Diego Rivera

Diego Rivera was a Mexican painter that was very passionate about art.  He was born in Mexico with a twin brother that later died when they were 2.  He began his art endeavors when he was merely 10.  It is one thing to say that kids around that age start drawing at a young age, but he was actually in art school at age 10.  I envy this skill because I have never been able to grasp the artistic vision skill.  I can draw a mean stick figure though!

One of his artworks is of a mural he painted depicting Mexico’s history at the National Palace.  

                                              “National Palace”

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RiveraMuralNationalPalace.jpg

This mural is very colorful and artistic with a variety of people and activities depicted.  There are armored soldiers, politicians, townsfolk, and animals.  Each looks to be animated in their own ways.  None of them seem to be still although it is just a mural.  This is a particular talent that can only be found in true artists.  To be able to show motion in a still imagine is fascinating.  the mural is not small either.  Covering an entire wall, it is one of the better looking murals I have ever seen.

I have heard of Diego Rivera before, but have never been able to learn much about him until now.  I have known people to confuse him with Salvador Dali even though they are completely different artists.  Rivera definitely lacks the mustache Dali gets to showcase.  My girlfriend recently did a 10 minute Spanish presentation on him, but I was not able to see it due to time conflicts.

Diego Rivera was a traveler.  He would attend events he received invitations for all over the world.  For example, he was invited to the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution in Moscow, Russia.  Being from Mexico, attending events in Moscow, and having a name in America, it is safe to say he definitely left an impression on the art world.

                              “Man, Controller of the Universe” 

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palacio_de_Bellas_Artes_-_Mural_El_Hombre_in_cruce_de_caminos_Rivera_4.jpg

Another example of his work is “Man, Controller of the Universe”.  It is another colorful piece with a main attention and numerous people in the mural.  Rivera liked to depict many situations in his murals.  In this one there are bystanders, plants. hazmat suits, and a butterfly looking contraption.  The pieces are very expressive and colorful.

Diego Rivera was a great artist and continues to have some of the best murals ever.  I hope more people have the chance to learn more about him instead of him being a shadow artist.

Source: Wikipedia

-David Escobar

Tattoos

Tattoos are an art medium that allow individuals to visually express themselves.  They can express their views, their actions, their culture, etc.  Tattoos are often carefully chosen due to the permanent mark of the body.  However, sometimes they can be a spur of the moment pleasure or mistake.  They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, and dimensions.  I was the last of my select group of best friends to get a tattoo.  They had multiple tattoos and were finally able to convince me to join the club.  I now have two tattoos, one on my back and one on my left arm.  My back one is of my nickname while my arm one expresses life experiences.  This post will focus on my arm tattoo.

My friend and I were planning to get tattoos on the same day.  We planned with drawings two months in advance, but had not presented the artist with them yet.  I will provide a picture of my drawn idea that I presented to the artist, David Williams.  I will also provide a picture of the finished product that David had presented to me the day of the tattooing.  Before I show the pictures, be warned that they are truly embarrassing and hilarious at the same time.

My drawing:

Here depicts a man chained to the ground.  The chains and blocks represent hard times, however, a couple of chain links are busted representing times are hard, but not impossible.  He is to be seen as struggling, but confident he can get past it.  My friend found my drawing hilarious.  He especially found the face to be the most hilarious of it all.

My friend actually offered me $100 to get the face tattoo’d on my arm.  As tempting as $100 can be, I did not get this face tattoo’d on my arm.  The money would not be worth it after I spent it.  Now, when we presented our drawings to David, I spent a good amount of time explaining how I actually wanted the tattoo to look like.  He is a great artist so he is able to take ideas and mix them with his ideas and meet in the middle.  He turned my drawing into a masterpiece.  

David Williams’ Drawing and finished tattoo:

When I was presented with his drawing, it was on a piece of traceable paper.  The shading was not exampled on the paper and I would not know how it looked until it was officially tattoo’d on my arm.  I was happily impressed with how the shading turned out and it definitely added a certain flair to it.  The tattoo turned out much better than I could have imagined.  

I was happy I chose David to do my tattoo because he has a skill of a unique artist and it shows in his creations.  My friends had used him for multiple tattoos prior and it helped for me to make my decision in who I wanted the artist to be.  I only have two tattoos for now, but there will definitely be more to come.

