Art Lovers discussion

A request by Karl: I want to do my master's degree in art history and theory, some advice or something?

Although this whole folder is labeled 'Art History', maybe we could discuss it in general, or even specifically about the 'theory' in art. (of which I have little knowledge) This should be very interesting!

Maybe a few suggestions to get started? If anyone has read any of these, feel free to submit a review.

History of Art

History of Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Photography

A World History Of Art

Art Through the Ages

A Basic History of Art

Going through the thread 'Ideas? Requests?', I am searching for topics that were suggested that haven't been addressed yet

Karl suggested the need/desire for advice on art history and theory. I believe we have discussed these in different threads but not all together. I messaged Karl, I'm not sure if he is still in the group. But it seems that his questions weren't addressed. No pressure! But would anyone like to comment on this thread? Anything to help him with his Master's degree? (though that is a year old request, maybe he's graduated by this point!) But the topic is still interesting.

Please feel free to comment on your knowledge with the subjects and we can have the comments all in the same thread here. Thank you!

I want to see if these brief videos will post. I found it on Facebook so I'm not sure if you can see it. A part of it has descriptions in the Italian language. But you can see the picture of what the person is saying.


https://www.facebook.com/creartivitar...

Okay, upon previewing this post, the link takes you to the Facebook page called CreARTivita: il viaggo nell'arte

But those of you who do use Facebook, might enjoy the posts!

A huge book that has helped me in my journey through my Art History degree is Art: A Visual History by Robert Cumming! I recommend this book everyone who is in this area or just simply loves art :) Hope I helped!

Flávia wrote: "A huge book that has helped me in my journey through my Art History degree is Art: A Visual History by Robert Cumming! I recommend this book everyone who is in this area or just simply loves art :)..."

Flavia! Our first contestant!
Really, thank you for joining in on this what seemed to by a one person (me) thread over a three year span! Actually I would be interested in reading that book. I studied art so long ago, I am one of those in the group (probably one of the few) who doesn't have any sort of degree in art, no talent in art, but I do have the love of art! This could be a really good book for me.

Thank you for the suggestion!

I was going to recommend The History of Modern Art Heather, but you beat me to it.

*beat me to it over year ago I guess.

Aaron wrote: "*beat me to it over year ago I guess."

:)

I should probably get around to reading it, it's been sitting in my room forever.

by

by

The Politics of Aesthetics
The Future of the Image by Jacques Rancière

The Magical Chorus: A History of Russian Culture from Tolstoy to Solzhenitsyn by Solomon Volkov

This is Modern Art by Matthew Collings

After the End of Art: Contemporary Art and the Pale of History by Arthur C. Danto

The Shock of the New by Robert Hughes

Paul Klee Notebooks: The Thinking Eye / The Nature of Nature/ Volumes I & II by Paul Klee

Concerning the Spiritual in Art by Wassily Kandinsky

I found very interesting some of Aloha's picks. Some of those, many of my teachers have recommended. I do make a special attention to Giulio Argan, he has made huge contributions to Art History and changed it as we now know it. "Modern Art"; "Theory of Art" (known in Portuguese for "Guia da Historia da Arte" = Guide to Art History).

Btw, thank you Heather for the kind words!
You should know that to Dadaists (from Dadaism) the best art was the one made by the unconscious and children would produce the best art, because they wouldn't and don't racionalize or think too much about it. They believed in this exercise: Grab a piece of paper and put ink in the middle, after that with your hands close the paper or do anything you like, just make sure to mix the ink onto the paper... In the end, all you have is this stain of paint. To them, this was art, the best art there is. Pure, Racional-Free. ....What I tried to say with this is, everyone can make art. It's simple but it can mean the world to anyone that looks at it, that stain you made can make them love it or hate it...but at least they are not apathetic towards it, because apathy is the worst feeling ever towards art.

Flávia wrote: "I found very interesting some of Aloha's picks. Some of those, many of my teachers have recommended. I do make a special attention to Giulio Argan, he has made huge contributions to Art History and..."

Flavia, I never knew that about the Dadaists and the 'unconscious' exercise of a blank paper with just ink. In fact, not being any kind of artist myself, I would like to try that! And if anyone figures out how we can upload images from a computer onto this site, I will actually post what I come up with! My contribution of 'Pure Art'.

If you park your images somewhere on the net, like photobucket.com or Flickr.com, you can link to them there.

Ruth wrote: "If you park your images somewhere on the net, like photobucket.com or Flickr.com, you can link to them there."

My gosh, Ruth! This is going to sound funny (or sad) but this is the greatest enlightenment I've had all year! I don't use photobucket or Flickr so I wouldn't even know how to do that. But I used an image from my Facebook page and it worked! haha Thank you!

Inkblot: Drip, Splat, and Squish Your Way to Creativity by Margaret Peot

If you do a search on Amazon for inkblot art, you'll see some pieces up for sale.

You can also Google "inkblot art"

Here's Peot's blog:

http://www.theinkblotbook.com/for-edu...

Aloha wrote: "Inkblot: Drip, Splat, and Squish Your Way to Creativity by Margaret Peot

If you do a search on Amazon for inkblot art, you'll see some pieces up for sale."

Thank you Aloha, I just ordered the book!

I did, too! I also bought her other book

Alternative Art Journals by Margaret Peot

We should have an inkblot art showcase. It's easy and fun, and you don't have to know how to draw.

Aloha wrote: "You can also Google "inkblot art"

Here's Peot's blog:

http://www.theinkblotbook.com/for-edu..."

I'm glad I sparked something here!

