3-24-09

The challenging aspect of this unit was trying to figure out what to write about. It is an unusual assignment, because normally we're used to research projects, and with they it was more about analysis. But it was hard to figure out how to analyze one painting for that long. The project turned out okay though I guess, I pieced it all together to make it long enough.

It worked well to have written the Written description of the painting, because that really helped in analyzing it. Practically disecting the visuals of the art helped in really getting the full picture. You were searching into the objects, style, and meaning of what was painted, so I started to get an idea about what to be analyzing.

The blogs didn't work so well for me for the research project. I know you wanted to be able to track our progess in the project, see where we were at, answer questions etc. But sometimes I'd have to cut my research short for the day because I'd have to leave the time to write my blog entry. It was like I was wasting a little time each day talking about how my research had been going, rather than getting farther in the research.

I think this project was good for learning how to analyze, and create a powerpoint on that, rather than just research research. That did make it harder on knowing what to write/say about though.. I felt a little in the dark but we gotta learn it sometime right?

3-19-09

RESEARCH INFO

known artist:
Vincent Van Gogh (mar 30 1853 - jul 29 1890). severe depression, died of suicide. becoming an artist was part of following his family's tradition. he was obsessed with religion. He didnt have much art training, much of it was self-taught.

he painted in the style of impressionism, which uses visible bruststrokes, light emphasis, ordinary subject matter, shows movement, and expresses humans. he also painted Expressionism, which is altering an image in some way for a more personal or emotional affect.
some of his painting traits were thick brush strokes, heightened color, expressive line. similar looking paintings are "starry night" and "cafe."

Peasants- van gogh liked to paint peasants, themes of urban/working life, middle-class, poor, underpriviledged, etc.


Analysis

...of the peasant scene itself- the people just being in this setting shows their lower class; upper class people didnt do field work. the people in the painting dont appear to be high-living quality. Their worn clothes and shoes, the straw hat, the hand sickles, contribute to the peasant look.

this picture represents the lower class, which is big because so much of society in Europe at that time, the 1800s, consisted of peasants.

-What place do humans hold? the oxen in the back, associated with the plow (or whatever machine it is) represent how despite the low class of peasants, they are still above animals.

-What does it mean to be human? everybody needs a break sometimes. just a simple afternoon nap. van gogh did a good job of portaying humanism, in peasant life. This painting captures these people in their daily life, and here they are, despite any hardships in life, just taking a simple nap. One of the simplest human activities, carried out by all humans. despite class, race, gender. we still all have so much in common, one thing being the need for a break every once in a while.




this is the gist of my project at this point. a lot of this described is in my power point, some word for word.

n

3-17-09

Today I finished my written desciption. I also started a bunch of my power point over the weekend so Im doing good on that so far i think.

I would like for the time limit to be 5-7 minutes.

3-13-09

NOTE: I may have changed my art piece!
Still undecided... to go with my original piece, which I cant find ANY thing about online (no pics, info etc.) or to go with this new piece, called La Sieste. It is also by Van Gogh and easier to research.
But I am not sure what one I am going to go with yet. I'll decide over the weekend. Then I can write the written desciption of it. Right now I sure cant write the desciption of my old painting because i cant find it ANYWHERE!

In the meantime, since I need to put up a photo, I will have La Sieste up.

3-11-09

I have narrowed down my search to one piece of art. It is called Two Peasants and a Child. My next steps are to get crackin on some research, and I should really get into this process by Friday.
Today I learned about Millet- i think he was the one that influenced Van Gogh's Peasant painting. Millet was a French painter and he was famous for his paintings of peasant scenes.

3-4-09

For a search engine I mainly used Google, because that is the search engine I am used to. And it really doesnt matter all the much which one I use, because they all pretty much do the same thing.

The online resources are semi-useful. The sites listed are not as easy to get general information from, but they are good if they have what you are looking for.

I learned a little more background info about Van Gogh today.

I do think my art depicts human form, because it shows a peasant couple working in a field and they have a little toddler with them. it looks very family-like and very average, typical peasant human lifestyle.

At this point I need to learn more about this Millet guy and how he is related to this painting, I still don't fully understand that part. I've got a semi-good understanding on Van Gogh though.

3-3-09

ART

i chose the painting called TWO PEASANTS AND A CHILD after millet's 'las premiere pas'.
it is by van gogh but i dont know what the deal is with the Millet guy.
I like this art because it looks very human. my next steps are to learn more about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!