Methods of Design: Aesthetics Project Pt. 3

The Blue and Beyond

Christopher West

Colored Pencil on Bristol

2016 

Untitled (Cat #257)

Phil Sims

Paint on Canvas

1996

In the above project I took inspiration from the Untitled work by Phil Sims and in my opinion made it more appealing. I did find a colored pencil in my supply box that was very very close in the shade of blue that Phil Sims used in his original work. I used that color as the outer ring of blue just before you get to the black that was used in the corners. Another similarity is between the two work is that I kept with the abstract minimalist feel of the original just not as minimalist. For the most part that is where the similarities end, by using more blues I really added to the value range taking it from almost white in the middle to black on the outer most areas. Also by using the approach that I did it gave the work a sense of movement, your eyes are drawn from the outer dark colors to the inner lighter colors. The light "streaks" throughout the work help with this sense of movement by making it look blurred as if you were falling into the light in the middle. 

Methods of Design: Aesthetics Project Pt. 2

Into the Blue (WIP)

Christopher West

Colored Pencil on Paper

2016

So out of the three pre production sketches that I did for this project this is the one that we decided looked the best. So I am going to rework it and make it look better. I am thinking of trying art markers instead of pencils. Also I am going to add a bit of movement I think. 

Methods Of Design: Aesthetics Project Pt. 1

Untitled (Cat #257)

Phil Sims

Completed 1996

Paint on Canvas

Subjective Critique

Since taking an Art History class here at Full Sail I have learned to appreciate more different kinds of art and one of those that I have learned to enjoy is abstract expressionism, but the art movement that I have a hard time grasping the concept of is the Minimalist movement. I just have a hard time understanding how someone can paint a canvas a solid color and call it art. Its not creative nor is it original. It has no movement nor does it tell a story. Though it does evoke feelings but not good ones. Honestly in my own personal opinion anyone could have painted this and called it art. If this were my work of art I would break it up with other colors or give the work a sense of depth or movement. Anything really to keep it from being a boring stretch of blue canvas. 

Objective Critique

In this Untitled work by Abstract Minimalist Phil Sims, the artist painted the canvas a solid color of blue using several layers of paint to create slight variations in the shade of blue. This lends to a very unified solid painting. What this painting lacks though is any sense of movement or a solid focal point to draw the viewers eye. Paintings in this style should be viewed almost in a meditative state to get any sense of meaning from them.