Looking Back. Looking Forward.

Mary of Burgundy Painter
Painting is a window to the world
At the beginning of this course I admit I was somewhat intimidated by the process of art and art history. However the ability to learn about different artists, their personalities and understand their contributions within the context of politics, history and society has helped me develop a confidence and basic understanding of art theory.

Mary of Magdalene by Donatello
Memory of a grandmother's love and sacrifice
The blogs are a tremendous learning tool and helped me to really contemplate the meaning of art and determine how it related to my experience. I enjoyed reading the other students blogs as well and it provided me with different perspectives on some of the art work we discussed.

Birth of Venus by Botticelli
Animals can respond to art too
Our first blog asked us to describe ourselves visually. I would like to use this final blog as an opportunity to share with you some of the art work from the text that challenged, inspired or changed me.

Death of a Miser by Hieronymus Bosch
Death awaits us all
From the symbolism of Flemish art to the classical ideals of the Renaissance, from the emotion of Baroque art to the frivolity of the Rococo, art history came alive to me.

Fall of the Giants by Giulio Romano
Experiencing art in the third dimension
I was awed by Ter Borch's skill at depicting the beauty of fabrics and humbled by the dignity of Ver Meer's paintings of women.

The Banker and his wife by arinus van Reymerswaele
Money isn't everything
Donatello's Mary of Magdalene helped me grieve for the death of my grandmother. Carvaggio's mastery of light and shadow made his paintings luminous and memorable. The morbid humor of Bosch made me smile.

Catharina Hooft and Her Nurse by Frans Hals
The innocence and mischievousness of a child
I have enjoyed this journey of art through the world of architecture, painting and sculpture. At times eye-opening and uplifting and others emotional and humbling. Above all, it has been an opportunity to connect to the universal human experience.

Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba by Claude Lorrain
The beauty of land and sea

Head versus Heart

The Agony of Laocoon, Adrian Gottlieb

Neoclassical Art focused on line, proportion, and order...it was an art that was to be understood through the intellect.. On the other hand, Romanticism focused on color, drama, and disorganization...an art that was to be accessed through emotion.Discuss modern day examples of each, and then (only if possible) give me a modern day example that rejects both in your opinion.


Tatianas Repast, Adrian Gottlieb

Poussinistes versus Rubenistes. Neoclassicism versus Rococo. Right Brain versus Left Brain. The age old battle of reason versus emotion continues to shape art today.

Sophia Painting, Adrian Gottlieb
In the 20th century the 'Classical Realism' movement has created a renewed interest in academic art by emphasizing the importance of technique and beauty based on Neoclassical ideals. Classical realists advocate the importance of traditional crafts and techniques of painting, drawing and sculpture. Line is king for classical realists such as Adrian Gottlieb who is trained in the Atelier Method.

Requies Librorum, Adrin Gottlieb
Gottlieb's work clearly communicates the classical ideals of beauty. His portraits are so realistic because he draws and paints exclusively from live models. His accuracy and craftsmanship is evident in the attention to detail. His compositions present juxtapositions of interesting objects. Most of all I like his paintings because they make you think.

Poppy Field, Claude Monet
On the other side of the debate, the Modern art movement can be seen as a reaction to the formality and rigidity of the Enlightenment. Modern art emphasised emotions and new ways of creating and interpreting art. Impressionist painters such as Monet, Cezanne and Post Impressionist painter Van Gogh valued color over line. Their brilliant use of color and brushstroke created ethereal paintings that elevated emotion in the experience of art.

Irises, Claude Monet
I am drawn to art that appeals to both the intellect and emotion. I think therefore I feel. To me there is room for everyone. The variety of opinion, technique and motive creates a greater diversity within the world of art. I dont think it is possible to divorce line and color from art completely. A line is a point in motion. All art is a dance or movement of point, line and either presence or absence of color. However there are artists who oppose convential techniques and notions. Jackson Pollock was such an artist. He challenged and reinterpreted the boundaries of line as well as the optimistic use of color.

Number 32, Jackson Pollock
While Pollock does use color paint for his splatter paintings, he doesnt use color in the traditional sense. His rejection of traditional painting techniques and interpretation also made him a target of critics. While I am not particularly drawn to Pollock's paintings I do respect his individualism and style.

Galaxy, Jackson Pollock

Note: All images are property of the artist(s) and used here for educational purposes.

Kids Draw the Darndest Things

This past weekend my friend and her family came to visit us from San Diego. I knew her kids were scared of dogs so I was apprehensive about how the visit would go. My dog Sophie loves kids especially little boys and loves to jump and play. My worries however were unfounded, the kids and Sophie became best buddies and we had a wonderful visit. This is Umaan's and Dhanvi's story told through their art.


The first thing I did when the kids arrived was to distract them with an activity. With Sophie on a leash but still in the room I gave the kids a box of crayons and some paper to keep them occupied. Doing something they were familiar with and enjoyed doing i.e. drawing made them feel comfortable and distracted them from the the dog in the room. After some time we let them sit up on at a table while we let Sophie off leash. We gave them control over the situation by having them throw the ball for Sophie and have her perform certain commands or tricks. Pretty soon they were out in the yard with Sophie having a wonderful time.