- David Escobar

Lego Art

This next post is of history being recreated in a creative way.  Created with the use of Legos.  The Lego industry began their brick building magic in 1949, but has been around for more than 100 years.  Since the beginning, the Lego name has expanded from wooden pieces to a wide variety of plastic Lego sets, Lego video games, Lego apparel, and much more.  I have been a fan of Legos since I was a child.  My parents introduced them to me and I became an instant fan building simple homes and buying box sets.  I once put together an Apache helicopter and tank.  Those were some of the most fun box sets I have ever owned.  Back to the subject, the following link takes you to a list of 14 historic moments recreated with Legos.  The artist is Mike Stimpson and he likes to do this kind of art for fun.  I was amazed after viewing these.

http://adrianlinks.com/photography/15-classic-photographs-recreated-in-lego/

These images feature added features and attention to detail.  They aren’t just random photos either.  These are fairly iconic or at least knowledgeable.  It is also interesting that emotion is still expressed even in Lego form.  Sure most Lego characters always smile, but it helps the art that Stimpson recreates.  He even recreates the environment and tries to use similar colors.  For example, the black and white images and recreated in black and white.  I hope to find more work from Stimpson such as this.

These images are not so complex, but the fact that Legos can be used as an artistic medium is incredible.  I feel Legos were truly designed as a child’s toy, but expanded into much more than anyone thought.  Adults still show interest in them and there is even an amusement park loaded with wonderful Lego creations.  Legos have made it far throughout the years.  They can even be considered a monopoly of its kind because who do you know that wants to buy a Mega Blocks set?

- David Escobar

Company Logos

Company logos are something that need to be designed with the intent of grabbing a consumers interest and imprinting it into their mind.  A logo is essentially more important than the company itself because the logo is what makes the company.  For example, we all know what McDonalds is and who Nike is all due to the double arches and the swoosh.  Businesses go to graphic designers for help because they are trained with this skill.  I recently saw some company logos are very artistic.  Some of them even manage to have the company name right in the logo.

Here is a list of creative logos:

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/35-smart-logos-with-second-thought-to-make-you-look-twice/

It is impressive how a designer can make a unique design that incorporates the business name right into the logo.  I myself like to design logos such as this, but the creativity level needed is very high.  It is one thing to see a logo idea and make your own.  It is another to be able to create a unique idea in your head and put it down on paper.  As time goes on, it will increasingly become harder for unique designs to be drawn up.  As with everything, time continuously makes less available when it comes to original ideas.

Here is a second list of creative logos:

http://www.boredpanda.com/negative-space-logos/

These are also impressive.  The key thing is to be able to create the optical illusion that reflects the business.  For example, “Ed’s Electric”, “artpeak”, and “snooty peacock” are three good examples of creating a working optical illusion.  Most of these businesses are not very mainstream, however, I am sure they are successful in their respective locations.  

Logos are everywhere.  There are even games created to see how many you can recognize without the name being labeled.  Sometimes a company can take dominant command just with the help of a logo. For example, if you go to a grocery store and see a name brand and a store brand product, you may be more inclined to pick up the name brand due to the name and logo.  However, if you look at the contents of the product, most often than not, they have the same labels.  This goes to show that your mind is being sucked in to by a name brand just because of its logo.  Company logos will always be around and will always be evolving.  It is just up to us to like which companies we want to like based off of their logos.

- David Escobar 

Chalk Art

In grade school, chalkboards and whiteboards were a child’s canvas.  That was until smart boards took over.  You could draw any 2D image you wanted or maybe 3D if you wanted to draw the old fashion cube.  Chalk is  versatile in the sense that you simply draw, or you could smudge the chalk for a different effect.  Chalk art has been around for many years, however, it has found a new canvas.  Sidewalk chalk art has become an art that uses floor surfaces as a canvas.  It takes a certain skill to draw chalk art because you are drawing an optical illusion and what is being drawn is at a greater scale.  For example, in order to get this:

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luaxk0rqqB1qz6f9yo1_500.jpg

You have to draw this:

http://designyoutrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/legochalkdrawing06.jpg

It is truly amazing how talented this artists are.  It is a gift that requires patience, math skills, art skills and space.  I could never draw an optical illusion such as this.  I recently watched a video of a man drawing Super Mario chalk art.  It was incredible.  The video can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2juYr2Xjeo

Other examples of chalk art are:

http://headsup.boyslife.org/files/2013/02/3d-chalk-art-waterfall-parking-lot-edgar-mueller.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmg6cizqqi1ql2ebto1_500.jpg

and

http://enpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/street-art-chalk-enpundit-9.jpg

These masterpieces can only be seen at a certain angle, but when you finally see it, it can be breath taking.  Any kind of art can be challenging. I believe this type of art is extremely challenging.  Although they do follow a grid, it takes time and precision to  be able to lay out the grid.  In some cases multiple artists will tackle an illusion, while other times a single artist will do the art work.  I have never actually seen chalk art in person, but I am definitely hoping to at some point.  It is truly spectacular and I do enjoy a good optical illusion.

