Module 1 - 4 Roles of the Artist

Requirements

To complete this assignment I was instructed to locate 6 textbook quality pictures. Initially, four of the pictures represent the roles in which the artist approaches their work, as described below:

1. Artists help us see the world in new or innovative ways.
2. Artists make a visual record of the people, places, and events of their time and place.
3. Artists make functional objects and structures more pleasurable and imbue them with meaning.
4. Artists give form to immaterial ideas and feelings. 

Next, I was instructed to find two more pictures to represent "Aesthetic Beauty" and "Kitsch" respectively. Each of these pictures are to include as captions the following elements:

• A title 
• A description of the thought or technique represented
• The name of the artist gave the piece of work
• The name of the artist
• The type of medium the artist used to create the piece of work
• Citation of any reference material used

Each of the text box captions should be of factual content and not personal insight or opinions.

Artists help us see the world in new or innovative ways.

This fantasy artwork, by Michael Pukac, is an example of how artists take common or natural objects and purposely polarize our view of it. By shedding light on a different perspective,  the subject can be transformed into a rendition not commonly conceived by the general populous.

Seahorse

By Michael Pukac

Artists make a visual record of the people, places, and events of their time and place. 
This is a painting by Norman Rockwell created in 1944 of an injured veteran returning home from the Vietnam War. This was considered such a realistic rendition that it was used on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. Many artists chose portraits to capture the era in which they lived,  as was the tradition of many great artists. 

Disabled Veteran

By Norman Rockwell
1944, oil on canvas, 43" x 34"
Saturday Evening Post, July 1 1944, cover

Artists make functional objects and structures more pleasurable and imbue them with meaning. 

This representation of a man in flames depicts an image that creates the feeling a musical artist might have while playing some 'hot licks' on the guitar. It implies the idea of how spontaneous music can be. On the other hand, from the perspective of the audience, it displays how one might envision their favorite musician. Each of these concepts are displayed by a single artist's representation of a simple guitar.

Guitar Man

By Preston Stone

Artists give form to immaterial ideas and feelings.

Many works of art are embodied by the emotion or idea the artist is trying to convey. These works are created and designed, by the artist, to specifically portray the intangible concept it depicts, like this representation of relaxation.  This is a photographic creation by Colton Onushko of such a concept.

Rainbow Relaxation

By Colton Onushko

Aesthetic Beauty

Aesthetic beauty can be found in many settings. It can be found in architecture, in common objects, in portraits of people, and in nature. I chose to portray the aesthetic beauty that nature reveals to the beholder.

Waterfalls and Ancient Gods screensaver 1.0

An instance of the BlueChillies.com screensaver representing the aesthetic beauty of an ancient hideaway in a lush tropical paradise. Copyright © 2000 BlueChillies.com  All rights reserved.  Legal Terms

Other examples of natural aesthetic beauty found on YouTube

•  BeautifulWorld Wonderful World
• SevenWonders of the World

Kitsch

I discovered that the word kitsch is a German term that was initially used during WWII to describe artwork of an inferior quality. It is also defined as; “Art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but appreciated in an ironic way. “  I chose this piece by Thomas Kinkade self-proclaimed “Painter of Light™” from the Disney Dreams Collection, which  celebrates great moments from Walt Disney.

Pinocchio Wishes Upon A Star

acrylic on canvas

By Thomas Kinkade

Watch the first video to get a good understanding of the sentimentality behind the artist’s work, and a narration of how the painting came into being.

• ArtistNarrative - Pinocchio Wishes Upon A Star
• Another cool example of kitsch on YouTube  (must see, some seriously funny stuff!)