I really admire Haring's work for it's simplicity and how whimsical it is. Many artists are so focused on perfection and having things look perfect and realstic - while Haring's work is the exact opposite. When viewing Haring's work, It is very child-like and relates to children - and I was drawn to this. In this piece in particular, there is a lot of movement being conveyed not only through the dancing dogs, but through the lines that guide the eye around the piece. The dogs appear as if they are laughing, which gives the piece a lighter feel, and conveys happiness. The dogs also remind me of children and childhood because dogs in general are used in a lot of children's books, movies, tv shows, as toys, etc. The piece also presents a triad color scheme (red, green, blue). The color scheme combined with the line technique reminds me of childhood, because when I view this piece, I think of children scribbling in lines and using crayons or crayola markers to create a drawing. The piece itself is very figurative in a two dimensional way. To me, the piece conveys the idea of the simple things in life that can make us happy (the dogs are happy and the style of the piece is very simplistic) - which I think is very true in reality. 

Image derived from: Haring, Keith. Untitled. 1981. Sumi Ink And Acrylic On Paper. Keith HaringWeb. 31 Oct 2013. <http://www.haring.com/!/art-work/138#.UnKtlvnXSEQ/>

I really admire this piece because it is a older photograph that paints a story. The first thing that stood out to me when looking at this piece is the composition and the angle that the shot was taken. The shot is a traditional landscape shot, yet it captures so much movement and detail. I like how the shot captures movement from both the ocean and the sky. If the piece were to not have the sky, I feel that the photograph would not be as interesting. I also really think that the fact that the image is not as sharp and presents a fuzziness or slight blurred effect is significant to the subject matter/type of landscape that is being presented. The landscape itself presents a darker mood through the hues conveyed in the photograph (darker), so the fuzziness makes sense with this mood. I also think that this piece presents a good quality through the complementing movements. In other words, I think the piece is great, because there are white hues presented in the water in the waves  as well as in the clouds of the sky (the white hues appear in the top and the bottom of the photograph) - therefore they compliment each other. I also like the slight hues that appear throughout the piece (the faded hues of purple, blue, orange/red). Another interesting aspect of the photograph is the distance or idea of infinite space that is presented (it appear as if the ocean continually keeps going and going - stretching across the Earth for miles) - this is obvious in reality, but this is significant to what this piece is conveying. Overall, I think this photograph is an interesting landscape photograph portrait and it captures a lot of emotion through the composition and the mood conveyed.

Image derived from: Ritcher, Gerhard. Seestück II. 1970. Photograph. Gerhard RitcherWeb. 30 Oct 2013. <http://www.gerhard-richter.com/art/editions/detail.php?paintid=12711&p=2&sp=32>.

The movement presented in this piece through the organic shapes is very inspiring to me. The piece itself is very abstract and takes on its own form. There is a feeling of unity as well as asymmetrical balance that is created through the idea of repetition and repeating similar shapes and repeating the use of similar colors. The use of warm colors conveys energy. I interpret this piece almost as visually being able to see an abyss of energy forming when the mind begins to work and think and create. The abstract and organic forms remind me of waves of the brain that are transmitted back and forth between different parts of the body. When an individual comes inspired and motivated, the mind begins to work and movement of the waves begins to occur, transmitting signals, etc. The hues add on to the idea of energy, and the abstract forms convey movement. It is like visually seeing the inside of the right brain and how it works when a person becomes inspired - which I think is relevant to the title. "Display Linkage" could be or is referring to a visual display of the linkage between inspiration and the creative mind. I really admire this piece and I appreciate it for the concept as well as the contemporary feel and conveyace 

Image derived from: Winters, Terry. Display Linkage. 2005. Oil on linen.. ArtNet, Los Angeles, California. Web. 28 Oct 2013. <http://www.artnet.com/artwork/426150541/706/terry-winters-display-linkage.html>.

I really like this piece because I think it is very ironic or coincidental in a sense. The piece itself reminds me of pixels that come together to create a larger image (like on the computer or when you are working in photoshop on an image and you can see the actual pixels on the computer screen that create the image). This piece is ironic to me, because it was created in 1951 (before technology took over the world and became a huge concept) - yet in the modern age, the piece depicts or can be interpreted as being symbolic of or similar to technology. i appreciate this piece not only for its abstract feel, but for the experimentation with the juxta- positioning of the hues. The piece appears to portray that the individual squares are working together to create a larger image - although this may NOT be what Kelly was going for, this is how I personally interpret the piece. I admire the title though, and although the title implies that the colours were arranged randomly, if you think about it, this cannot be true, because the artist clearly has a color palette that was thought out in some way (there are similar hues that appear throughout the piece, creating a feeling of unity and balance). I admire this piece for the abstraction yet geometrical feel, and I admire the thought that was put into laying the colors out in a way where t

Image derived from: Kelly, Ellsworth. Spectrum Colors Arranged by Chance II. 1951. Painting. The Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York. Web. 28 Oct 2013.<http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O:TA:E:ex4561|A:TA:E:ex4561&page_number=3&template_id=1&sort_order=1>.

