Month: September 2018

Philip Evergood’s An American Tragedy (1937) is a chaotic composition depicting a violent clash between police officers and citizens. The limbs of the depicted human figures are positioned in vertical, horizontal, and diagonal directions. Only the police wield weapons in their hands, in the form of batons or guns, save for the female figure wearing an aqua-colored dress. She holds a long stick in her hand, yet it is her left fist that is raised.

Also striking is the composition of the figures: the horizon line is almost seated at the top edge of the canvas. Most of the officers and citizens are tightly squeezed at the forefront of the scene, their bodies occupying about three-fourths of the height of the canvas. The humans do not appear as naturalistic as the figures in Classical art. They are not abstract either, but their features become significantly less clear as they are positioned closer to the background.

Still, color choices are consistent across the oil painting. The bold blue color of the police uniforms is overwhelming and pops against the yellow ground. Other prominent and distinct colors include green, red, and white. The aqua dress leads the viewers’ eyes to the green tie of the man behind her and up to the trees in the background. Red is centered in the background and also scattered in the form of blood. White smoke runs horizontally from one end of the canvas to the other.

The use of so many bold colors heightens the chaotic nature of the depicted scene. It is as if the colors are still fighting to be the most prominent hue. As practically every area of the work is painted with rich hues, every component of the artwork appears that much more important.

Tuesday’s session was incredibly useful and motivational. Job searching has always been a concern for me. It’s intimidating, and I am afraid of failing or finding myself in a rut while pursuing work. It’s hard for me to feel confident or to accomplish many things when I don’t believe I have the skills to achieve my goals, especially when it comes to putting my foot in the door for valuable opportunities in life. If I’m too afraid to try at all, though, I’ll never succeed.

One of the most important lessons I learned during the CEO talk was knowing when to say ‘yes’ and when to say ‘no.’ For example, even while pursuing my dream job, it could be wise to accept other jobs that seek to employ my talents and dedication. It would increase my experience in the job field, encourage me to practice and learn different skills, and perhaps provide me with pay, which is always valuable. However, I cannot pursue or accept opportunities I cannot follow through on. Canceling plans or not putting forth my best work only makes me appear unprofessional and thus undesirable to employers. It is better here to say ‘no.’

Another valuable takeaway from this talk was getting to explore a variety of career networking platforms, to which I had no prior exposure. It will be much easier for me to begin searching for internships or jobs, and knowing the benefits of networking has encouraged me to ensure I make connections with various people.

Before this session, I was aware of the significance of a résumé, but it was helpful to really visualize the correlation between a solid résumé and the employers to whom it is intended to be given. I learned that when building a résumé, it is important to keep in mind who will be reading them. There is room for creativity, but flair is not going to impress all employers nor will a standard résumé be enough to catch the attentions of others. Research into my employers is vital because the employers appreciate such dedication and I will be especially prepared for the task I intend to tackle.

Perhaps, most importantly of all, hard work is what will earn me the rewards and accomplishments I seek. I need to invest time into hunting for jobs, I need to practice my skills every day, and even if I am not officially employed, I can still make other accomplishments, no matter how small. The hard work adds up.

 

In Self-Analysis, David Agenjo employs various blending techniques to synthesize numerous contrasting elements. At first glance, accurate body proportions, delicate application of paint, and attention to lighting create the image of realistic male figures. Upon further observation, the brushstrokes used by the painter become more apparent, particularly in the arms of the human figures and the surface on which their arms rest.

The clarity of these brushstrokes, along with the hues applied, are essential to achieving the artist’s desired effect. Each male figure has three arms, with one in each set appearing like an apparition. To obtain this effect, Agenjo blends colors to convey a sense of overlap. The figure on the right, for example, has a blue arm that looks transparent in front of one of the arms of the leftmost figure. This is achieved by blending the colors of each arm at the area of overlap. Additionally, a combination of faint and darker outlines communicate a presence of see-through limbs. 

The table on which the figures rest their arms however is entirely solid. In contrast to the smooth outlines that shape the males, the surface of the table appears rough due to the jagged edges of the swatches of paint that color it, though these color swatches progressively blend together into a dark mass of shadow cast by the rightmost figure. Like the humans, the colors of the table are applied in an arrhythmic fashion. If one attempts to follow any trace of lines created by these colors, it would be impossible to find one that ran from one foreseeable edge of the table to another in a straight line. Instead the brushstrokes used to paint the table also create a sense of motion. This is mimicked by the varying and often diagonal directions in which the arms of the male figures are positioned. The head and limbs of the two men form an invisible circle, implying a sense of motion.

No feature, from the colors applied to the orientation of the figures, appear to lack harmony because randomness and variety are found all across the canvas and a sense of motion further unifies the array of elements. The various blends in David Agenjo’s Self-Analysis evokes feelings of anxiety and confusion, but they feeling natural, not misplaced.

Writing has always been a great passion of mine, from developing original music to inventing stories. Not only is it a significant tool with which to convey message and meaning, it is an art form — and one that further communicates the beauty in other kinds of art. In my Junior Writing in Art class, I anticipate doing exactly this. 

After multiple courses exploring various forms of art and the history of them, I am only more intrigued to learn about the gems of the art world I have yet to explore. I hope to connect with multiple pieces of art and perhaps even find inspiration in them. My dedication to writing about these pieces, in turn, should improve my writing. I expect to analyze the writing of others in the art field, which will both help me better how I write about art and harness my own voice. I anticipate becoming more familiar with art terminology and practicing their application, and I hope to develop the ability to vividly convey all of my impressions of a work of art.

To achieve these goals, I know must overcome at least three prominent flaws in my writing. One, organization is difficult to maintain in my writing. I am excited to include any and all thoughts I have on a subject, but I do not always know how to do so. From my first one-on-one meeting for this class, I learned that there are indeed a variety of ways to solve this problem, including restructuring ideas upon editing and using footnotes for intriguing information that interrupts the flow of my main body of writing. Two, I struggle to remain clear and concise. Some sentences can become wordy, often assembled with parentheses and em dashes, in my desperation to include all the information I feel necessary. Three, I must learn how to translate my thoughts into writing in a way that makes my writing interesting from start to end. Often, I have ideas for how to write the bodies of my essays and blogs, but I have no clue how to form the introduction. As a result, my writing can sometimes feel disconnected instead of like a fluid, singular entity.

If I can polish my writing by improving in these areas, I will be on my way to successfully harnessing my passion for writing into something I will be proud to publish for many eyes to see. There are countless applications for writing in the world, and I believe it is a golden key to allow me to truly be a part of this world.