Module #5 Logo

1. Discuss what you thought about creating your logo.

I wanted to create a logo that represented some of the most important aspects of me.  I work in the electrical field so I added lightning bolts.  I have three children so I made three bolts in total.  Two of my children are girls and one of them is a boy.  The red bolts represent my girls and the black bolt represents my boy.

2. Describe the process: creative thinking skills and ideas you used in the logo creation.

I started sketching with a pencil.  I had a general idea of where I wanted to go with the design.  When I had the idea sketched it was time to add color.  I added the element of color with pencils.  The final logo was created on my computer.  I could not hand draw the logo as symmetric as I wanted so I used a graphics program to size it properly.

3. What was the most important discovery you made in the creation of your logo?

The most important discovery I made was that a logo can symbolize many things,  The colors, shapes, and balance of the logo are all key features.  I was able to incorporate information into the logo that can translate across language barriers and cultures. 

4. What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos, powerpoint, and reading material for this project? What is your opinion of the videos?

The most important information I learned from the material is how extensive the process for creating a corporate logo can be.  The creative process involves many people, multiple designs, extensive refining, and lots of communication.  The companies involved in logo creation have to have vast experience in the elements that will properly portray the corporate image.  



Final Logo:

Color Scheme Drafts:

Two Separate Color Drafts:

Non-Color Draft:

Value and Color Theory

1. Discuss what you thought about creating the Value Scale and Color Wheel.

The value scale was a straight forward process.  I draw a bit for fun so I have done shading like this before.  I never put that many values next to each other at one time.  The end result helped me to understand how to create a large range of valuesd.  The color wheel was interesting.  I already owned yellow, red, and blue acrylic paint and I bought cyan and magenta acrylic paint at the Hobby Lobby.  I made two color wheels like the video.  The comparison allowed me to understand why cyan, magenta, and yellow are true primary colors.

2. Which media did you enjoy working with the best and why?

I enjoyed the acrylic paint the most.  It was a good learning experience reproducing the two color wheels like on the video.  I enjoyed the paint and I will attempt some painting on my own.   This will be new to me. 

3. What was the most important discovery in the creation of these studies?

The most important discovery was the definition of true primary colors.  I was always told yellow, blue, and red were primary colors.   Through scientific analysis this was found to be false.  Cyan, magenta, and yellow are the true primary colors. 

4. What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos for this project? What is your opinion of the videos.

The most important information I learned from watching the videos was the process for making a value scale and the process for making a color wheel.  The value scale video was sort of dull.  The narrator was monotone but the information presented was useful.  The color video was good because it was played in fast motion to reduce the time.  This allowed the viewer to see the end results of the color mixing in a reasonable amount of time.


I ended up doing two color wheels to see the difference.  The first uses yellow, red, and blue as primary colors with orange, green, and violet as secondary colors.  The second uses magenta, cyan, and yellow as primary colors with blue, green, and red as secondary colors. 

Pre-scientific primary color wheel:

True Primary Color Wheel:

Graphite Value Scale:

Module #3 Photobucket Slide show and Blog

I started out with this project by reading the text and watching the video titled Photography as Art.  I also walked around my house for a bit observing the different things while trying to apply the principals and elements of art to them.  It was actually very evident how these elements and principals would translate in my photographs.  I used a Samsung digital camera to take the photographs.  I spent a couple hours deciding on what I would use.  I also took several pictures of each example and kept the best shot.  Some of the photos were taken of objects as they naturally would be.  Other photos were taken of arranged objects that I put together.  I have lots of plants and children's toys in my house so you will see many of the pictures carry this theme.  I have included embedded pictures,and links to my Photobucket website. 

