dominate hand would have turned out.
3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand?
It felt off and frustrating at times. Took muuuuch longer to get out just a basic design of a hand, which makes sense given it's not my dominant hand, but man! The amount of time it took, quite frustrating.
4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they are successful studies?
Studies are just that, studies, so do I feel that they're successful, yes. Do I feel that they're technically good, no, but that's where more practice and work come into play.
5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future?
It got easier the more I used my left hand, and I could feel it getting better. Part of me kind of enjoys the idea of training my left hand to do more, but I don't see myself actually taking the time out to do that. So, likely, no, I don't see myself using my left hand to create artwork in the future, at least not of my own doing.
