Final Drawings- In Class Progress

These drawings are from our final drawing in class yesterday. Most of them are partially completed. I'll post finished pictures when I collect them on Monday.

Also, there are higher resolution pictures posted on Flickr here.

Kathie Webb show assignment #5

I thought that Kathie's show was absolutely amazing. Her technique and craftsmanship was unbelievable. She was a teacher of mine last semester so I new a little bit about the amount of time she was putting into all of these projects. She is one amazing person and for her to put together all of these projects while dealing with many trials and tribulations in her life is astonishing. I really liked the pieces of work that she included her daughter in and I thought it was very clever for her to take pictures of all of the places she had worked on her project. It defiantly fit her personality to display this. I also really like the piece of work called Everyday #2. She said it took her over 500 hours to finish it. That is an unbelievable amount of time. It showed character and it was beautiful. I also enjoyed the piece named Self Portrait age 3. It had beautiful colors!

Overall, Kathie did a fantastic job and Im really proud of her!

Assignment #6

This isKathe Kollwitz "MOTHER WITH CHILD IN HER ARMS" at the Printmaking Exhibit- NIU Museum and Matt Taylor's "WITH REVERENCE AND AWE" at the Jack Olson Gallery. I found both images fit very well together when comparing the emotion. Obviously one is very happy and one is very sad. The mother with her child shows how much joy and love can come out of life and its the little things that make us happy. To have someone to love and make you smile is priceless. 

On the other  hand, "With reverence and awe" shows how lonely and depressing life can be and how alone you can feel. The boy has no one with him and he is in a blank space. It definitely has a sad feel to it.

I was very impressed with both images and they spoke to me emotionally while viewing them. I think everyone has had a time in their life where they felt like both people in each image!

The two different pictures that I chose were Mother and Child by Kathe Kollwitz and one that I didn’t get he title or artist of (though I did take a picture and was hoping to be able to read the info from the picture that I took but it was too fuzzy). A lot of the artwork stood out to me but I was able to choose these two that I’d like to talk about.

When you first look at them you don’t really see much in ways of similarities. I really liked the Mother and Child one where you can see the emotion that’s going on between the two. The closeness and the love going on between the two is something that makes you think of your childhood or so.

The other piece was one that caught my attention because of (truthfully) the books and the one person in the front reading. I love to read and can get lost in the stacks of books. I love the way hair falls down and hides most of the features, allowing you to think of the person as anyone you’d like it to be. They both have separate feels, one lonely and the other closeness. They both have to deal with simple or few colors. The one you have the main focus on the two people and the other has the person in the corner and not as easily detected as the main person/focus except for the red color. The meanings aren’t the same type either. The main meaning that pops into my head when I first say the Mother and Child is something along the lines of ‘the bond between mother and child’ because of the expressions and focus on the two. The meaning that I get from the other one is something along the lines of ‘knowledge can be overwhelming /never-ending’ because of the fact that the person looks smaller than the books/and the mountain of books.

Kim Strom's record: i don't know who people are does not feature individual's faces clearly, or even the figure as a whole. Each piece is unique and can hold itself on its own. But together they form a series in which you want to know what the story is going on in those selected scenes. One may not know who these people are, but one is certainly intrigued by the moments from the 'good old times' captured on film. Making the pieces black and white gives that aged feeling, but also the lack of color gives a uniformed look. If there was color, that would also be open to interpretation as well.
Poikilothermal Reverie (part of The Search Triptych) by Driesbach, like Kim Strom's piece is divided into 3 pieces of work, all that can work on its on. All of which that engages the viewer by having them interpret what exactly is going on. As per the setting, one can tell it's from the past (the woman on the top right is holding a candle). However it is interpreted as that the various 'temperature' of colors suggests various degrees of consciousness (which would have not been interpreted if it were black and white). The man reclining is said to be dreaming about the events taking place above him. In contrast to the piece above in which you don't know what people are thinking or doing, but certainly can see what the reclining man is dreaming about.

Print Exhibition/Ars Nova

Anna Kenar, Flight

Käthe Kollwitz Death, Woman and Child, 1910
Death and the Woman Encircled the Child, 1911

I feel that both pieces address death. Kenar’s Flight takes an abstract approach finding figure and meaning through juxtaposing elegant forms. These forms may appear to be bones, muscle or feathers. This approach of death forms faceless decay. Flight proves that there is beauty in what is rotten.
Kollwitz works through figurative meaning in addressing death. Death, Woman and Child is of a mother and child in embrace. Although death does not take on a figurative representation, it feels very much present in this work. Kollwitz returns to this image a year later and produces Death and the Woman Encirlced the Child in 1911. This is a much stronger image than her first interpretation. This child looks thin almost wasted and the mother face is much like Kollwitz’s own. This reflects Kollwitz’s own lost of her son. She gives a chilling celebration of the bond between mother and child as the mother tries to shield the child from death.