The day before they left the boys commissioned some art work for our fridge. I was so touched by their portrayals of Sophie. The 6 yr old (who signs his work Umaan #4) drew a portrait of Sophie with a big grin and Dhanvi, the 3 year old created a very colorful pink and blue Sophie (who happens to be a black/tan cocker). They also drew a portrait of our family, positioning Sophie in the middle. What is interesting is that Sophie usually sits or sleeps between my husband and me. This shows they understand the importance of Sophie in our lives.


Just like Durer represented animals with naturalistic detail characteristic of Northern Europe, the kids in their own innocence and ability captured subtle details of Sophie's personality and appearance. The happiness, emotion and use of vivid colors in their art work tells me that they overcame their fear of dogs and really bonded with Sophie. They came to see her as a buddy not a threat. Their art clearly communicates it.

The Future of Art

German artist Albrecht Durer amassed a personal fortune with the sale of wood cut prints. The fame and fortune of print makers and artists like Durer inspired others artists to follow in his footsteps. Durer's engraving 'Melencolia I' has been the subject of much debate and analysis and achieved popularity through its wide distribution. Melencolia has elements of various styles and periods. There is the hidden symbolism reminiscent of Flemish art. There is also classical influences from the Italian Renaissance. While there are many interpretations Melencolia serves as a legacy of an artist trying to make sense of their world.


Today with advances in technology there are a plethora of avenues for self expression. The popularity of 'YouTube' and the explosion of viral videos give anyone with a computer and a web cam a platform to communicate visually to people around the globe. The combination of art and music in several youtube videos provide a unique experience of art. The rise of the 'Blogosphere' and social networks such as Facebook also provide additional avenues for people to share ideas, information and make sense of the human experience.

The development of art history is about action and reaction. Just as the Mannerist painters rejected the classical ideals of the Renaissance, future artists will be shaped by the issues of our time. Societal influences such as globalization, consumerism and the green revolution as well as developments in technology have far reaching implications for art.

Technology is sometimes criticized as being detrimental to the arts however it is often beneficial. The Internet is one such tool that can be effectively used to communicate art to the masses. One of my favorite sites 'Google' promotes the 'art' of technology. The popular search engine occasionally features customized logos recognizing the contributions of certain individuals or commemorating popular holidays and festivals around the world. My favorite Google logos are the tributes to various individuals especially artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Van Gogh and others.

Google Logo Art is designed by Dennis Hwang. Hwang recognizes well known individuals and events but also features lesser known individuals and festivals from around the world. This is a unique way of making art and culture accessible to a new generation of people. Often I find myself clicking on the logo to find out more about the event or individual featured.



For Piet Mondrian's birthday, Hwang designed a log that incorporated Mondraian's unique use of colorful blocks. Claude Monet's birthday features a soft and dreamy watercolor with floating lily pads. To honor Salvador Dali, Hwang paid tribute to Dali's famous painting 'The Persistence of Memory'. In addition to artists, Google also recognizes the contributions of individuals in various fields such as architecture, music, mathematics and others.

Recently Google held a 'Doodle 4 Google' national art competition where students from grades K-12 were invited to design custom Google artwork around the theme 'What if?'. I was so impressed by the concepts and designs of the students that participated.

Here are a few of my favorite designs.



Click here to read more about the prize winning design by Grace Moon, a sixth grader from Castro Valley, California.

Made in China

I was watching a show on Comedy Central today featuring comedian Jeff Dunham. Dunham is a ventriloquist and has a variety of puppets that he uses in his show. One such skeleton puppet 'Achmed the Dead Terrorist', does not believe he is Middle Eastern or Muslim because he has a 'Made in China' sticker stamped on his rear.

This skit although funny reminded me that we live in a world where increasingly the diversity of products and craftsman ship is being sacrificed in the name of cheap prices and disposable goods. Globalization wears the twin masks of comedy and tragedy. 'Made in China' unfortunately has come to be associated with cheap quality, toxic products and recalls.

This computerization of industries and standardization of products and services has led to a 'cloning' of art. The objects that surround us today are often mass produceed in factories, the creative concept of a global corporation. Every time I go to Bed Bath and Beyond or one of the big box home stores I cringe when I see the canned pieces that masquerade as 'art'.


Unlike today, during the Renaissance people were encouraged to use their God given talents. Artists were held in high esteem and the arts flourished. Today art and music programs are constantly cut due to lack of funds. Children are being left behind not just in reading, writing and math but also the liberal arts. Current educational curriculum often ignores the development of emotional intelligence and often stifles creative thought.

However just as every action has a reaction. I believe a new movement has begun. Trends like buying local foods and eating seasonal items have also influenced peoples choices in art and design. I and many people I know are finding ways to keep art and beauty alive often in sustainable and practical ways. I try to buy items that are made from local artists instead of buying factory made items. My husband and I visited the Garlic art festival last year and I bought a beautiful pottery garlic holder with dragonfly on the lid. It is a beautiful memento of that day and it brightens up my kitchen. Visiting local art and craft festivals, farmers markets and other community events opens your eyes to the beauty and vitality of one's neighborhood. Hand made items may cost more but their benefits are far reaching.

