Jessica Bonkowski- Color Harmony

Dhiraj Adhikari-Color Harmony

Shylia Fletcher- Color Harmony

Mateah Brown- Color Harmony

Complimentary Colors

Monochromatic Colors

Analogous 

Sophie Meadowcroft - Museum Visit

I went to the Grand Rapids Art Museum for this project. I was drawn to one piece in particular by Mark Sheinkman.  At first, one would think that Sheinkman simply used white chalk and a black chalkboard. But actually, he used oil, alkyd, and graphite to create a swift pattern. The piece looked like it could be depicting the pattern of smoke. It looks like he was trying to show what smoke looks like right after a match has burnt out. Since there was a dark background, the piece portrayed very clear contrast between the white and the black. There are parts of the pattern that were emphasized and parts of the pattern that were underemphasized. This was actually made by removing parts of the overlayer in order to see the underlayer; this also goes to show how many layers were involved in making the piece. His work has been known to have a mysterious depth to it and to have investigated in drawing within space. His work and style is known under the category of linear abstraction. He is using lines in wave-like motions to create an art form. The lines twist and turn to portray movement. Your eyes automatically follow all of the lines throughout the entire piece because of the movement that the artist has created. The movement throughout the piece creates a rhythm and a harmony.

            What is enjoyable about this is how abstract it was. It looks like it could have been the pattern of smoke. But it could be many other things. It can also let you, as the person viewing it, to determine the meaning of the piece. However, I interpreted it as emphasizing things we cannot explain in life or things that are often overlooked. Initially, I thought the artist was depicting the pattern of smoke, so my interpretation of the piece was that he was emphasizing beauty within how things naturally happen. For example, we often do not look at the pattern of smoke and think anything of it. But when you look at how the smoke travels through the air particles, it creates a new kind of art form. This is what I envisioned the artist trying to depict. Of course, he may or may not have been actually depicting a pattern like smoke. I think Sheinkman was simply emphasizing different kinds of patterns that are abstract to create a mystery of both what the piece is and what it actually means.

            I was intrigued by the piece, as I had always been a fan of abstract art. The piece goes to show that there could be many ways to interpret it. But one meaning might stand out to you more; and when this does happen, one meaning might resonate more with you than other meanings to it. The piece is visually intriguing and definitely stands out because of its abstract quality.

            I decided to replicate the kind of linear abstraction through my initial interpretation of the piece, which was smoke. I managed to capture the pattern of smoke by using a flashlight. My photo and the piece are similar in the ways of how it visually looks; both have the kind of linear abstraction. My photo and the piece are not similar in the ways of interpretation. It is more evident in my photo that I’m demonstrating the beauty in the simple things of life like how smoke is carried in the air to create artistic patterns. The piece is more abstract in terms of meaning and that is what the artist had intended for it to do. 

Mateah Brown- Museum Visit to Hope College

Minotaur as Calf (Michael Ayrton)

Minotaur Alone  (Michael Ayrton)

The Minotaur

History: Michael Ayrton created these two etchings in 1971. Together they tell a story; however, this paper will specifically focus on Minotaur Alone.  Ayrton loved history and literature; therefore, this piece reflects his use of these subjects to convey his perspective. Minotaur was a mythical creature that was half-bull and also half-human. Typically, the Minotaur was seen as a monster which fed on humans as it was imprisoned in a labyrinth by King Minos of Crete, until he was slayed by Theseus. However, “Ayrton’s empathetic images delve into the confusion, pain, and sadness of a creature that, through no fault of its own, is condemned to live between two worlds” (plaque beside the etchings).

Detail: Minotaur Alone is a black and white etching of a combination of the Minotaur- half-man and half-bull. This creature seems to be confined in a space and therefore curled up in his anguish. His head is of a bull with horns, hair, and a bullnose. The bull head continues into the neck area of the creature which also resembles a bull; however, the muscular shoulders of a bull begin to give way to human characteristics. The creature’s one arm is used to prop himself up on his side: the other laying on his head between his horns. His hands have five fingers but are bony and boxy and seem to have more of the supporting structure of a bull. In this etching the Minotaur is laying on his side; supposedly crammed into a small area, his abdomen cannot be seen. There is no covering on this creature. He is naked and exposed. His “manhood” (or bullhood) rests prostrate on his bent leg. These legs have very human characteristics- muscles, structure, knees, angles, feet- but they are abnormally large and once again portray the robust nature of a bull.