- David Escobar

Image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d7/Three_Flags.jpg/250px-Three_Flags.jpg

Source: Wikipedia

Jasper Johns is the artist of this american flag painting title, “Three Flags”.  Johns was born on May 15, 1930 and is still presently living.  I find this painting very intriguing due to the complexity of it.  Sure it is the same flag three times, but having to paint it proportionally three times in the same painting is impressive.  Another aspect that makes it interesting is how it looks as if it is popping out of the canvas.  The illusion keeps me staring and looks difficult to paint. 

I also chose this painting in respects to the events that happened this past week with the Boston Marathon terrorist attack.  Seeing America come together as a country never gets old.  It is tragic that we have to suffer losses to show how strong this nation is, but to be able to see the country put differences aside and come together is truly amazing.

The American flag is more than a flag.  It represents America’s history, and holds us together when others want to see us fall apart.  Last night while watching the news, the news read that Dzhokhar A Tsarnaev was captured after the all day long manhunt.  When this happened, instant chants of “USA! USA!” could be heard in the background.  America was chanting, not just those in Massachusetts.  Seeing how everyone wanted these guys captured and how everyone watched the news to keep informed about the events was a reminder that America is still standing strong.

Johns also has another painting of the American flag.  He liked painting flags and maps as well as other things.  A lot of his paintings have America as the focus.  Artists such as Jasper Johns inspire me and remind how wonderful it is to be an American.

- David Escobar

Mobile Phones (Cell phones)

Now I am going to talk about the art of the mobile phone.  How these little devices have found their way into everyday and everyone’s life.  

Cell phones are one of the most important item to a person for many reasons.  The main importance being to stay connected.  A cell phone also lets you check email, keep occupied when bored, find locations from housing to dinner, and do school work or job work.  When the mobile phone first appeared, it was a giant object that only the wealthy were getting.  As time progressed, they started getting smaller and cheaper.  This allowed for rapid growth in the industry.  As the phones got smaller, they started being labeled cell phones rather than a mobile phones.  

This is where the art of it starts to come into play.  Have you ever left your place of living and experienced that sinking feeling you get when you reach for a phone that isn’t there?  Sadly, this is a socially constructed feeling.  We don’t NEED our cell phones with us at all times, we just need it with us to stay connected.  I am sitting here right now with no cell phone.  I am also realizing how much I rely on that cell phone and how much it controls my life.  

My phone is currently sitting in a bag of rice trying to absorb liquids that it was dropped into.  This strategy, although successful in the past, looks grim in this case.  So as I sit, I am without a phone until I find out if mine will work or if I will need to use my phone insurance to get another one.  Also as I sit:

- I cannot readily check my bank account balances for the bills I need to pay  

- I have upset people by not having a working phone

- I cannot listen to music as I usually do

- and I am feeling emotionally troubled from events that have transpired due to my loss of a phone

Today is a good reminder of how important cell phones actually are in life.  It is also a good reminder of how not having a working cell phone can effect not only me, but others.  I have been without a cell phone multiple times before.  However, I have never felt so out of place as I do right now with no cell phone.  It goes to show that in today’s society, the cell phone has become more than just a cell phone.

