Image Essay #2

M.C. Escher has brilliant take on a self-portrait in his lithograph "Hand with Reflecting Sphere." The image is so intriguing and gripping, first because it is unlike any other self-portrait I have ever seen; with the area of focus, the artist himself, contained in a metallic sphere. Your eyes simply gravitate inward towards him, as all existential groupings form around him. The little objects surrounding him suction your eyes. The focal point is further attributed by the brilliant use of dominant black around the sphere. Even though the black is dominant, it forces the eye towards the more concentrated. The way in which the hand begins at the edge of the paper and moves towards the center is yet another brilliant way in which Escher calls the viewer to himself. The composition has a stunning balanced shown greatly in his use of the black and white distributed equally; as well as the shapes that are placed according to their visual weight.
+ another intresting fact about this painting is that M.C. Escher was left handed, as reflected in the sphere, however, the hand in the foreground is his left hand also, contradicting the reflection.

Image Essay #1

Large Interior W11 by Lucian Freud
Upon viewing this painting, the first thing that attracts the viewer is perhaps the color. A mustardy yellow glazes the surface of the painting, a toned-down brightness. The painting has an offset balance; in the right foreground there is a heavy distribution where the people sit. The left background is rather empty its only real weight is the sink and faucet in the corner. It is a little unsettling this way because it feels as if the people are leaning towards you, it feels uncomfortable. The composition is certainly asymmetrical, there is no mirroring in the painting, and your eyes cannot help but move around. An interesting aspect of the painting is that it incorporates the use of the triangular hierarchy, whether or not the people’s positions are telling of their importance. The young man is at the top, and so go our eyes to the two young women on his right, following the women on his left, and finally the young lady on the floor. The viewer begins to assess who these people might be, and why they are in this room. The clump of people exhibit the most dominance throughout the painting, they cause the most investigation.
Overall the painting is well composed and an intresting one to spend time on.

biographical statement {blog entry 1}

After walking and talking, I believe the first concept my parent taught me to do was to draw; later came painting and gluing miscellany together. There has always been for me this profound yearning to create, as if I need it. Manipulating raw materials and fashioning them into beautiful works is not only thrilling, but it is captivating. I have always felt that art is something I can do, and do well. I have explored as many areas of art as I could think possible. I have been highly involved in musical theatre as well as choirs and ensembles. Art is oh so rich and consuming and every part of who I am calls me to more of it.Many of the ideas I conceptualize first come from what I see visually around myself. My environment plays a deep role in my personality, and it is often something I try to emulate in artwork. The earth, creation; trees, birds, flowers, people, all the moves and breaths enrapture me. to be able to capture a person (in any medium) sharing with the viewer who this person is by merely portraying them visually is absolutely fascinating; exploring how to successfully do this is something I would like to learn. The other source for my ideas or rather influence is my trust in and relationship with God. I am a Christian and I see that all things in nature shout His name, they scream his existence and beauty; and as part of His creation, I want to do the same. I feel as fortunate as to have artist gifts, and to attempt to imitate the creator Himself. Much of my responses in art come from personal examinations of my relationship with God or from Biblical text.I learn the most when I am showed examples of other peoples work, seeing something visually resonates with me far better than directions.