What is typography?

Typography is design. Typography is a variety of letter forms. It is a theory and aspect of art that create characters for the use of printing. Each font is different from each other, having different lengths and widths for each letter, spaces between each letter, the boldness, curliness. Many characteristics can change from one font to another. There are also new fonts being created as we speak. The people who create these are called typographers. I think typography is most definitely a form of art because it uses elements to distinguish and differentiate from other fonts. It is creative as well. 

Charcoal Portraits

In this video, there are several tips and tricks used to create a charcoal portrait. First, the artist lays out standard proportions of the human head. This includes drawing out the placement of the top of the head, chin, eyes, nose, and lips.The main element the artist is focusing on is value, and starts by drawing the dark areas (shadows) of the face. By looking at the tone, you shade in the shadows and try not to think of it as an actual portrait. The artist connects the dark and white areas together and blends it. The next step is to add details within the shadowed dark areas. The artist also uses shape and texture by using the white chalk to highlight certain features. Once it starts to look like a face, the artist adds slight lines to bring out the shape off the head. Remember while drawing, it's all supposed to be "relaxed." 

Self Portraits

Jean-Michelle Baquiat's "Self Portrait"(1982)

Jean-Michelle's self portrait resembles cave man drawings. The markings and lines drawn on are not soft, but look rushed and drawn in a craze. The actual facial features are not fully detailed, but looks as if the background uses more line and space. Different textures and hints of orange colour are shown in the background as well. The dark colours and harsh lines may show that Baquiat himself has personal issues. 

Frida Kahlo's "The Broken Column"(1944)

Frida Kahlo draws herself as her perspective, because of an accident that changed her life. Shown in the self-portrait is what looks like a metal pole attached to her spine, and nails covering her body. Frida shows the struggles she had to go through. Not only that,  her perspective on herself is harsh and ugly, as she has put a uni brow and mustache on herself. She uses positive and negative space by having the neutral desert background and her being the positive space with brighter colours. 

Pablo Picasso's "Self-Portrait" (1901)

Pablo Picasso's use of positive and negative space are shown here with the blue, nearly solid background. The bright blue background supports the dark neutral portrait of himself. Not only that, but the value is used to show the bone structure on his face, and the very dark shadows that are shown in the bottom half of the portrait.  

Christo and Jeanne-Claude Artwork

christo and jeanne-claude were a couple who believed art can be conceived in any way, shape or size. their many works of art changed perspective on art. they specialized in constructing tremendous works of art within the environment. although the giant pieces of art in nature created controversy, it was beautiful to look at. 

"Surrounded Islands"
woven fabric surrounding islands in Miami, Florida. the amount of creative planning used would take a while considering the huge proportions.

"The Umbrellas"

Giant umbrellas in Japan and Western USA. They are 15 ft tall and 12 ft in diameter. The couple created it, knowing they would only stand tall temporarily. The amount of time and patience is a lot to construct the gigantic umbrellas. What makes it so interesting, is how delicate and "untouchable" the pieces look in nature.

"Wrapped Roman Wall"
more than 800 feet of ancient roman wall is wrapped in polypropylene and rope. it is an interesting sight, because it almost looks like its under construction. when pedestrians realize its a work of art, they have a different perspective on it; that it's a different form of art.

Blind contour drawings 

drawing of a human skull

 drawing of a man

hand drawing

Richard bedwash painting