Daily Class Notes: Class Discussion

Today in class we discussed the artists Thomas Kinkade and Vanessa Beecroft. It was interesting to find that a lot of the students agreed with each other espcially about Thomas Kinkade. I think he is a great person who sure knows how to market himself and get his message across to people with his artworks. I think his work IS art. In general, I don't think art can truly be define and I think that's the point. Art is Life. In life, we will have to deal with things we like, dislike, agree and disagree and that's what makes us human and different from each other. I don't necessarily dislike or like his artworks, though I do know its not my cup of tea. I recalled one student saying how when you become a sellout, people automatically starts hating on you. I think that's wrong to simply hate someone or their work because of their sucess level is overrated or you've seen it way too much. I do agree that when something is so "in-your-face" all the time that you'll start to get tired of seeing it, but that's not the point of it not being art because whose to say it is or it isn't. Art is art.

As for Beecroft, she seems interesting. I like the idea that she uses so many models, that makes them look like mannequins and she makes them stand for a long time until you start to notice them getting tired. I have to agree that she's kind of mocking us humans and media that beauty doesn't last forever and for us to not have just a "certain" type of beauty in mind.

Overall, this class discussion was great and insightful. I always wonder how it would be like if our questions were answered by the artist themselves. It could possibly be that, that is the point, to simply just question.

Text Notes: Kinkade & Beecroft

Pre-Questions for Thomas Kinkade

1. Why so much detail?
   
2. Does the usage of color mean anything?
   
3. Does his painting represent anything in particular?
   

Pre-Questions for Vanessa Beecroft

1. What does she want her audience to get out of her art?
   
2. Does she only do performance art?
   
3. What is art?
   

Notes: Thomas Kinkade

• Kinkade wants everyone to own his work
• Mass produces his works
• A very wealthy man who earns 5% of his net sales
• His faith in his religion is put into his artwork
  

Notes: Vanessa Beecroft

• Born in Italy
• Uses female models for her performance artworks
• She doesn't pose or uses herself as part of her artwork
• Though it talked about her being beautiful, she struggled with anorexia

Post Questions for Thomas Kinkade

1. In what ways does he think his artwork has effected the world?
   
2. Which of his "artwork" bring him the most in sales?
   
3. What is he in it MORE, for the money or love of it?
   

Post Questions for Vanessa Beecroft

1. Why only use female? Why not males too?
   
2. Any art showcases for the general public?
   
3. What is her purpose or reasons behind the way she does her art?
   

Daily Class Notes: Movies

I like this week's Art 21 video, especially Michael Ray Charles. His artworks are really intriguing and I like that he's satirical in his work of art. The feel of the music playing gives his part of the video a nice touch since he does base his artwork in past advertisements.

We watched another film called "Helvetica" and I thought it was really interesting since I'll be concentrating in Graphic Design. I've always loved Typography so it was really cool that Helvetica IS part of our everyday life whether we notice it or not.

Our next project is based on Consumption, it has to be wearable/body object. We can use products such as clothing, food, etc to help us. But unfortunately I have no idea and don't know where to start because it has to be wearable. When I think of wearable I automatically think of clothes and I actually want to stay out of that. This project really makes me think of Project Runway when Heidi Klum or Tim Gunn tells them what objects or what they're allow to only use. But I guess I'll have to try my best to make it work! This will be interesting and def. out of my comfort zone.

Extra Credit: Jennifer E. Price

This past Tuesday I was able to attend Jennifer E. Price's presentation and lecturer, an artist in the United Kingdom who's work primarily focuses on printmaking. I actually met Jennifer at the Intergraphica club and talked to her about what is printmaking? As I had no clue to what it was or its purposes. This presentation that she gave was very insightful and helpful to all artists. I always worried about after getting a degree and being thrown into the real world, how it'll feel or be like? She explained her journey of overcoming obstacles, such as facing rejection in the challenging art world, to her near death experience and to simply coordinating her own exhibition despite having a horrible cold.

Though she was a great artist and very passionate about what she does, it was the fact she was real. She was a heavy drinker in her college days, suffered from multiple personality disorder and like every other person in this world, she had to face every day life with the struggle with little or no money. She worked and faced all these obstacles to finally get to where she is now. Its amazing how one grows. I can't forget when she mentioned that she nearly faced death and thought to herself that she couldn't die because she didn't do anything to be remembered for. Strange how she felt exactly the same way I feel. It not only motivates me but pushes me more to strive for being better and by doing something I love and hoping to be remembered for something great.