HUMI –Art, Ideas &Values

Help me study for my Art & Design class. I’m stuck and don’t understand.

Until we try to do something ourselves, we often lack a real understanding of what it takes to be successful in that endeavor. Some tasks are easier than others – but often our expectations fall short of the reality. That is what makes experiential activities worthwhile. When we jump in and attempt to make something ourselves, that firsthand experience usually produces insights. Results might increase our appreciation how difficult or easy the process proves – at the least it allows us to evaluate if our first impressions were accurate. Until we attempt it, we really don’t know. That’s what a Try This exercise is about – we attempt something to explore the experience. In this case we take on the challenge of creating a particular style of artwork.

In the video posted below you’ll hear an example of a common response to modern art as, “I could do that.” As in, “Hey, what’s with that piece of conceptual art. I don’t get it. Like, I could do that.” We’ve probably all heard it and we might have said it ourselves. But let’s explore that idea a little further.

Watch the video: I Could Do That, courtesy of The Art Assignment.

(video) (Links to an external site.)

The Task:

1. Let’s make an example of Neoplasticism! (10 points)
   How? Well, here are some instructions.

Mondrian’s style consisted of compositions using only vertical and horizontal lines and rectangular shapes in black, white, gray, and primary colors. Every shape can be created from the most basic geometric shapes and every color can be created from mixing different quantities of primary RED, YELLOW, and BLUE. Mondrian’s work went on to be known as Neoplasticism (Links to an external site.) – a style he defined as an attempt to reduce art to its simplest, clearest form. As you can see, Piet Mondrian’s work inspired others.

While Mondrian worked with oil paints you should use pens and pencils – don’t forget the primary colors! Of course you can use a ruler to get nice sharp edges but you might want to try it without one just to see the difference in difficulty.

Try making one:

1. Draw 6 horizontal lines and 4 vertical lines, make some lines thick and some thin.

2.You should have a grid with lots of empty spaces.

3.Choose just a few spaces to fill in with the primary colors (red, yellow, blue).

4. Leave a lot of white space – the key is to keep it simple.

1. Remember to use the red, yellow and blue of primary colors (Links to an external site.).
2. Take a picture of your effort and upload it so I can see the results! (5 points)
3. Write a short explanation about your experience. (10 points)
   Reflect on what you discovered during this process.