I N V E S T I G A T I N G A B S T R A C T A R T

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1 Investigation Assignment - Making connections The focus of this assignment is making connections on contextual, visual and critical level. You have images from five artists to reflect upon and to try to make the necessary creative connections to accomplish this project. You may choose paintings on your own, or you can use the paintings provided bellow. You may decide to use for your investigation only 3 artists instead of five, and this is acceptable but you should not have less than 3 artists for your investigation.. The theme of the current project is Myself an Unconventional Portrait. The artists offered are: Mark Chagall, Matisse, Paul Klee, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.(again you can choose your own artists or use mine for your investigation!) In order to make a better contextual connection between the new art concepts we are learning and how that knowledge can be used, we will start with a project that most of us will find it easier to relay to. You will have to create an image of yourself by searching for relationships that make sense and appear useful. Look deep down in yourself and try to express a feeling, an idea, a moment out of your current environment, or just a thought that is truly representative of your inner self You have paintings from five artists to look at, and to make a possible visual connection between them and the theme we are about to recreate. Choose one of them, or a combination of some, as a starting point to plan your art-work. Be critical and reflect your own perceptions that are coming as a response to your research and examinations. Leave your mind to seek meaning in the context and make an attempt to incorporate those reflections in your project. Since this is an unconventional portrait it can be anything you decide it to be. It does not need to follow the conventional norms of a portrait, although it can. However, the final product has to be an image a reflection of yourself -your portrait. For example: What is common for the chosen paintings is that they can be viewed as portraits, although presented in different ways. Mark Chagall's painting "365 of the things that have helped me" is an emotional revelation in blue and motion of some deep and valuable personal moments of one's personality. The colors are chosen to represent the dynamic of an emotional journey, a search of a soul and the images are freely and natural floating in the river of author's life. It is a dreamy world, yet a very realistic one, with a hope and vital inspiration for new things to come.

2 Matisse s paintings: 1) The red room (or Harmony in Red) 2) Portrait of Lydia Delectorskaya 3) Red Interior Still life on a blue table On the other hand the three paintings by Henri Matisse presented here for reflection are more static, yet they are very suggestive, and revealing of three different personalities if viewed as portraits. The main color (red) chosen by the artist is of drastic discord with the stillness and the silence that is coming out of the paintings. However, this is exactly what makes those portraits so vivid and full of life and dynamic. A completely different approach can be seen in the third painting offered for reflection for the current project. The highly individual style of the childlike image of Paul Klee portrait reflects his personal mood and beliefs. Using an exceptionally extended color palette his artwork often looks completely abstract when applying a variety of geometric forms. The monochromatic palette of the artist is used with such mastership that actually gives us the perception of a highly polychromatic work. The fragile expression of the childlike figure is in a contrast with the soft twist of the eyes thus bringing their expression at a whole new level. Two Renaissance artists Leonardo Da Vinci Michelangelo

3 Studio Assignment - Making connections: The focus of this assignment is creating a studio project by using your reflections of the presented art materials, and cultural, social and historical background as a central point. As introduced already in the investigation assignment the theme of the current project is Myself an Unconventional Portrait. The artists presented for reflection are: Mark Chagall, Matisse and Paul Klee The paintings used are as follows, and what is common for the chosen paintings is that they can be viewed as portraits, although presented in different ways. Review the descriptions offered and revert to your own as well while working on this assignment. Mark Chagall's painting "365 of the things that have helped me" Paul Klee Female Portrait The name of the paintings by Matisse: 4) The red room (or Harmony in Red) 5) Portrait of Lydia Delectorskaya 6) Red Interior Still on a blue table

4 Your task is to create an unconventional portrait of yourself. You are free to choose how to better express your idea as an extension of the investigation assignment. Go over your sketches, and using techniques and media by your choice reflect a feeling, an idea, a moment out of your current environment, or just a thought that is truly representative of your inner self. Since this is an unconventional portrait it can be anything you decide it to be. It does not need to follow the conventional norms of a portrait, although it can. However, the final product has to be an image a reflection of yourself -your portrait. Timeframe for the Studio and the Investigation assignment: You must finish the assignment within 5 school hours (90 minutes), 3 school hours (40 min) and the week of vacation you have in November. You have 4 weeks for this project. Review your sketches and plan properly your time. Late work is not accepted. Choose the appropriate technique/s to accomplish your idea. ( water color, acrylics or pastel) Visual Art Journal- 20 or more investigation pages!!!! Date Due for this project is December the 8 th. While working, please reflect on the following issues in your V.A. Journal: What helped you to reach the idea for your project? Was this an expression of an important personal feeling, things you love or hate, etc. Which paintings did you choose as a starting point to create your own project and why? Were the paintings helpful to you during this assignment? What was the technique or the combination of techniques that you chose to accomplish your idea? Is there anything else you would want to do next to get deeper into this topic? If creating another self-portrait what different would you do? What was the main technical thing that you learn while working on this assignment?

5 IB Art Critique Discussion Questions 1. Exhibits excellent understanding of the ideas and techniques that underpin artistic expression. Describe the process used to create your work. How does your choice in materials and techniques relate to your idea. Could this same idea be explored in a different way technically if there were no boundaries What elements and principles were emphasized in this work, and how did those choices impact the meaning of the work? Did the technique/process lead the idea or did the idea lead the process/technique 2. Consistently demonstrates the production of personally relevant artworks that show excellent exploration of ideas reflecting cultural and historical awareness and artistic qualities. What are you investigating in your work? Why? What evidence in your investigation influenced your pieces (culturally or historically based)? How do your pieces reflect cultural and historical awareness and artistic qualities? 3. Shows thoughtful development of ideas and strategies for expression. How did you develop your ideas? Describe this process? Discuss the preliminary work that led to the development of these pieces. Was your investigation influenced by a cultural, historical, or personal journey? 4. Displays sensitivity to materials and their use. The coherent body of work has been reviewed, modified and refined as it has progressed, resulting in an accomplished resolution of ideas and medium. Where have you taken steps to revise and improve pieces presented? Describe the progression of ideas in your work. Describe how your knowledge of a particular material or technique has evolved. How have the pieces being shown evolved from your original idea? Were you surprised by the journey? 5. Displays excellent technical competence. What are your technical strengths? What are your technical concerns? What technical challenges did you come across? Did this help your process or delay it?