LESSON 2 - SCHAMA - CARAVAGIO

I loved this dark, mysterious film. The story of caravagio is one that is different from other artist. He is one that didn't have a conventional upbringing. He started drawing in Nepals apposed to Italy and leisure in bars and the undesired portions of town unlike other great painters. Caravagio desired to paint life and realism instead of paintings that showed religion to be lifeless and angel like. Many of his commission paintings showed the religious beliefs in a different way than others, in a human sense, a way that we can relate to and understand in our daily lives. After becoming famous Caravagio became his own worst enemy, fighting and eventually killing a swordsman. In his final days he painted a great painting, his final self portrait. This self portrait showed Goliath holding Caravagios head. This portrait showed his inner conflict with himself and his sinful life. Caravagio died without the help of humans or mercy of the Gods.

Lesson 2 - Hockey - Lens

This lens movie showed a different light on the paintings of the Renaissance. How exactly did painters achieve the complicated task of painting chandliers as well as having an array of small painings. After further investigation it has been found that the painters we're using lens to draw their subjects. Later it was found using math that you can figure what type of lens we're used for the paintings and in many cases multiple lenses we're used to portray different portions of the painting. This film was filmed in Hollywood as well as Italy. It was interesting to find out that many painters did not tell they were using lens, it was a little secret.

Lesson 2 - Lecture

Lesson 2 has begun and our focus is literally focus (get it?). OK! This week Professor Peck show cases his studio as well as his apartment in our weekly breakdown video. P.S. Nice home! As Professor Peck begins to physically demonstrate the differences, similarities and connections between the camera and paintings he also demonstrates how light comes into play for both functions of art. Light, scenery and atmosphere are all components that assist in film (future lessons), photos and paintings. To give an example pertaining to film Professor Peck took us to the alleyway of his home and created a dramatic scene for his vlog. The scene was planned, by using a train as a prop, setting up his camera directly under a street light and having stores in the background to create a atmosphere. All of these components come into mind not only for film, will be discussed in future lesson, but also in paintings, the camera changes everything for the painter.

New question, should I try to vlog next week? I'm thinking about it!! 

Lesson 1 - Michelangelo - Marlow

Great Italian Painter #2

The first week of films are finally over, I hope my blog isn't boring you too much!

Much like the last film this film showed a different filming technique. More of a one on one tour guide through Florence and Italy, having a one on one conversation about the great Michelangelo. 

Born in 1475 in a town called Caprice, right outside of Florence. At the age of 13 he began to focus on his techniques with Ghirlandaio by drawing nude body figures. From here he journeyed to the Medici academy, learning to build sculptures. The first completed sculptured by Michelangelo was titled Battle of the Sin tors - this sculpture shows the struggle of reason and passion. This first piece was able to convey that  message of power, violence, sensuality and movement; this was the beginning sights of his greatness. 

Michelangelo traveled Italy and Florence creating a name for himself as one of the greatest painters, sculptors of his time in comparison to Leonardo Da Vinci. Known for his homoerotic style, masculine figures yet soft faces Michelangelo began a new era of art. One piece that I find most interesting is not of David, or the 9 scenes from the book of genesis painted on the ceiling of the 16th chapel, but the painting on the outer wall of the 16th chapel. This painting of The Last Judgement showed a different side of Michelangelo that was not seen in prior years. With his old age and fear of his salvation Michelangelo painted a brutal and rougher scene of society. 

Last Judgement

With his death in 1564, Michelangelo left behind greatness in the form of marble. 

"He inspired a new form of religion, art itself."

        

              David                                                        The Donne                                   The Slave/Captive

Lesson 1 - Da Vinci - Bruce

Great Italian Painter #1

After watching the last film I did not think these films would be very intriguing, yet a series of bland films pertaining to art. I was pleasantly surprised that this film not only caught my attention but had me seeking more information. One down side to the film unlike the previous is that the names of paintings or individuals were not provided at the bottom of the screen. But that's why google was invented right? 

Leonardo Da Vinci born in the hills Tuscany, Vinci. Born as a bastard to a very prestigious family Da Vinci called himself an uneducated man, allowing the countryside to teach him through drawings.

Da Vinci's first chance at painting a commissioned piece came from his mentor Andrea del Verrocchio on Christ with John the Baptist. Da Vinci painted the kneeling angel in the lower left corner. This angel started his career as a well sought out painter and later innovator. 

