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State Of Being, Anne Bradshaw
State Of Being, Anne Bradshaw
Theses and Dissertations
My work speaks to the processes of adaptation and assimilation, phenomena that explain the way in which we transform life experience and incorporate the effects of such experience into the daily workings of our psyche. To this extent my work is a self-analysis, an autobiographical reckoning, a non-verbal representation of collective experiences rendered in forms upon which images are spontaneously drawn or painted with fiber. The process of making art as a means of accessing creative instincts is a manifestation of the way in which I experience life. Adapting and assimilating to our human condition is an art, a form …
Everyday Haunting, Thomas John Condon Jr.
Everyday Haunting, Thomas John Condon Jr.
Theses and Dissertations
This document outlines a journey of self-exploration, discovery, construction and destruction. It is a story of learning, a testament to impermanence, and a proposal for possibility. The words and work contained in this document are exclusive to the thoughts and actions of one man that hopes to share with others.
From The Edge, Leslie Corder Rousseau
From The Edge, Leslie Corder Rousseau
Theses and Dissertations
Paintings and drawings are the physical representations of my dialogue with the world around me. Art is how I connect to what is too large, or too vague, or too personally meaningful to express in any other way. Space and its transformation by light and color have always been central to this dialogue. I am particularly intrigued by spatial ambiguity. Space exists for us only in how it relates to us and so, space changes. One viewpoint or state of mind might make space seem freeing, while another makes the same space feel confining. Barriers are sometimes delineated, sometimes obscured. …
David Gilmour Blythe's Street Urchins And American Nativism, Corey S. Piper
David Gilmour Blythe's Street Urchins And American Nativism, Corey S. Piper
Theses and Dissertations
David Gilmour Blythe's street urchin paintings created during the 1850s are disturbing and often grotesque. The image of childhood that he created was quite different from that of his American contemporaries who adapted the romantic notion of the child from eighteenth-century English painters. Previous scholars have noted the contrast between Blythe's vision of America's street children and the optimistic view offered by other American painters but have not offered a sufficient explanation as to why they differed so radically. This thesis will examine several of Blythe's urchin scenes, as well as his poetry and writings to reveal the clear presence …
Illustrating Life, H.A. Mark Dean
Illustrating Life, H.A. Mark Dean
Theses and Dissertations
My paintings contain both abstract and figurative elements that share an underlying theme: spiritual symbolism that conveys positive principles to live by. The symbolism that underscores my content carries over to my choice of palette; for example, red or yellow implies the vitality of life while purple stands for royalty.With my drawings, I concentrate on highly realistic graphite portraits of individuals I know. I present them in the environments in which they live to help highlight their unique personalities. With both painting and drawing, my goal is to illustrate spiritual philosophies on macro and micro levels respectively.
The Path Is A Circle, Marylea Martin Harris
The Path Is A Circle, Marylea Martin Harris
Theses and Dissertations
While the pastoral environment that surrounds my studio is inspirational in itself, my treescapes and organic abstractions are reflections of referential places experienced along my life's path. Considering the constant onslaught of information in our increasingly rushed society, I hope my work, influenced by the natural world, may allow the viewer to slow down briefly and live in the moment.
Light Of Life, Sabina I. Henry
Light Of Life, Sabina I. Henry
Theses and Dissertations
The path through life is filled with light and darkness but light casts shadows and can darken one's life. With this metaphor, I use light to symbolize the positive and shadows to represent the negative things that every one of us encounters. In my landscape paintings, the combination of light and darkness symbolizes my journey through life. There is a predominance of light in my paintings. Therefore, my intention is to portray the positive over the negative. In other words, I want to portray the light at the end of the tunnel.
Love Of Nature, Marguerite Z. Ratliff
Love Of Nature, Marguerite Z. Ratliff
Theses and Dissertations
I stand in awe of nature's beauty. The natural forms and colors of my subjects inspire me to create paintings and three-dimensional clay pieces. As I marvel at God's handiwork, my soul is enriched by the pure sight of His canvas. The rich bright colors of the organic shapes compel me to visually interpret what I experience as an expression of who and what I am, and what I want others to see. My intent is to focus on the elements of the subject matter where the color, shape, and form dominate the space.
