1.) What did you know or understand about the ways artists use symbols before taking this class? Did you use symbolism in your own work before we covered it?
Before I took this class, I had the basic understanding that Art allows individuals from all walks of life the ability to express themselves or have fun. However, I was also aware that some pieces of art relay a hidden message. For a while, I unknowingly utilized symbolism in my art for the longest time. While each piece had their own personal meaning for me, other individuals, such as my classmates and parents, interpreted each piece in a variety of ways. Whenever I asked what they thought, I would get a different answer from each of them. They would then go on to ask, "Well what did you intend for it to be?" to which I would almost always reply, "I really don't know... It just kinda happened..."
2.) How has your understanding of the use of symbolism in art changed? Explain how you’ve used symbolism in your artwork, including what symbols you selected and why.
As the semester went by, my understanding of symbolism only expanded. While most lessons only further cemented my knowledge involving symbolism, I learned that art pieces don't necessarily have to have a singular theme. Most, if not all, art pieces in today's artistic community are so open to interpretation that they tend to symbolize more than what it had initially intended. In conjunction with symbolism, perspective plays a huge role. In art, you can't have one without the other. In order for an artist to give their art symbolism, he/she needs to give their piece a personal meaning. The artist and creator of a piece always have the first interpretation, and therefore create a perspective. From that perspective, symbolism is formed. From there, other individuals find their own meaning for the artist's and creator's work and the counts of symbolism and interpretations never end.
3.) What are some important or useful things you learned in Art 1?
Over the course of this semester, I found myself learning a bunch of new techniques. Before this class, I kind of just threw things together and hoped that it would turn out well. In most cases, my art would turn out okay, but at other times, it would fail in the most comically horrific manner possible. What would initially look like a blob would become a super-blob, and whatever initially had the appearance of a squiggle would become a super-mega-ultra-squiggle. With each passing unit, I learned about a large amount of the in's and out's with art. I had a lot of fun doing so as well. There is absolutely way too much to list for what I have learned this semester, but the units we focused on, from 1 to 6 if I am correct, taught me how to be open minded and flexible when making art.
Unit 1 Perspective
Unit 2 Artists Steal
Unit 3 Concept of Line
Unit 4 Artist Boot Camp
Unit 5 Artists Solve Problems
Unit 6 Artists Take a Stand
4.) What would you add or change to make it a better learning experience?
There is absolutely nothing that I would change to make Art 1 a better learning experience. I personally found that the class was more enjoyable if the atmosphere was particularly relaxed. Most, if not all, of the classes involving a form of art, are classes that an individual needs to be personally interested in, and Art 1 is no exception. If an individual has no interest, and doesn't put their heart and soul into their work and practice, then they will most definitely have a rather difficult experience. Those who do take interest and put their heart into their work will have a blast and a very relaxed semester. I am happy to say that I am the latter. I personally enjoyed my experience in Art 1, and I am proud to say that I was a part of the class.
Before I took this class, I had the basic understanding that Art allows individuals from all walks of life the ability to express themselves or have fun. However, I was also aware that some pieces of art relay a hidden message. For a while, I unknowingly utilized symbolism in my art for the longest time. While each piece had their own personal meaning for me, other individuals, such as my classmates and parents, interpreted each piece in a variety of ways. Whenever I asked what they thought, I would get a different answer from each of them. They would then go on to ask, "Well what did you intend for it to be?" to which I would almost always reply, "I really don't know... It just kinda happened..."
2.) How has your understanding of the use of symbolism in art changed? Explain how you’ve used symbolism in your artwork, including what symbols you selected and why.
As the semester went by, my understanding of symbolism only expanded. While most lessons only further cemented my knowledge involving symbolism, I learned that art pieces don't necessarily have to have a singular theme. Most, if not all, art pieces in today's artistic community are so open to interpretation that they tend to symbolize more than what it had initially intended. In conjunction with symbolism, perspective plays a huge role. In art, you can't have one without the other. In order for an artist to give their art symbolism, he/she needs to give their piece a personal meaning. The artist and creator of a piece always have the first interpretation, and therefore create a perspective. From that perspective, symbolism is formed. From there, other individuals find their own meaning for the artist's and creator's work and the counts of symbolism and interpretations never end.
3.) What are some important or useful things you learned in Art 1?
Over the course of this semester, I found myself learning a bunch of new techniques. Before this class, I kind of just threw things together and hoped that it would turn out well. In most cases, my art would turn out okay, but at other times, it would fail in the most comically horrific manner possible. What would initially look like a blob would become a super-blob, and whatever initially had the appearance of a squiggle would become a super-mega-ultra-squiggle. With each passing unit, I learned about a large amount of the in's and out's with art. I had a lot of fun doing so as well. There is absolutely way too much to list for what I have learned this semester, but the units we focused on, from 1 to 6 if I am correct, taught me how to be open minded and flexible when making art.
Unit 1 Perspective
Unit 2 Artists Steal
Unit 3 Concept of Line
Unit 4 Artist Boot Camp
Unit 5 Artists Solve Problems
Unit 6 Artists Take a Stand
4.) What would you add or change to make it a better learning experience?
There is absolutely nothing that I would change to make Art 1 a better learning experience. I personally found that the class was more enjoyable if the atmosphere was particularly relaxed. Most, if not all, of the classes involving a form of art, are classes that an individual needs to be personally interested in, and Art 1 is no exception. If an individual has no interest, and doesn't put their heart and soul into their work and practice, then they will most definitely have a rather difficult experience. Those who do take interest and put their heart into their work will have a blast and a very relaxed semester. I am happy to say that I am the latter. I personally enjoyed my experience in Art 1, and I am proud to say that I was a part of the class.