The film moves you through the mountains of Italy, to Florence, Milan and finally New York. The settings, locations and paintings shown throughout the film are beautiful and captured in great sun light. 

As the film moves through Da Vinic's life and the locations he resided you constantly heard Da Vinci referenced as an individual that could not finish a piece. I believe Larry Keith - restorer- described him perfectly, "so many of his works are unfinished, he saw another possibility, another way of doing something."

Being this film was about a great painter, sculptor, innovator and curious person the film showed numerous of pieces by Da Vinci. There are only 15 completed pieces by Da Vinci in the world. The one that stood out the most to me was not the famous Mona Lisa or the Last Supper but the Lady with the Ermine. 

1798 - Hangs in Warsaw Poland

This portrait intrigues me for the simple fact that it stands for so much. The woman's body is placed in a way to state she is moving, you can see her skeletal frame through her fingers. She has a very so slightly grin on her face as she holds onto a ermine. To the ignorant eye you would not question why she is holding the creature. After explanation, the ermine stands for purity, a symbol of her lover. The ermine's arm is muscular and grasping her showing sex and power. This small portrait holds so many symbolic messages. 

One of the worlds greatest questioners died in 1519 leaving behind a legacy that has allowed us to question as well! 

Lesson 1 - Modern Marvels Paint

The Wonder's of Paint 

The History channel show cased an episode on Modern Marvels focused on Paint. This episode explained the discovery of paint from over 30,000 years ago to the paint we use everyday in our homes. 

The episode was not the most intriguing video I have watched in my life but it was very informative. Starting with the 3 basic components of paint; resin, pigment and solvent. Resin is a binder or glue, pigment is always a solid, either ground up minerals or complex carbon based chemicals. Finally, a solvent helps paint smooth out such as water. From the limestone hills of southern France with cave paintings depicting hunting scenes to the advances of Egyptians those three basic components are the steady evolving and changing with technology.


The Seine at Asineres (1879) - Pierre - Auguste Renoir
"Impressionist paints were as much a product of the industrial revolution as the steam engine."

As the film moves from country to city to the inside of many factories, the most interesting focus of the film was that everything in our lives is covered by paint, if we see it or not, even the inside of a paint can is painted.

" I think the invention of latex paint, probably the single most important break through of the history of paint." - John Kordosh - Product Development MGR Homax Products. 

In the search for synthetic rubber during WWII the discovery was latex resin was found. This discovery solved the problems of bad odor, long drying times and the risk of flammable paint. Paint has had large strides since it's drawings on cave walls and Egyptian tombs. The future of paint is in the hands of those who seek to improve it's quality and performance possibly becoming the first product to inform us the windshield on a bridge. The wonders our minds can think of! 

Lesson 1 - Lecture

Film # 1 

This has been one interesting video to watch.... To place a face to a name Professor Nathan Peck created his own mini film explaining the course and the direction it will be taken this semester. I found it very intriguing and shocking that this film was shot on a phone, iPhone none the least (sorry I'm an android user). This is a great way of being resourceful and using media available to our advantages.

The film begins with a little information about my new Professor. He has taught at Saint Xavier University for 10 years, teaching multi- media and web graphics. In his spare time he finds himself making videos, and painting in his studio. As Professor Peck provides a little information about himself and the course you watch him film in multiple locations in a loft space. I can only wonder and guess that the space being filmed in is none other than his studio, very nice! As Professor Peck walks through his studio he begins to review the semester's curriculum and his goal for his students. I must say, I am very impressed by his visual syllabus, it's very creative and something I have never seen before.

As the syllabus is broken down by Professor Peck he begins to touch on paints such as the portrait of George W. Bush, cave paints done by Neanderthals, and then paintings completed during the Renaissance era. A fact new to me featured in the film touched on how the painting by Leonardo DiVinci - Last Supper is currently pealing from the wall and only 20% of the painting remains.


this painting is 500 years old. A painting that has impacted society in a strong way, is deteriorating in front of our eyes. What can we do to preserve our thoughts and visions if not through paintings? This thought is what encouraged Professor Peck to have us study film. Professor Peck stated, "I love this idea (the idea of studying multiple disciplines), it’s a very liberating approach…… learned the best I could, I like the concept, what inspired me about their story and take on the approach I did.”

Now that the foundation has been set for the semester, I am excited about this different way of learning about art. To take a traditional study and make it modern is something I can truly enjoy! Let the film watching begin!!

Ready.... Set.... GO!