Composition: The character of these lines gives the image depth, expression, and weight. The lines are darker and thicker when portraying the characteristics of the bull; in contrast, they are thinner and more detailed when composing the human characteristics. The use of line and shape convey the concept that this creature is in a small area because of the cramped condition of his pose and the lines defining the corners of the area. Value is used in order to depict muscle tone and depth. The lack of color emphasizes the mythological “ancient” qualities of the etching. Variety is emphasized through the combination of two beings; however, harmony is also emphasized through the combined unity of the creature in the piece of proportionality. This piece is full of texture created by the process of etching

Interpretation: Laying naked and exposed, the Minotaur is vulnerable- no longer seen as a monster but as a creature trapped between two worlds. The inner turmoil is displayed through the Minotaur’s position- crouched, boxed-in, in a fetal position with his arm grasping for his head. The half-bull, half-man combination is exaggerated through the detail of the black etching. As an artist etches away at the blank canvas, so does the paradox of the reality of this mystical creature portray the deep embedded pull between two worlds. The emotions of pain, confusion, turmoil, and anguish are developed through the image by the composition of the etching.  

Judgment: At first glance this piece is strange. It is a combination of both imagination and reality depicted through the techniques and composition of the forms to portray the depth of the image. However, after further examination the interpretation comes to life. Suddenly this piece carries the weight of not just mythology but the struggle trapped between two worlds.

My Photo:

I took these images from the inspiration of Ayrton’s piece. I tried to capture the reality that we as women live with today. We are trapped between who we are and who the world wants us to be. The standards of “beauty” have boxed us in. The mystical illusion of perfection is what we strive for while ignoring the world of natural beauty in which we live and possess. We are trapped through pressure we did not seek to “fix” our appearance as if something from the old world needs “fixing.”

The theme and interpretation behind this image share some of the same principles. However, the composition itself is drastically different: photo vs. etching, reality vs. imagination, color vs. black and white, human vs. animal. Whereas Ayrton’s piece is an integration of the two worlds, my photo has distinct differences between the “worlds.”

Nekoda Boggs - Photoshop extra credit

Before

After

Jessica Bonkowski- Photoshop Extra Credit

I spy

                            _ Stefanie Sherman

                            _ Jessica Bonkowski

                            _ Joe Stowell

                            _ A pumpkin

                            _ A crayon

                            _ An apple

                            _ A bird

Molly Devine - Kendall College Critique

This picture stood out to me because i am a marketing major and it has an advertising appeal.

The use of the parking garage as a cool industrial background is unique and provides character.
The saying "Anyone Anywhere" that is used is the Converse slogan and i think that this picture represents that expression well. The pose gives life to the photo and provides it with the feeling of fun!

Photography wise they used the lines of the parking spaces to frame the image and the blank white wall provides a great background and some white space in the image. Looking into it, the slogan is Photoshop in but fits the photo so well you almost cant even tell.

As a marketer i love this image and thing the photographer did a great job.

Kelli Spedden - Kendall College Critique

When I was looking for a photo at Kendall College, I found this one. I was inspired by the black void of shadow behind the subject. It's a young, fair haired women in the middle of the frame. She has her hand placed over her lips, but predominantly her pointer finger and her thumb, almost as if she is being secretive. She is wearing a lose, form fitting jacket, and her body is sideways to the camera. A single light is illuminating the left side of her face and frame, lighting up her eyes which hold that secret of hers. 

A strength of this pic are that her beauty and body language are highlighted in this photo, while a weakness of this photo is that half of her body is cast in shadow, and no detail is illuminated.

I can relate to this photo because I feel like it matters to me, in that it represents how society keeps many secrets, and how we want to hide who we really are. I used to hide who I was, but then I became more confidant with who I was as a person, and my inner beauty, which I believe this photo encompasses.

Olivia Farrell- Critique of Kendal Picture

To start off, this photographer did the rule of thirds pretty well. She had a light at the bottom left corner, the three flowers in the middle, and her face at the top. The flowers definitely draw you in and capture your attention. She cast the lighting so that the flowers stand out and the flower's shadow is across half of her face; making the picture have a darker sense to it. When I look at this picture I see hope in the dark situations. Overall, I think this was a pretty good picture.

Ben Simonis critique

This caught my eye instantly.

The subject is in white clothes with a white face in a white frame and background

(to be completed)

Heather Martin -- Kendall Photography Critique

      In this picture there is a girl in the dark, who seems to be holding a sparkler and as she spins around the sparkler makes different shapes and patterns that the photographer was able to catch on camera. The sparkler was waved around just enough to bring enough light into the picture to see the girls facial feature and get a  glimpse of her legs in the night. It was able to grab my attention due to the bright color in front of such a dark background. It makes you wonder what the girl in the photo is thinking, and what inspired the photographer to capture her in this moment. The lines from the movement of the sparkler wrap around the girls protection and I immediately think protection, maybe it represents her shielding herself from those around her because it kind of looks like a wall of fire.
       It doesn't necessarily feel dark even thought there is very little in the matter of light, you can't see the girls face but she's spinning around maybe out of joy, it doesn't have to be a way to shield people out but maybe a way of expressing her joy and adoration of life and the extraordinary things in this world.
      There is texture applied to the photo due to the sparkler, and the lighting must have been carefully considered because there was not a lot to go by. There is not a lot of things going on in this picture, but there is still a lot to look at due to the sparkler that wraps around this girl, it was a nice touch and did a lot to the photo.

