BLOG #2

This reading made me realize how many terms I knew the definition of, but was never aware of the actual term used. I found it very interesting that many of the terms used in art today came about during the renaissance. All these art terms are commonly used in our every day vocabulary, terms such as a horizontal line, texture, spacing, and/or brightness. We relate to these terms every day, but in most cases are not aware that they are terms from the renaissance era relating to art. I have always wanted to be good at 2D art, but never really had any skill for it; therefore, I spend my time behind a photo camera lens. My favorite photos are those taking at the beach and are a prime example of a horizontal line, which is where the ocean meets the sky; although, to the naked eye it seems as if the ocean becomes the sky. This photo is one of my own down at Capitola Beach and it represents a horizontal line right at the end of the ocean where the sky begins. The horizontal line is also evident between the back end of the ocean and the front end of the ocean. This line divides all the different textures and colors of the sand, ocean, and sky.




Along with horizontal lines come terms such as texture, color, density, depth, perspective, etc. A lot of my photographs focus on texture. I make sure to find places where the texture differs and it is noticeable in the photograph. Although the texture is not tangible through the photo the texture is still seen in the picture. Most of my favorite photos from the beach are very texture oriented. The photo to the right has a lot of texture which is not just seen through the rocks and their roughness but also in the water and sand.






All the terms from the renaissance era and the art that people like Donatello, Michelangelo, Botticelli, etc. produced were then and are now vital to our every day lives. Even when we do not realize it, these terms and these pieces we use every day, whether it is to teach a 7 year old how to draw, a high school-er how to take a photograph, or an adult what is important in architecture. The renaissance era set a foundation that is very much needed today and that will be forever needed because of the terminology and the message they put forth for us. Art is timeless and its message is timeless, we all see something different in a photograph, painting, sculpture, etc. but at the end of the day, we all see something.

BLOG #1

Is art and religion relevant today?



I have realized that both art and religion are relevant today, in fact, religion is still rising with the addition of religions such as Scientology, which emerged less than 90 years ago. People rely on religion to guide them through their every day and to save them from all the evils in the world. Even though religion is not as highly accepted as it was back in the ancient world it is still vital to our lives. We see the rise in religions through the constant building of places of worship for the many new followers. Sadly, there is a lot of controversy in religion today because people fail to accept religion for what it truly is without compromising their religious beliefs with their political thoughts. We see religion alive today during Christmas and Easter in malls, parks, and other city attractions. For example, Valley Fair and Santana Row, one of the biggest malls in our area, puts up a Christmas Tree every year during the holidays and has Santa there for the children. This helps keep religion alive in not only the adults but also the children.



Art, very much like religion, is also alive in today's world. Although, it is not in the same form that it was in the 15th century art still shapes everything around us. All the beautiful music, buildings, novels, poems, sculptures, etc. are our forms of art which keep us alive and sane. Artists of today still rely very much on ancient art to find themselves in each individual piece that they make. Art is a form of expression for the individual and in my opinion will forever stay alive and be relevant to our lives and the lives of the generations to come. Art is a greater power that we do not have any control over, yet it has all the control over us. It shapes who we are and who we want to be, because we express our true selves through art.



Through my own experiences I have seen that art and religion will forever be relevant in people's lives and forever help them express themselves.