- David Escobar 

Image source: http://www.experimentalanimation.co.uk/sites/default/files/marcel_duchamp.jpg

Source: Wikipedia

Marcel Duchamp was a clever artist with the attitude of a rebel.  If I were an artist, I would follow his ideas because they remind me of things I would do in the joking way.  Duchamp graced this planet from July 28, 1887 to October 2, 1968.  His art consisted of objects he made or that he simply assembled.  He was influenced by the Dada movement where people were flipping the art industry upside down.  It was artists taking a look at what is being exampled as art and finding a way to make fun of it.  An example of his cleverness comes in the form of his 1919 creation, “L.H.O.O.Q.”.  In what he called a readymade, “L.H.O.O.Q.” is when he put a mustache on the Mona Lisa painting.  The letters are also an interesting set up.  The order looks as if it says “Look”, however, if each letter is pronounced makes a sentence when said in French.  This sentence refers to the Mona Lisa’s butt and how nice it is.  It is one of the best jokes an artist could have done.  Duchamp was able to take an iconic painting and make it his own in his own way.  He was known for doing stuff such as this.  Another instance when he played a joke was with his 1917, “Fountain”.  This was when Duchamp simply wrote “R.Mutt” on a urinal and turned it in for an exhibition.  It was rejected even though the exhibition said they would display anything that was turned in so long as the individual paid the fee.  This guy is a genius.  I think these two instances are some of the greatest jokes in the art industry and it would be hard for somebody to pull it off as well as he did.  I grew up being taught to never make fun of others or to steal from others, especially ideas.  Duchamp did a great job mixing the two and making a living out of it.  If I were to be an artist right now, I would definitely find a way to make it funny just like Duchamp would do.

- David Escobar

                                             Salvador Dali

Image Source:

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BNTc4MTE0MDE5OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMDMxNjI2._V1._SX214_CR0,0,214,314_.jpg

Salvador Dali is one of the best artists of all time.  I understand this is an opinion, but for one to not see his work as spectacular would be baffling.  I mean, look at that mustache!  

Salvador Dali was born on May 11, 1904 and died on January 23,1989.  He was a Spanish surrealist artist with an amazing imagination.  Surrealism art was a movement that inspired painters to be different.  They were different by utilizing the elements of surprise and the unexpected.  However, a surrealist painter would tell you they consider their artwork an expression of the philosophical movement. One of his most well known paintings is his 1931 Persistence of Memory.

Sources: Wikipedia

Image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/The_Persistence_of_Memory.jpg

This painting is of time simply melting away through the use of color.  It is a random group of objects in a random location.  This image stands out the most to me because it brings me back to my childhood.  I believe I was a mere 3rd grader when I first saw this image and I was to never see it again until college.  I first thought they were pizzas.  When this image appeared in one of Dr. Soren’s classes, I went into some sort of mental shock.  A part of me felt as if I were a kid again while another part of me felt as if it were the first time I had seen the painting.  Never has a painting brought me back to the good years such as this painting did.  I instantly remembered it.  It is interesting how as a child this is simply a painting, but as an adult I learned the history of it and how important of a piece is actually was.

Salvador Dali is one of the greatest painters and I hope classes continue to teach about him.

- David Escobar

This entry is going back in time.  To World War II.

http://www.ww2incolor.com/news/site-updates/15-astonishing-world-war-2-photos-that-bomb-your-senses

Posted on this web page are 15 images from World War II.  Despite what the website is called, these images are not in color.  That is not the important factor though.  The important factor is how truly mind blowing these photos are.

I woke up this morning and jumped on StumbleUpon, one of the greatest apps ever invented.  There I was greeted with a link to these images.  As I looked at the images and read the descriptions, I was taken-aback.  

The images did not only bring a certain appreciation to those soldiers, it also changed my view on certain video games.  I used to play Treyarch’s game titled Call of Duty: World At War.  This game puts you in the heart of battle as if you were a soldier in World War II.  When I played this game years ago, I was under the impression that the war was exaggerated in some aspects.  Not to say I was not aware of what happened during the war.  It is just known that movies and games will add more fire power to improve play-ability.  For example, on one mission you are being flown in and you see anti-aircraft fire flying everywhere.  I thought this was a game effect, but to my amazement it really happened as depicted in image 13.

Images 2 and 4 were also reanimated into the game making it all more real.  Seeing how realistic the game actually was helps see the attention to detail that game developers go through.   I know they do go through history to make sure it is shown right in their game, however, in this case it is truly mind blowing how great these images are and how I underestimated Treyarch.  

Image 10, the raising of the flag is extremely iconic.  It even inspired a repeat when the attacks of 911 occurred.  As seen here:

http://wwiijeepparts.com/WW2/Photos/Jeep/WillysMBFordGPWpARTs/911raisingFlag.jpg

Each one of these images has shares an impacting moment oh history.  It goes to show how seeing an image can change your view on history and also change your outlook of video game companies.

- David Escobar