Inkblot Art! I hope this will be necessary for the discussion

How to make Inkblot Art!
1. Find some good quality paper and acrylic paint from an art supply shop. It’s actually best not to use ink – it’s a bit too runny and transparent.
2. Take a sheet of paper, fold it in half and open it out again like a book.
3. Mix your paint to the consistency of pouring cream and drip it onto one side of the fold.
4. Fold the paper back over again and press down gently. And that’s it – inkblot artwork done!

For more details visit http://www.homelife.com.au/craft-diy/... or http://www.theinkblotbook.com/for-edu...

Eze wrote: "Inkblot Art! I hope this will be necessary for the discussion

How to make Inkblot Art!
1. Find some good quality paper and acrylic paint from an art supply shop. It’s actually best not to use ink ..."

Looks like we have a fun thing going!

Yes, you did. Flávia.

I got my book today! Now I can possibly look like an artist!



Inkblot: Drip, Splat, and Squish Your Way to Creativity

Thank you, Aloha!

You're welcome, Heather! Still waiting for mine. I would love to see your results. Are we posting them in the crafts section?

Aloha wrote: "You're welcome, Heather! Still waiting for mine. I would love to see your results. Are we posting them in the crafts section?"

That's an awesome idea, or what about 'Talent of the Members' lol at least I can feel like I have some talent!

You will surprise yourself at how well some of your work turns out. How about "Play Time!"

Reading this book and I'm blown away by it. It's under 200 pages and easy to understand, but the ideas are unique and astounding. Seems it's been around for a while.

The Shape of Time by George Kubler

Heather wrote: "Aloha wrote: "You're welcome, Heather! Still waiting for mine. I would love to see your results. Are we posting them in the crafts section?"

That's an awesome idea, or what about 'Talent of the Me..."

I'm too lazy to check, but is there a folder our community artists can make a profile?

What do you mean 'make a profile'? You mean in the group? There is the thread 'Talent of the Members' where you great your own thread. Or if you want your own folder, let me know and I'll create on. No problem.

Or what do you mean by profile?

Jansen´s book was horrific. It constituted my worst art course. It was so tediously trite. I believe photographic history books superior to their art counterparts, especially Naomi Rosenblaum and Green´s book. Szarkowski´s is a bit dated.
.For a survey art history book to be good it has to have a balance between biography, outline in history and theory

Geoffrey wrote: "Jansen´s book was horrific. It constituted my worst art course. It was so tediously trite. I believe photographic history books superior to their art counterparts, especially Naomi Rosenblaum and G..."

I'm sorry I've been away for a little while, Geoffrey, if you see this, where did your comment come from? What book are you talking about? To me, it seems like a comment out of nowhere! lol Please explain!

Wanting an overview, I finished reading

Guide to Art nicely laid out, loads of colour photos and packed with information, my review.

and

The World's Greatest Art I read this alongside the above, my review, compares this with Phaidon’s The Art Book.

finding them both helpful.

Great review! You got me hooked! I, too, need that chronologically written as I’m not as familiar as I’d like to be with exact dates of different movements and manifestos.
And having the color pictures to go along with the text would be a huge help for me as I’m more of a visual learner and that would help me keep the topic in my memory.

You said it was initially in Italian? I do speak Italian but wonder if I dare attempt to approach this large scale summary of art in my secondary language. Especially when you mentioned the first time you read it there was so much information and you didn’t succeed in finishing it.

That really does sound like a great, helpful book to take to a museum to facilitate more understanding of the art visited.

Thank you for posting that! It’s definitely on my “to read” list to get to as soon as possible!

I don{t know where that comment came from. Perhaps I was posting it on another message thread and my computer slipped on the wet net board.

Ok 🙂

Art Of Australia., by John McDonald

A Quiet Revolution: The rise of Australian Art 1946-1968., by Christopher Heathcote

If you wish to understand Australian art history, here is your way 🤠

Thank you for contributing those, Jai!

When I got my AHST Master's at U of C, a staple reference book for many students was Art in Theory 1900 - 2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas which features a plethora of classic essays from big name artists and art theorists like Clement Greenberg, Paul Valéry, Meyer Schapiro, Rosalind Krauss, Erwin Panofsky, Gertrude Stein, Walter Benjamin, etc.

Another one I thoroughly enjoyed reading as an undergrad was Theories and Documents of Contemporary Art: A Sourcebook of Artists' Writings. I really enjoy reading the words of the artists themselves, and this sourcebook was very well put together. I read it from cover to cover, and it helped me draw connections between different threads of the several past decades.

Both of these are a bit on the pricey side and a hefty tomes of a book, and both are mostly focused on art of the 20th century. But they've lasted me for decades now and I still go back to them every now and then either as material to draw on for essays or just as inspiration.

Philip wrote: "When I got my AHST Master's at U of C, a staple reference book for many students was Art in Theory 1900 - 2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas which features a plethora of classic essa..."

Hey Philip! I just now found your comment! I'm sorry I missed it when you wrote it. Thank you for that good information! I happen to really like information about the art of the 20th century and how it all flows together from one movement to the next. Or as you said "threads" (?) is that how you put it? It was well worded, and they both seem like books I would thoroughly enjoy. I like books that I can go back to and reference. I have Rodin's biography and a few others that I keep for just that purpose and they've served me well!

I like how you said they are written by the artists themselves. That would be neat having different voices in the different movements through the decades. I would like to put a voice to a piece of art, to know the history of the art and maybe what the artist was thinking at the time. Is this kind of what it refers to, maybe somewhat? I think that would be interesting. But by what you wrote, they both sound fascinating!