Experience @ the CMA

I chose the Cleveland Museum of Art for my museum visit assignment. This was mainly because I had just happened to be in Cleveland the next week after the start of summer vacation for a 5K. Believe me, I did not want to be in Cleveland for longer than I had to be. I originally had my plans set up to hang out with friends, and was frustrated when I had to leave early and be… stuck in Cleveland. But I saw my chance to get this all done with, and we decided to make a day out of it.

            I primarily chose an exhibit named Gold of the Ancient Americas, but found myself wandering into other exhibits, which wove into that hall, such as Tantra in Buddhist Art, which was so beautiful. I was so distracted with all the intricate detail and how it lasted for so many centuries. These came from India, China, etc. and included statues, printed textiles, and pages from books. These pages included translations, which revealed they were mostly ancient (bedtime) stories and tales.

            But back to Gold of The Ancient Americas, which included golden figures, emblems, and containers (tea pots, candle holders, plates/bowls, etc.). These came mainly from the “Central Andes (today mainly Peru) and the Isthmus Region (now Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia)”. This was a short exhibit with about a dozen pieces on display.  Near the end of my visit, I wandered through an exhibit with Native American works, including masks from celebratory and tribal costumes, as well as oars, statues, among other things.

            I think it would’ve been cool to do the Greek and European art exhibits, with all the paintings’ floral and peachy color palettes and ornamental marble statues, as well as shell trim wood furniture. I’ve always been attracted to those characteristics, mainly because I’ve grown up with adornments in my house very similar. But it was good for me to get out of my comfort zone, especially when it comes to art, because almost everything new I try goes fortunately well.

Photos from my visit to The Cleveland Museum of Art

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(I took so many more photos than what is posted, but i had to put a filter on them all. these are my favorites and the ones i enjoyed in the majority)

Art Summer Homework

June 2015

Hand Sketches

1st Sketch- Graphite

2nd Sketch- Charcoal

3rd Sketch- Watercolor

4th Sketch- Pastel

5th Sketch- Ink

[For the Graphite, Charcoal, and Ink sketches, I wanted to add a sort of storybook look, so i add the shading by small strokes of the drawing tool, so it looked like a drawing from an old story tale.  The Watercolor and Pastel sketches have a more cartoon-y look to them, however. These are all modeled off male hands, with an acceptation to the Ink sketch.]

July 2015

Tool Sketches

1st Sketch- Graphite

2nd Sketch- Charcoal

3rd Sketch- Watercolor

4th Sketch- Pastel

5th Sketch- Ink

[I found it to be more difficult to draw the tools than the hands. The Charcoal and Pastel sketches came out especially cartoon-y. I think the Hammer (Ink) was the easiest, the Wrench (Graphite) coming in close second. The Pastel was sort of intended to have an animated look. The Charcoal sketch.. ehh, not so much *scratches head nervously*. I thought the wooden figure was considered a tool, since I use it when drawing male figures as a source myself.]

June / July 2015

Hand Sculpture

&

Tool Sculpture

[These were the most difficult part of all the art homework. They kept cracking in awkward places. I was extremely frustrated with the hand especially, because getting under the fingers was a pain in my hands. I have to admit I did use a photo reference for the wrinkles in the bends of the fingers and palm because mine were covered with clay. The only difficulty with the Tool was trying (emphasis on "trying") to make the dirt look realistic as wall as give the sculpture something to keep it up while drying - I was tempted to get a hair dryer but decided that wouldn't be the smartest idea with the risk of it cracking worse then it had been from only air-drying. The Dirt acts as more of a stand, but couldn't hold the rest of the sculpture up being that it was still drying itself.]

Hand Sculpture

Tool Sculpture