Here is a direct link to my Photobucket slideshow album:

http://s1324.beta.photobucket.com/user/wilcja25/library/AED%20200%20Elements%20and%20Principles%20Jeffrey%20Wilcox


Here are the photographs I embedded directly into this blog.  They demonstrate the different elements of design:


EMPHASIS

FORM

BALANCE

COLOR

LINE

MOVEMENT

PATTERN

PROPORTION

REPETITION

RHYTHM

SPACE

TEXTURE

SHAPE

UNITY

VARIETY

Module #3 Blog

1. Describe Color and it's effects on emotions. Use the appropriate vocabulary of color in your posting.

The effects of colors on emotions are different depending on the culture a person comes from.  Emotional responses to colors are conditioned responses that are developed internally and learned.  Cool colors such as blue are known to have calming effects on people.  Red can create intense emotions such as anguish and horror.  These colors may however elicit different emotional responses depending on the part of the world you grew up in.  It becomes difficult to place universal rules on the responses one would expect.  It is common to see red foods.  Red is known to increase your appetite.  You do not see many blue foods.  Blue is known to suppress your appetite.  When common colors are applied to objects that we do not normally associate them with the human brain stumbles a bit.  If you see a pink sign with the word boy on it you may feel there is something wrong with it.  This is because we associate pink with girls and blue with boys.  The human brain uses color to interpret the surroundings and make reasonable conclusions about it.  The emotions we feel from the colors around us are deeply rooted in our consciousness.  The emotions resulting from colors can drive us to act in certain ways.

 

2. What is a theoretical aspect of color that most intrigues/fascinates you? Why?

A theoretical aspect of color that intrigues me is the contradictory emotions a single color can suggest.  For example, red is used to symbolize danger and anger.  In the same note red is used to reflect love and emotion.  This leads to the theory that emotions that colors cause are linked to the context in which they are seen.  The situational experiences in combination with the color experiences together make up the emotional experiences.  If someone experiences love with red more often then they will tend to feel love if shown just the red color.  Someone who experiences anger with red more often then they will tend to feel anger if shown just the color red. 

3. In the Color video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and it's effects on emotions?

The biggest impact in the Color video in regards to emotion was when the artist June Redfern decided the colors of the painting were making it too violent.  The color scheme at that time was bold and some of the colors were very dark.  Not long after that she throws water and a towel at the painting almost as if the painting evoked some violence from her.  It was interesting to see how the color scheme in the painting deeply affected the artist.  This in return changed the way the painting was progressing.  To correct the feeling of the painting she added bright highlights to the human figures.  I  felt the mood of the painting was lighter after the modifications were made. 

4. In the Feelings video, what made the biggest impact on you in regards to color and it's effects on emotions? 

The biggest impact in the Feelings video in regards to color was Francisco Goya’s style of art used to portray the dark side of life.  His paintings used fuzzy edges, dark colors, and luminous shadows.   I think his style of art give the feeling of emptiness.  The colors he chooses for the different elements are specifically needed to portray his message.  I actually did not care for this theme.  It was a bit unnerving viewing the images he created.  They certainly evoked feelings from me that were not warm.  I am sure this is why it was the biggest impact on me from the video.   

Second Blog Module #2

Module #2 Question and Answers:

1. For each video and article list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Video:  Aesthetics: Philosophy of the Arts

There are a couple of key concepts I learned from this video.  The main concept I learned is the concept of aesthetics in art, where it came from, and what it means.  The video spends a good deal of time addressing the specific aesthetic understanding that the different philosophers uphold.  The video discussed how each philosopher formed a process in which art can be labeled, judged, critiqued, and absorbed.   The video defines the term aesthetics as the philosophical study of beauty and art. Philosophical studies rely on addressing problems through a systematic approach based largely on rational arguments. Aesthetics as it pertains to art can be stated as a collection of rational arguments developed though a systematic approach that addresses beauty and art. Attempts are made to describe how different types of art make people feel good and how other types of art make people feel bad. The philosophers in the video seem to try to create structure to the different types of art. They try to define what qualifies as art and what does not. Even furthermore they state what type of art is morally good and what type of art is morally bad. They discuss how art should be appreciated and judged. In my own words the aesthetics of art is a person’s attempt to quantify and define a particular work as it appears to them.      

Video:  CARTA: Neurobiology Neurology and Art and Aesthetics

The concept of this video was the science of art.  Two separate lecturers were shown.  They both presented their understanding of how the human brain processes art.  One lecturer based his analysis on brain scans while the other based his analysis primarily on detailed observations.  The over-all theme was to determine exactly what is the science behind art and how can we classify it.  