I think that Kenar and Kollwitz share great attention to the mark making. The planes are defined so delicately that the forms just emerge.

Blogg

This "Shellac" poster (sorry its tilted) was in the Jay Ryan show at the Altgeld gallery. It was hard to pick a favorite, as the prints and posters were all so well executed and appealing. Anyway, i picked this one because its centralized composition caught my eye, and I happen to be a fan of radio towers and stars. The color scheme is succesful in its vintage approach, and Ryan's signature graphic style shines through in his comic line treatment. I envy his handcrafted design sensibility, as well as his choice in typography. I would pay a reasonable amount of money to own this poster, and i can't wait to take a printmaking class!

The title to this painting was something like Route 40: View From the Road.

Foolishly, i neglected to write down the name of the artist of this piece, but i suppose that's irrelevant anyway, cuz i don't the person who made it, so it might as well be anybody's. That said, its still a great painting, go look at it in the gallery. It's photorealistic, and its just downright melancholy. The grayscale works for the content. The brushstrokes are perfectly uniform, and I get the sense it took some time to complete this work. This looks like America to me, on a bad day. But this painting makes that a good thing.

These are late.

Theyre biologically inspired. My ceramics teacher referred to them as ovaries.. these are both part of an assignment that we had to use organic line for. I ran with that term. This picture is bad. I don't have the best camera in the world, and I'm far from a photographer.

Final Portfolio Requirements

The final Portfolios are Due Monday April 20th at the end of class.

Requirements:

• 5 long poses (30 minutes or longer) using value (reductive or additive).
• 2 pages of gesture drawings
  

Presentation:
You must have a protective sheet over each of the five value drawings. You can use newsprint or scrap paper for this. Put the whole thing into a folder made from paper, and label it with your name, and class # (200 or 201). Place it in the flat file in the drawing room.

Final Project Details

Two Is Better Than One

Description:
For this project we will be combining two figures into one drawing. This will be a large-scale drawing, and you will be completing it in two class sessions, one for the first pose, and one for the second. You will have a ‘practice run’ the second to last week of class to test out your materials and the combining of two poses into one drawing.


Materials Needed:
- Your choice of Charcoal, pencil, conte crayon, or black and white colored pencil.
- 20 x 30” or larger BFK Reeves paper if using charcoal, pencil, or conte crayon.
- 20 x 30” or larger mid-tone pastel paper if using colored pencil.
- Sketchbook (must bring with you to class)

Schedule:

Wednesday April 16th: Bring in materials that you plan to work with for the final project. We will be using these in class for two long poses.

Monday April 20th: Continue working in chosen materials. Final Portfolios Due.

Wednesday April 22nd: Practice run of final project. We will be combining two poses into one drawing. You must have your sketchbooks with you this day; we will be using them to plan the setup of our final drawings.

Monday April 27th: Final Project – Pose #1

Wednesday April 29th: Final Project – Pose #2

Monday May 4th: Final Critique – You have the option of handing in your final drawings at the end of class, or you can make changes and hand it in by Wednesday May 6th at 6:30 pm. You can hand it in any time before then by placing it in the class’s file. Anything handed in late will be severely marked down.

Final Drawing Pick-Up: They will be in the drawer in the drawing room. You may pick up your drawings any time after 3pm on Thursday May 7th. Also, please make sure you take your drawing pads off of the shelves on the last day of class. Anything left over the summer will be ruthlessly thrown away!

(Ailison Raffaele "Weiss") (Kathe Kallwitz "Non Sum Qualis Eram"

Ailison Raffaele's "Weiss" and Kathe Kollwitzs' "Non Sum Qualis Eram" both display a narrative through their beautiful but mysterious pieces. These works include darker values and small sections of brown and flesh color tones. Kollwitzs' spec of color is located in the skeleton's collar, while Raffaele's color is hidden in the face. Both pieces consists elegance such as Raffaele's carefree brush stroking for a floral background and Kollwitz's detailing for the hundred dollar bill. Both portraits seem to capture beauty in their dark surroundings. Benjamin Franklin is cast as a skeleton on his bill while Raffaele shows a beautiful lady hidden behind her long dark hair.

Kollwitzs' and Raffaele's pieces differ by media and interpretations. "Non Sum Qualis Eram" consists of screen printing on wood panels. As I approach Kollwitzs' piece, by how far these wooden panels exceed off the wall, the artist uses this method to not only create depth but bring out her message. The skeletal Benjamin Franklin on his one hundred dollar bill interprets money can nor purchase true joy but slowly brings death by greed. "Weiss" contains a ray of mixed media. From my perspective, the piece looks as if there are many types of washes, stains, and vanishes. "Weiss" captures the sad truth behind first impressions for physical appearance and not test their personality. The female portrait contains number facial piercings ( In my opinion, I enjoy piercings) though others will see piercings negatively. The floral background and the woman's thumbs up presents she is still beautiful and kind in the society though she hinds her face with her long black hair that blends in the background.