Ben Elliott - Kendall Photography Critique

In these two photographs a drummer is depicted in different lighting situations. In the photograph on the top the subject is lit from the back creating a silhouette of the drummer and drum set. The lighting reveals fog surrounding the drummer giving the photograph an even more interesting subject.

In the bottom photograph the drummer is lit from the front. The subject is wearing a white t-shirt. The shirt contrasts the black background and black drum set. The photograph is made more interesting with two pops of orange. The orange has both a high chroma and value.

I think that both photographs do a good job of portraying an interesting subject in two different lighting situations. I think that the bottom photograph could have added even more color to contrast the black background. The background creates to much negative space in my opinion.

Over all I think both photographs were really cool. 

Kayla Herrmann-Kendall Photography Critique

        In the photo, there is man that is leaning against something and he is holding his head in his hands. There is a helmet and vest nearby implying that he is in the military, looks like the Army. From the soldier's body language, he looks distressed and burdened. The photo is in black and white which adds to the somber feel of the image. The soldier's face cannot be seen so you don't really know what expression is on his face but by looking at his stance, he seems troubled.

        This photo evokes emotion because it showcases the sorrow of another human being and a soldier. Not many people can personally relate to what soldiers have to endure and this photo really makes a person feel empathy towards the man. 

        The lighting in this photo is nice because it illuminates what is important in the photo: the soldier, his helmet, and his vest. The choice to make the photo black and white was good because it furthers the gloomy feel that the photo already has. This photo just did a really good job of showing the soldier's emotions and evoking the emotions of the people viewing the photo. There is so much to get out of this photo and there are only really three main parts to the photo. 

Reagan Hoezee -- Kendall gallery assignment

In this photograph, I see a person standing with a box over their head standing against a plain background. The person is wearing a long-sleeved shirt, slightly darker than the background, with a shadow being cast on the person's left arm. The person fills nearly the entire frame, except for the top,where there are a few inches of headroom. The box has a black smiley face spray painted onto it. The entire picture, is a cream color, except for the shadow and black paint.

I like the simple appeal of the photo, as well as the mostly-monochromatic coloring. There is also good lighting, as the background is lighter than the foreground. It prevents the person from blending in with the background, and causes the face to really "pop."

The photo is rather simple, but seems to possess a deeper meaning. It gives the impression that the subject is hiding something--most likely some negative emotion, like sadness or anger. The subject doesn't want anyone to know they are hurting, so they use the box as a social barrier. It helps them not feel so vulnerable. They also do not want to stick out or may not want their emotion to negatively affect others, so they put forth a false feeling of joy.

Shylia Fletcher- Kendall Art Gallery

       In this photo was taken on a one way street with cars on both side of the road stretching far back into the photograph. There is no beautiful sunlight peering through the clouds illuminating the street but there is a hint that it is in the middle of the day because their is some source of natural light. The sun is block by thick clouds and fog consumes the background of the photograph wrapping its tenderness through the body of the trees and kissing the dampness of the crack black road. The photographer is standing more to the left side of the road making the cars on the left closer up to the filed of focus than the cars on the right. The leading lines of the marks on the road leads our eyes to the middle of the photo down the street. The fact that it looks to be in a residential area means that the streets is somewhat quiet and not too busy. The cars parked on the road indicates that the families are home, just out of school or work. The simple photo pulls on the heart strings of being home. The black and white photo calls for a more intense mood of serenity.
     
       Strengths: The photographer definitely play with their depth of field and lighting. You can tell the photographer used a smaller depth of field because the background is visible making the fog visible. IT only cuts out the rest of the background because the fog blurs it out. Even though its a black and white photo you can tell that there is some source of light but it just enough to allow the viewer to see the fog, see the cars and the trees. There's no subject focus but for this photograph it works. The picture can tell multiple of stories leaving it up to the viewer to experience it in their point of view.

        Weaknesses: I think the photographer should have played more with their focal length. I mention in strengths that the photographer played with their depth of field but didn't really embrace it as much. It would have made a difference if they would have step back or snap their photo from another angle but still in the same spot. I feel that there were more ways to take this photo.

