We Know What Art Is (Patrick Laughlin)

I've decided to post a blog and just talk about what I have learned in Introduction to Art. I am a student studying grahic design, and I think that as an art study this class has really complimented my other classes, such as art history and my studio classes, like drawing. 

Art to me has really changed from when the year began. I started the year originally enjoying high renaissance works of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, ect and superrealistic works from those like Chuck Close. It wasn't until now that i understand that Art is not just merely making an image as realistic as possible. Art for me now really encompasses so much more than i originally thought of and while i still do believe personally that Art needs to express some sort of an emotion or story, it can be done in alot more different ways. I dont think i really particularly like Dadaism, Cubism, Pop Art or many of the other contemporary works, but i can atleast appreciate them and understand what they mean to art.

For myself, this class has helped me in my other classes because it has made my understanding of the subject i am majoring in more clear. I personally believe that too much of the art program at this school (as well as other schools) focus entirely too much on the actual producing of art and learning the craft, which gives the students the wrong impression of thinking that they need to work work work in order to get better at whatever art they are pursuing. I could not disagree more with this philosophy, i think that in order to grow as an artist that it is quite possibly one of the most important things that you can do by just stopping and taking time out to read, write and discuss. By discussing art frequently in this class it really opens up ideas and understanding of my art. As a growing graphic designer I try to read books dealing with my craft, as well as biographies of my favorite artists like Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Chuck Close, reading interviews and ect. I try to write in a journal frequently about my thoughts and ideas rather than hastly trying to make them.  This Class taught me that spending more time reading and discussing with my peers is far more important to growing as an artist than actually creating work is.