Fun with a Scanner

This image in one that I created using a scanner, myself, and superman ice cream cone. It was inspired by faceyourpockets.com which uses a scanner to create images. I attempted to get creative by using different textures and colors. The texture of the taste buds on the tongue is particularly detailed. It is a lot of fun using the scanner in an untraditional way. The scanner can create very unique and interesting images in a way that is difficult to achieve in any other way.

It was very fun playing with the effects that a scanner can create. I was trying to scan my nephew's little hands. He had trouble staying still during the scan and the movement of his finger created a distubing effect. In the scan, because he moved his finger, the scan gave the illusion of the finger being severd from his hand. I thought that this was an accidental achevement. The scanner really picks up the textures of his hands differently than a photograph would.

In this scan, I was experimenting with the effect that distance from the scanner has on the appearance of the image. Her lips were placed directly onto the scanner so they are very detailed and in focus. The further away from the glass of the scanner that her face falls, the more out of focus it becomes. I think that because not all of the image is in focus that it places emphasis on the lips. I like the softness of the majority of the the image. I think that this image leaves the viewer confused and intrigued that sets a quiet mood.
In this scan, I really wanted to capture the color and texture of these dying asparagus. The scanner was able to pick up great detail that an ordinary photograph would not. Scanners seem to have a great macro capability that only a camera with an expensive macro lens could capture. If you look closely, you can actually see the goo that is on the rotting tips of the asparagus. I think that the vibrant color and textures of the asparagus are exaggerated by the black cloth in the background.

www.faceyourpockets.com

Faceyourpockets.com is a very interesting website that I find myself continually going back to, to look at the compositions posted. This website is an on going project that encourages anyone to contribute to. At my last inquiry, there were 232 contributions to the site. The site asks people to empty their pockets onto a scanner and create a composition with the items that they carry on them. The end results are very interesting.

I think that the items a person carry on them can really say a lot about a person. You can really get a feel for what a person is like by looking at the things from their pockets. I like that in many of the submissions, the artists have carefully laid out a composition. The placement of the objects on the scanner were carefully thought out and many of the artists are interacting with their belongings.

I think that the things in a person’s pocket create an environmental portrait of that person. In an environmental portrait, a person uses an environment and objects within an environment to portray who they are. The things in the environmental portrait are very telling of their lives. Many environmental portraits use metaphors.

In the submissions on this website, one can really tell what a person is like by what is in their pockets. One can tell if a person is simple and carefree if they do not carry a lot of stuff on them. In many of the submissions, people have an overwhelming amount of things in their pockets. I think this is more telling of what these people are like, complicated and busy. Many of the submissions include photos of loved ones and most include a cell phone and money of some sort. It is all very interesting and telling of the times.

Pavement Drawings

I have been following Julian Beever’s 3-D sidewalk drawings for a while now. He is continuously adding new installations that amaze me. Beever uses chalk to create drawings that have extreme depth. Sometimes it is difficult to tell where the drawing ends and reality begins. Beever work is distorted so that it looks 3-d when viewed from a certain angle. Beever is from the U.K. but has worked all around the world doing, pavement drawings, mural, and paintings.

I really like Beever’s chalk drawing chalk drawing of the girl feeding the fish. I love the composition of the pond with the lily pads. The artist has an incredible way of depicting water in this piece and also in much of his other work as well. He also shows no sign of a transition between the drawing and the actual tile of the ground. I think it would be interesting to view Beever’s work from different angles to see the actual distortion of the image.

The setting of this work is very sweet and whimsical. It looks as if the child is sitting within a painting. The addition of the little girl actually sitting on this drawing really adds to the 3-demensional quality of this work. This really demonstrates the importance of displaying work so that the viewer can engage in it. I don’t think this work would have been as successful without the addition of the child.

It’s amazing that Beever’s work is done in such a temporary way. By using chalk, these pavement drawings are washed away in no time. I think the works’ short-lived presence adds interest. The use of the chalk adds softness to the illustration. As an artist, it would be difficult to spend so much time on something so temporary.

http://www.pentagram.com/what-type-are-you/

Pentagram is a graphic design firm headed up by respected graphic designer Paula Scher. Pentagram does a lot recognizable branding design. Much of their work involves text. http://www.pentagram.com/what-type-are-you/ goes to an interactive activity on the Pentagram site that asks the user “What type (font) are you?” I really think that this activity is fun and interesting.

This website first starts out with a man interviewing and guiding he viewer. It is kind of strange because the viewer cannot see the host’s face, only his hand and gestures. The man has some sort of indistinguishable accent, which is a little over the top but I think that is the intention. The host firsts asks the user their name followed by four vague questions. Are you emotional or rational? Are understated or assertive? Are you traditional or progressive? Are you relaxed or disciplined?

It is interesting to see what font best describes the user. I was described as the font Plastica, a bold yet understated font that relies on its negative space. The site gives a detailed explanation of the characteristics and history of the fonts. The site also allows the viewer to view the information on other descriptive fonts.

Typography is so interesting to me. I love the design aspects of font. I think it is so interesting the way that font is designed with such thought and intention. Typography is like any other art. The composition, balance, and aesthetics are very important.

This activity is kind of silly but it is very telling. My font suited me quite well. It is a very fun activity that is interactive and educational. One can tell that there was a lot of thought and research done to create this site. I would definitely recommend this site, especially if you have any interest in typography.

This is a piece that I created as a depiction of the right to life. Originally, my thought was to show the destruction of life, life stripped of its naturalness. I was thinking of the way that we abuse nature and how our earth has no way of defending itself from human acts. What started as a started as a petition for nature, transformed into a prolife, anti-abortion petition too.

This work is a collage piece using entirely photography and text. I compiled mostly images that I took myself and one appropriated image of the fetus shown in my work. I constructed the tree in this piece purely of wire hangers and used a photograph of it. My intention was to create a realistic looking tree with completely man-made materials, adding to the meaning of the work. The leaves of the tree are opaque and unnatural.

The trees roots in this image appear to be embedded into the dry nutrient depleted earth, supplying the fetus below it with life. The roots of the tree reminded me of the blood vessels of the placenta that nurture an unborn baby. The roots are symbolic of life and growth. Across the dry earth are tire tracks that represent man’s further destruction and intrusion on life.

The message of this piece is to respect life. The text in this image says “How will we he their cries? They have no voice.” I created this saying to convey the helplessness of those that cannot speak out to protect themselves. Whether it be nature, animals, or humans, it is our duty to protect the things that are important and to treat life with reverent respect. All living things have a right to live.

How Do You Define Art?

What is art? Art is anything created with the intention of expression. Art does not have to be beautiful or even aesthetically pleasing, it is whatever an artist creates. I don’t think that art has to be created with intention. Many times art has a completely different meaning or use than originally intended.

Art is a difficult thing to define. Art conveys much emotion and feeling. Art is very subjective. Sometimes it really bothers me when I see certain pieces of art that seem meaningless or stupid. I have to remind myself that the work is an expression of something within the artist. This makes even the most irrelevant works important in some way. Much of my work is just done on a whim without much meaning.

Art is a form of expression. It doesn’t have to be a substance or even something that can necessarily be seen. It is a sensory experience. Art can be music, dance, writing, poetry, or sculpture. Much of art has purpose and function such as woodworking and pottery.

There is a difference between art and fine art. Art that is created for the purpose of expression alone, is what I consider Fine Art. Fine Art is created from a concept and is done aesthetically so. Aesthetics are the main component of fine art. Fine art conveys taste beauty. Art found in a museum is most often fine art.