Losbruch (Outbreak)

1902-03

Kathe Kollwitz

Flight

54''x 42''

Anna Kenar

I chose two pieces that both address the subject of revolution and a push against or away from some opposing force. Anna Kenar, in her charcoal drawing, used various techniques to portray a revolt and metaphorical flight, afterwards. Kollwitz portrayed a physical and personified revolution responding to heightened tension and rebellion in Germany at the time. Both have very active gestural drawings to add drama and action to the revolt. As well as strong line work is present in both to create motion and fluidity thought out the artworks.

The ways that Anna Kenar and Kathe Kollowitz chose to describe and portray their revolution are very different in order to enhance the different types and time period of the revolt. Anna Kenar's is slightly less active and smooth, organic lines that give volume to the mass of figure/s, whom seem to be rising above whatever it is escaping, taking place after the conflict. Kathe Kollwitz used variable line weight and a prominent line network to bring some figures foreword and create motion and speed throughout the piece. In the foreground, the personification of Revolution has thick, fluid lines giving her a sense of throwing her fists hard up in the air, applauding the rebellion. Whereas the variable gestural line network present in the mass of bodies or mob, makes the people look like they are moving after different speeds and in different directions. The contrast between the light, foreground figure and the abysmal black background enhances the explosive growth and add depth. In Losbruch, "Revolution" is a dark figure in the foreground, maybe to portray her as being bleak but needed in the forefront. Revolution also serves as a stable element in the etching, while the mob in the middle ground and background appears to be in full motion, charging foreword. Although Losbruch and Flight address the topic of break away or revolt against popular ideal or an opposing force, Kollwitz created a more dramatic and more active artwork using gestural line work when compared to Anna Kenar's use of contrast and smooth transitional linework present in Flight.

Assignment #6

MATT TAYLOR- "WITH REVERENCE AND AWE" (Jack Olson Gallery)

Taylor's work portrays a very different meaning than Kollwitz piece. Taylor's piece is very depressing, sad, and gives off a sense of lonliness. This is executed by the body position, composition choice as a whole, and the materials choice. The figure has his head down, we see mostly his back, and his body is in an enclosed position. There is nothing placed in the background which gives of a sense of lonliness. The fact that the drawing is black and white also shows that it is a more depressing piece. If it were in color, the same effect wouldn't exist.

KATHE KOLLWITZ- "MOTHER WITH CHILD IN HER ARMS" (Printmaking Exhibit- NIU Museum)

Kollwitz work is also in black and white and there is nothing placed in the background, but the way that the work is displayed (mat board, and frame), and the body positions of the two figures gives off the opposite effect/ meaning than Taylor's piece does. The two figures embracing in a loving way, in an enclosed space shows that this is a very happy, wonderful composition. Unlike that of Taylor's which was depressed, lonely. Also the fact that there are two figures (not one) and that we see their faces smiling shows that they are happy. Both of these piece were wonderful to look at.

Daniel Ludewig's picks

These two pieces are entitled "Life Force" by Jacob Von Loden, (poster/ part of the student exhibit) and "Die Gefagener/ The prisoners" by Kathy Kollwitz (part of the Altegeld exhibit). There was a lot to choose from in the Altegeld hall. It was hard to choose one, but I picked "the prisoners because it kind of had the same theme that "Life Force" had. Life force has a little more pinash in it because I think it's supposed to be a movie poster. It has nice cool colors, unlike "the prsioners". Both of these pieces share the same morbid feeling. I noticed that there more death than life in the "Life and Death exhibit of Kathy Kollwitz". These two pieces have more in common than differences.

The texture of both pieces are articulant and help create movement (especially in "The Prisoners"). Both pieces bring the lighter parts of their composition to in the middle; this makes everything else sink back. One thing that "Life Force" posseses that "The prisoners" lack is a background. The "Big Ben" in the background gives a certain gothic/modern feeling. Where as in Kollwitz's piece, I dont know what group of people are being imprisoned. Besides no background, I think that "The Prisoners" is the stronger piece. It's very intense with wrinkles in the clothing, the muscles, and the tense facial expressions make the viewer read anguish.

Blog Assignment #6 - Ars Nova Student Show and the Printmaking Exhibition

For this assignment you need to visit both the Jack Olson Gallery for the Ars Nova Student Art Show, and Altgeld for the Printmaking exhibition.

1. Pick a piece from each show and post a picture of it on the blog along with the artist’s name and the title of the piece.
2. Write a 2 paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the two pieces you chose based on each of their meanings, and how the artists portray or communicate those meanings.

This assignment is due on Wednesday April 15th.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via my e-mail.


Links to the Shows (for hours and more information)
Printmaking Exhibition
Jack Olson Gallery (Ars Nova Student Show)