This piece is very interesting to me not only through the use of geometric shape and the juxta-positioning of the hues, but the concept and name of the piece is interesting. The piece itself is named after a term that derives from Hindu mythology, which means "Lord of the Dance".  The term relates to the Hindu god Siva (or Shiva) who was a cosmic dancer. In the Hindu religion, Siva was symbolic and representational (and still is) of the cause or source for movement of and within the entire universe. The use of the term in Riley's work refers to her use of rhythm and movement created through the repetition of the geometrical shapes, as well as the repetition of similar or the same hues throughout the piece, and the creation of lines through the positioning of the shapes (or vice versa - lines that were made created the shapes).  There is also a feeling of unity created through the repetition of the shapes, as well as the colors. I really admire this piece for the fact that is creates movement on a surface in a two-dimensional way, and I also am really drawn to the title, where the title originated from and how it adds significance to the piece. There is also a high contrast overall that is created through the harsh lines that clash with each other, as well as the harshness of the colors and the idea that they do not blend together, which I think is very contemporary, yet adds a lot of character to this piece. 

Image derived from: Riley, Bridget. Nataraja. 2006. Painting. TateWeb. 28 Oct 2013. <http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/riley-nataraja-t06859>.

I really admire this piece for a few different reasons, and it also is very significant at the moment to my drawing I class, because we are working on human portraiture and figure drawing. The angle of the subject is very interesting because it captures an everyday aspect of life for many - the action presented by the subject is subtle, but it is significant to every day life and many viewers can relate to this. Growing up, younger girls are taught to braid their hair, and it is one of the first things that many young girls learn early on in their childhood. To me, this piece seems to convey the idea of childhood vs. womanhood and that clash in between the transitional stage. For example, the face looks very young, while the body is more filled, and the hands of the woman appear to be older and a bit aged (but not TOO aged). The clothing that the woman is wearing is also very revealing, which indicates maturity. The fact that the woman/girl is braiding her hair indicates childhood. The leaves in the background are representational of growth and life. The orange hue (presented in the background) also can symbolize endurance, which is significant because this helps convey the idea of girls transitioning into women and enduring that change. 

Image derived from: Renoir, Pierre Auguste. The Braid (Suzanne Valadon). 1884-1886. Painting. Pierre Auguste Renoir: The Complete WorksWeb. 24 Oct 2013. <http://www.pierre-auguste-renoir.org/The-Braid-(Suzanne-Valadon).html>.

I really admire this piece for it's abstraction, color usage, as well at the medium. I feel that it is very rare to see works made out of quilted medium (it is not as popular as paintings or drawings). I really like the idea of the image presented in the quilt is abstract, yet it is still able to be made out. The lines and pattern within the circular and organic shapes near the bottom of the piece convey movement, which correlates to the idea of and conveys the concept of water. The shapes of the objects near the upper section of the piece are more geometrical - seeming to have a more structured form, yet the shapes are still organic because they are not completely symmetrical. From looking at the title and interpreting the piece, the shapes near the upper half of the piece convey the concept of reeds very well. It appear as though there is almost an accented analogic color scheme, but the hues are tinted and toned, making the color scheme slightly difficult to pick up on. I really like this piece mainly because there is a form to it and there is actual subject matter being conveyed, but it is done in a very whimsical and abstract way, which I actually think is very clever. I also think the color usage and choices of hues is very significant, and I think the chosen hues work very well together to create an interesting, high contrasted piece.

Image derived from: Johansen, Linda. Reeds & Water. 2013. Quilt. Linda JohansenWeb. 23 Oct 2013. <http://www.lindajohansen.com/quiltart.html>.

After visiting the Cardinal Stritch Northwestern Mutual Life Art Gallery, at first I did not think much about the exhibition by Sue Lawton (I've seen it for awhile because I work in the Art Gallery), but I also did not take much time to look at the works (I think at first I was not that interested because I am drawn to and used to looking at bigger works). After taking the time to view the series of illustrations from her exhibition The Circus and the Cyclone, I became very admirable of her work. I really love her work, not only for the technique but also for the story behind her series. The entire story is very well put together, and although the characters are fictional, the series presents a greater meaning - disasters reveal truths, no matter what situation. In Lawton's work, her technique and craftsmanship is amazing. Her line work is very precise and she works very well with the acrylics and water colors. I also think that the chosen hues presented in each individual piece all pull together very well. The overall style of some of the pieces reminds me slightly of the work of Alphonse Mucha - through the similar style of the French posters in a certain sense. In the piece above, I particularly like how the idea of normal vs. stereotype is presented or the idea of normal vs. abnormal (how circus characters are stereotyped). The action taking place and the conversation between the subjects seems normal, almost as if they are living normal lives for a split second, but then the eye is drawn to the whimsical background with the circus characters (tiger, creatures, circus-type decorations) - which reveals their stereotype of being circus subjects, entailing that they do not live normal lives. This idea also applies to the real world and how we stereotype other individuals and have a habit of calling individuals "abnormal", when really, what is normal and who really is normal?

Image derived from: Lawton, Sue. Lovers Walk. 2013. Illustration. Sue Lawton, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Web. 22 Oct 2013. <http://www.suelawtonart.com/blog/galleries/the-circus-and-the-cyclone/>.

Image derived from: Steichen, Edward. Bouquet of Flowers. 1940. Dye transfer print.. Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Web. 21 Oct 2013. <http://mam.org/color-rush/>.

Image derived from: Stella, Frank. Harran II. 1982. Polymer and fluorescent polymer paint on canvas. Guggenheim, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, New York. Web. 17 Oct 2013. <http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/artwork/4003>.