Medium of the Art
This painting is called Jim Twadell's Place, it was painted by an American artist named George Wesley Bellows. It was painted in 1924 with oil on a canvas. He trained under Robert Henri who influenced his students to paint urban life but he then ventured off to paint this image of rural life. It is based off of the home of Jim Twadell whom Bellows knew in Woodstock, New York, while he was there working at the artists' colony. When looking at this same image online it looks like a simple house in the country, but when looking at it up close, it is so much more. You see the thousands of little brush strokes that went into the smallest detail, and the work that went into it. I am not from a small town like that but I am from Iowa so I feel like I can connect with this picture coming from such a small state where I am surrounded by the country that people think is only occupied by corn fields. When viewing this painting up close it becomes more realistic by seeing the uneven ridges from each brush stroke. It is a very detailed painting capturing a simple life. When viewing this art I thought of simplicity and peace of living of living in the silence and nature that the earth provides.
Art and Core Values
This piece is called Three girls holding hands, painted by Sebatiao Salgado in 1981. This piece of work applies to one of my core values of family. I have 2 sisters that are very important to me and they are a big part of my life. Growing up we didn't always get along but we knew we would always have each other. This picture really got my attention because family is important to me and they will always take care of each other, just like how I will always have my sisters backs. When I am with them I am not as fearful, instead I feel like I have more strength with them. These girls may not be related but with them all holding hands I feel their strength and closeness.
Art and the Good Life
This sculpture is called Orange and Gray Closed-Form Vessel, crafted by Toshiko Takaezu in the 1990's. For me, this sculpture represents the Good Life because life doesn't have to be extravagant and shiny. Sometimes the people with the most simple lives live the happiest lives. This sculpture doesn't catch your eye right away, in fact, I didn't really stop to look at it until I was walking out. It's not a unique shape or color but to some people it is the most beautiful piece of art they've ever seen. There is no right or wrong way to life a good life, everyone finds happiness in different ways, and in my Good Life I find happiness within the simple things, much like this sculpture.