By supporting artists from your family, society or country you can support local economies and help lift people out of poverty. By buying hand made items we can keep the skills and knowledge that has been passed down through the centuries alive. As for me I prefer ‘Handmade in China’

In the presence of genius

I think when you look up the meaning of the word genius, Leonardo da Vinci’s name should appear somewhere in the definition. Even the website of the traveling Da Vinci Exhibition recognizes this truth. http://www.davincithegenius.com/. The exhibition features examples of Da Vinci's drawings, paintings and replicas of several of his inventions.

I was lucky enough to view the Da Vinci Exhibition when it was in San Fransisco and the sheer beauty and artistry of his drawings, inventions and paintings just took my breath away. The exhibition featured many interactive exhibits. My favorite pieces were the first tank and car that Leonardo designed. He was truly a Renaissance Man. A genius for all time.

Giorgio Vasari, in the enlarged edition of Lives of the Artists, 1568,[9] introduced his chapter on Leonardo da Vinci with the following words:

In the normal course of events many men and women are born with remarkable talents; but occasionally, in a way that transcends nature, a single person is marvelously endowed by Heaven with beauty, grace and talent in such abundance that he leaves other men far behind, all his actions seem inspired and indeed everything he does clearly comes from God rather than from human skill.

—Giorgio Vasari

For all his successes Leonardo had to have paid a high price. He once wrote in a journal ‘"The Medici made me and the Medici destroyed me’. Fame often comes with a deep personal cost. We see this today in the lives of many professional actors, athletes and celebrities such as Britney Spears.

Leonardo sometimes provided misleading information or hid clues to the functioning of certain devices in other drawings to prevent people from stealing his ideas. Copyright infringement was an issue then too.

He procrastinated often, starting but never finishing a number of paintings and projects. Although being that he juggled so many hats (inventor, artist, architect, anatomist, scientist, engineer, etc) it is easy to understand this fault. I don’t think anyone today can accomplish in several lifetimes what Leonardo Da Vinci accomplished during his.


Just like Leonardo was divinely inspired, the artist Sadequain challenged the boundaries of art in the Islamic world. Born in Pakistan in 1930 Sadequain is known for the beginning the renaissance of calligraphy in the East. He created his own unique script that was expressive, emotive and painted vivid images inspired by the Koran and his own poetry.He used many calligraphic forms to portray images of cities, buildings, forests, men, and women. In addition he also created several sketches, large murals and paintings.

Sadequain's work was often controversial because it depicted faces which is not allowed in Islam. Sadequain once said “People ask why I don't paint flowers, butterflies and landscapes? I tell them that I seek the truth and I am after reality. I am not inspired by someone posing against the backdrop of roses in a vase or pink curtains. What inspires me is a person who has gone hungry for hours and is struggling for survival. The expression that lights his face at the end of the day when he has finally found some scraps, that is what touches me. I am a painter of the expression of reality.” He was a ‘faqir’ or ‘spiritual recluse’ and used his art to explore issues faced by the common man.

For this Sadequain often suffered the wrath of the religious leaders but gained the respect and admiration of people around the world. His work 'Artist' provides some insight into the suffering of artists for their beliefs, ideals and art.

When I visited Pakistan in 2006 I was given a commemorative calendar featuring Sadequain's paintings and poetry. His work is reminiscent of paintings by some of my favorite artists Van Gogh, Cezanne and Picasso.

Like Leonardo Da Vinci, Sadequain was too a man ahead of his time. Both men used art to forever change the world. Both men were geniuses in their own right.

Click here to view a selection of Sadequain’s murals, paintings and sketches

Click here to view a list of geniuses throughout history. It is sad that no one is listed from the year 2000 onwards.

Sophie - The Art Critic

Earlier this week I was watching the video of Botticelli's Birth of Venus with my cocker spaniel Sophie on my lap. I had the volume on and was enjoying the music of Enya and marveling at Botticelli’s amazing masterpiece. Suddenly Sophie tensed up and started growling. At first I couldn't figure out what she was growling at. Then it dawned on me that she was staring at the screen and growling at the Zephyrs. She didn’t growl when the video focused on Venus or Horae (the Goddess of Seasons) but continued to watch intently. Sophie is a real sweet dog and rarely growls except when she is in protective mode or doesn’t like someone. What is interesting is that she doesn’t normally watch TV either.


This reminds me of another incident. My husband bought a small stone cocker spaniel sculpture for our garden. The first thing Sophie did when we set it on the floor was to go sniff under its tail. That is how dogs greet one another after all. She clearly recognized it as another dog possibly another cocker spaniel. Her tail was wagging and she kept trying to interact with the statute to get it to play.


These incidents could be anomalies or is it possible that art influences animals? Sophie’s response to the video was clearly negative. She felt threatened or was protecting me. On the other hand her response to the cocker spaniel statue was obviously welcoming. Many animal owners are often surprised by the emotional intelligence of their pets, their attempts to communicate with and sometimes even manipulate their owners. Not me. Not anymore.