What is Formal Analysis?

Formal analysis is a visual structure the artist decides to use in order to get their painting to convey what they would like.  This includes lines, shapes, space, color,  texture, and value.  The artists choses where to place their main subject and with formal analysis they place the color that would contrast to help get their message across.  Formal analysis can be used in both two dimension and three dimension art by choosing specific material in order to create a specific texture in an art piece.

We can use principles of designs and elements of design to describe and understand a painting.  For example the artist creates a negative space and a positive space, with it his focus turns a specific are of the art work.  They also use balance, where they can make the art symmetrical and the “weight” can be the same on both sides.  Lastly for texture, they can visualize with paint and lines.  With the help of formal analysis we can understand a piece of art better by knowing why the artist used a specific structure in their art work.

Blog Post 3: The Banking Model

Paulo Freire described the “Banking Model” as method that teachers use to teach in classrooms where the students creativity is cut.  Freire describes this method as a way of oppression towards the students.  The teachers “deposit” their knowledge into a student’s brain without allowing the students to express thoughts or questions they might have.  They get information planted into their brain without actually understanding it.  It limits a students input into their own learning not only that, but with this method of a teacher not allowing them to speak their mind a student can become “lazy” and feel as if they really do not know nothing.  This is a form of oppressing the learners because an educator has the “power” to say and teach what they want to and not necessarily what they actually need and should know.  A students takes in the information to a certain extent where it will help them pass their exams.  Soon after it will be forgotten because they do not understand what they are being taught but rather try to remember it.

In my years of attending school I have luckily only encounter one teacher that went by this method.  He would expect students to understand everything he lectured and would get upset when a student had a question.  His teaching would be based off textbook reading and videos but never explanations.  Facts were just thrown to the class and we had to remember them.  My teacher would joke around about getting the information tatted so we would never forget it but it would be frustrating to just have to remember a date and not know why it mattered.  As a result the students hated the class and more than 90% of the kids failed the exams.  I personally can not remember anything from that class, I felt dumb when I did not comprehend something and I knew that if I asked the teacher for help he would get upset.  He would just stand in front of the class and talk, he did not allow no one to leave to the bathroom, or even for water.  Even though some may say this method can benefit some people I believe that it restricts the influence the students have to their own learning.  A student should know why they are learning something and why it matters and not just be forced to remember it to pass their next test.

Blog 2: My art story

 

Art, a three letter word.  Such a small word with such big meanings.  Art can really mean anything you want it to mean.  From a song to a picture to a quote, I believe that as long as it inspires you or conveys a message it is art.  Personally when I hear the word art I think of mixed media.  I took mixed media my senior year in high school and since then I can say my perspective of what art is really changed.

The goal of my mixed media class was to mix all type of materials and paint to create a portrait of anyone who inspired us and with it send a message to inspire someone else.  I chose Merida, the princess.  Her movie send out a strong message for anyone watching.  During class everything was about inspiration.  All the art my teacher showed the class had a meaningful message for the picture itself or for the audience to receive.

It was then that I realized that art to me was exactly that, something that inspires someone or tries to convey a message for itself.  It can be a simple picture of a sky and if it motivates you then I consider it art.  Music is art, photography, dance, painting, drawings, sculptures, and books can all be art.  It is all in the person in how they perceive the message given.  Art is something that we all create without knowing it.

 

Blog Post 1: How to make a blog post

New to CUNY Academic Commons?

Are you confused on how to make a post?

Well I am here to write this post that will hopefully help you!

Just keep in mind that depending on the device you are using the steps on posting a blog may be different.

Step 1: Login in to your account

Step 2: Click on your avatar on the top right corner

Step 3: Click on sites and then click on Art 1010

Step 4: Click on posts and on the top of the page it will have a, (+)New,  when you click on it a new screen will come out and say “Add New Post”

Step 5: Tittle your blog and categorize it with your class.

Step 6: Write your post! You can add a picture by clicking on Add Media.

Step 7:  Post it by clicking on Publish!

Continue reading Blog Post 1: How to make a blog post