Article:  What the brain draws from: Art and neuroscience

The key concept of this article is the relationship between the human brain and the perception of different artistic methods.  It examines the human brain and how it interprets the different colors, lines, shadows, and the like.  Artists take advantage of these known tendencies in their art.  This area is studied and is called neuroesthetics.  This field is emerging and I think will yield a wealth of information.  It will tell us why we react to visual stimuli in a particular way.  I can see this data being used in art and in other areas such as advertising. 


2. Which philosopher's theory on aesthetics do you feel is most important? Be sure to mention the philosophers name, era (time in history), and contribution to the aesthetic theory in your response.

I feel Kant has the most important theory on aesthetics. Kant lived from 1724 until 1804 and was a German philosopher. His major contribution to the aesthetic theory was two works titled Critique of Judgment and Critique of Practical Reason. In the second paper Kant stated that in the aesthetic experience sensibility and reason are brought together. He stated judgment of the beautiful is not rule bound but is in fact based on the individual’s feelings. Therefore, the beautiful cannot be judged based on a set of rules but can be shared by many. This line of thought is important because it marks the beginning of allowing the rules of art to be governed by feelings and not by structural rules. These concepts also are in line with my perception of the aesthetics of art. I too feel art is beautiful if you feel it is and not because it meets some predefined set of rules.   

3. What do you think about Changeux and Ramachandran scientific view of aesthetics and art? What was the most interesting fact you discovered from each speakers lecture?

Changeux's scientific view of aesthetics is based on the analysis of brain scans.  Changeux utilizes the brain images extensively to interpret how a person it digesting a visual image.  He can correlate the activity in the brain to the biological process we go through while viewing art.  This analysis of aesthetics is almost too scientific and I prefer the second lecturers scientific view.  The most interesting fact  learned from Changeux is that the human brain takes fifteen years to develop

Ramachandran's scientific view of aesthetics follows eight laws.  His analysis is based on observations of how people respond to certain stimuli.  He goes through hie eight laws and gives examples of each.  Ramachandran uses nature to describe how we process visual images and then how this processing can be links to art.  He stated the goal of art is to create distortions of images to create pleasing effects on the human brain.  I agree with this view and I can identify with it.  I like how he makes the connection to evolutionary traits as a source to how we process visual images.  The most interesting fact I learned from Ramachandran was that the human brain uses thirty different areas for visual processing because it is so complex.    

4. How do the videos and article relate to the readings in the text?

The first three chapters in the text deal with defining visual arts and providing examples.  The text describes the areas of art, types of artists, motivation for creativity, and the reasons artist create their works.  The video on aesthetics lends to the text in that is compliments the categorization of art.  The aesthetics video shows how the philosophers over the years have developed a framework for art.  The text shows how specific works fit into the framework of today.  The CNN article ties in with the text nicely as well.  The CNN article helped me understand why artists utilized specific techniques of specific works.  It helped me to understand the works presented in the text from a technical viewpoint rather than an emotional one. 

5. What is your opinion of the films and article? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics in your reading in the text?

I thought the film on aesthetics had good content but the presentation was mediocre.  The information on aesthetics and how it pertains to art is valuable.  The video was not exactly a class "A"  theatrical performance but it did cover the topic well.  It helped me to understand the text better by allowing me to know how art came to be categorized as it is today.  It also helped me understand why the text described the works as it did.  The CNN article was the most interesting to me.  I found the links between the science of the human brain and art to be very informational.  It actually helped me better understand how I view art and why I feel things to be appealing.  The CARTA video on neurobiology was better than the aesthetics video.  I think this is because I enjoy science and this lends a scientific perspective to art.  This video offered some of the same benefits as the CNN article.  It allowed me to understand the nature of the human brain as it pertains to art and visual images.   The second lecturer Ramachandran was much more interesting than Changeux.  Ramachandran used humor to keep my attention and provided a wealth of good information on the science of art with his eight rules.