 This show the photo a bit better of what I was seeing when looking at it. The photograph captures an mature mood. It is like the photographer is beckoning for the viewer to partake in the quiet little neighbor in all its entirety. It could be a possible walking trail parking lot on the left back side of the photo which could mean that the neighborhood is near a park. Inviting the viewer to see the peacefulness of the town. Even though the sky is gray and eerie-like, there is a moment of peace...sort of like a graveyard without the headstones (the cars could be a representation of headstones). The photographer may want us to see the street as a ghost town. There is literally no one on the sidewalk or entering into their vehicle. The street is dead which is why I find it a peaceful piece. The photo could mean that the world is dying because there is no person figure in this photo. All that is left behind is all the materialistic things such as the cars and the buildings; it's like all the humans disappeared off the face of the earth. It reminds me of the movie I Am  Legend!!!

Nekoda Boggs - Inspired by Light

Nekoda Boggs - Kendall Art Gallery Critique

The photograph that I chose is of an older car. I can't quite tell exactly what the make and model is but I know for sure that it's a sports car. This particular photo stood out to me because of how the photographer used black and white, leading lines, anti rule of thirds and depth of field. First the photographer used black and white to show meaning. I believe that the meaning of this photo is that someone bought an older red Chevy and decided to fix it up to run again. This shows the final product of all the hard work that was put into making this car special to the own. He or she bought it and now it means everything to that person. The second thing is that the leading lines and depth of field goes together. The lines on the hood the car takes the viewer's eyes back to the blurred garage in the back ground and the top of the car driver's side. Lastly the photographer used the anti rule of thirds because they focused on the headlight of the car in the center of the picture. This works though because of the other forms of graphic weight that are going on in the photo.

Haley Walsworth- Art Gallery Critique

     This set of photos grabbed my attention while looking at all the different kinds of photography. To me, this photo shows what home is and feels like. Home is somewhere you know you can relax and enjoy your time. The first picture, starting from the left, shows a house that invites one in. The middle picture shows the clothes and a living space that one could do work or study at. And lastly the third picture shows a bed which one can at the end of the day rely on to relax. All the photos are shot in black and white so it adds an extra dimension and intensity to the photos. This is a strength in my opinion. If this set of photos were shot in color there would not have been that instant warmth feeling portrayed from the photos. Each of the three photos resemble something different about "home" and to me bring a different story as they go along.

Kendall Art Gallery Critique - Zach Streitmatter

The photograph I chose is one of a woman standing in a dark-lit room with light coming across her from the right side of the frame. She is standing with her fingers to her mouth and is looking at the camera with one eyebrow slightly raised. I really like the mood and the aesthetic of this image and the way that it is light. One of the main strengths of this photo is the dynamic lighting and the way it casts a shadow over one side of her body, evoking a darker moodiness. Another strength of the portrait is how she is just off center in the middle of the frame and the way that the negative space at the top of the image that gives her headroom as well as creating a sense of space and freedom. Overall this is just a very well framed portrait that makes you wonder who the woman is and what she's thinking.

Stefanie Sherman - Kendall Art Gallery Critique

In this photo the subject, a woman, is sitting cross-legged in an empty parking lot. There are bushes behind her and a building of some sort with arches. It looks as though the sun is going down and it is golden hour. 

The strengths of this photo are the photographer's use of good composition. The photographer had his subject sit on a line that he himself was sitting on, and therefore it becomes a straight line from the camera to the woman, a leading line. This line draws our attention to the woman and gives her graphic weight. The photographer also used the anti-rule of thirds and placed his subject in the dead centre. This also gives her graphic weight. Symmetry was created by the bushes behind the woman and the other yellow lines that connect perpendicularly to the main line leading to woman.

The weakness of this photo are the building in the background and the differing shades of sunlight on the building. They create noise and are distracting from the woman. 

This photo brings to mind that we all have a path in life. The way the woman is sitting reminds me of the Buddhist faith and the lines remind me of paths or roads. We all have a path in life. This photo seems to point toward the woman's path. 

Allison Todd-Kendall Art Critique

The cat’s face is the focal point of this photo as the light shines on it and easily draws your eye. Because the cat is looking off to the side, our eyes follow the cat’s line of vision. The cat’s eyes appear to be dominant. In the background, there is a volleyball that sticks out and can be a distraction. The dark colors all blend in well together and there is a god contrast on the cat’s face. The exposure is good for the contrasts in this photo. The photo seems to have some meaning behind it, which is up for interpretation. The colors used are good; however, the blue in the volleyball sticks out. I feel the volleyball doesn’t necessarily add any meaning to the photo and could just as easily have been taken out. Surrounding the cat could’ve been solid black, such as the right side, which works well to help the cat stand out. The overhead lighting shows the cat well, accenting some of its main features. Having the exposure just a little shorter may help to not wash out the cat in a few places, but it works. Overall, the photo seems to give off an impression of confidence and hope, as there is light shining in the midst of darkness.