Cultural Identity, Laura J. Faulcon
Cultural Identity, Laura J. Faulcon
Theses and Dissertations
Living and thriving in a diverse culture has allowed me to appreciate all that people have to offer, regardless of where they come from. It is my intention to portray an individual cultural sensitivity, while celebrating the qualities that unite all people. The four elements that are common in my work are scenes of livelihood, religion, entertainment, and family. Though some people may strongly identify with one particular culture, I have had the privilege of being assimilated and accepted in to many. I intend to show my affection and appreciation for them all, through detailed drawings, bold use of color, …
Trees, Kara M. Drinkwater
Trees, Kara M. Drinkwater
Theses and Dissertations
The intention behind my work is to draw the viewer's attention to the intimate, beautiful details found in nature. For example, I am awed and inspired by the unique qualities found in every tree whose varieties are seemingly infinite. The basic concept of my work is to portray the images of trees close to the viewer's eye to instill a sense of nature's grandness.
Moritz Oppenheim, The Rothschilds, And The Construction Of Jewish Identity, Everett Eugene Dodd Iii
Moritz Oppenheim, The Rothschilds, And The Construction Of Jewish Identity, Everett Eugene Dodd Iii
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis provides an overview of Moritz Daniel Oppenheim's portraits of the Rothschild family with attention paid to the artist's training and personal artistic pursuits, as well as participation in Gentile and Jewish discourses. Oppenheim's knowledge of art history and use of style in creating the identities of his Rothschild subjects are the focus of this study. Oppenheim's methods and use of art historical styles are discussed with deference to the public or private nature of the portraits, and the resulting works' engagement of both German and Jewish issues. Methodologies used include the history of style and identity theory.
Light And Life, Christine Elizabeth Bishop
Light And Life, Christine Elizabeth Bishop
Theses and Dissertations
Faith and family are the aspects of my life that bring me joy and inspiration. This joy is represented as light and is present both literally and symbolically in all my work. I use light or a flame in my ceramic pieces to represent warmth, love, and spirituality. Images of nature are employed to suggest life. My most recent ceramic work embodies aspects of family and the joy of motherhood. My paintings focus on my family and are centered on the moments or memories that are significant to them. I try to paint the light of their lives.
Travel Log, Pamela L. Young
Travel Log, Pamela L. Young
Theses and Dissertations
Artists generally begin their craft by relating to what is most familiar to them. It is in this comfort zone that my journey into painting began. From my first painting of the Chrysler Building in New York City to the countryside in Tuscany, my work tells the story of my travels. When I began to create jewelry that contained elements of my paintings, I expanded on the concept of documenting my travels. Further experimentation with new materials used in jewelry making allowed me to create a visual correlation between my paintings and my wearable jewelry.
The Un-Still Life, Joyce A. Beiermann
The Un-Still Life, Joyce A. Beiermann
Theses and Dissertations
Contrary to the common definition of still life painting as a grouping of inanimate objects, I want my still life paintings to be full of life. I have always been intrigued by the numerous approaches and different mediums used by artists for still life arrangements. I want the objects I paint to appear three dimensional. I strive to effectively create the illusion of actual senses: smell, taste, and touch. To accomplish this, I carefully arrange objects in my composition so color, line, and form work to enhance a rhythmic flow. Contrasting warm and cool colors help add to this flow. …
Opening The Heart, Gail Z. Carlin
Opening The Heart, Gail Z. Carlin
Theses and Dissertations
It is my discovery of the mandala that has had the most significant influence on me as an artist. The mandala, Sanskrit word for circle or center, is found in a majority of my pieces, either literally or symbolically. My interest in and subsequent use of the mandala began twenty years ago and continues to this day. The mandala is a primordial image found in the macrocosm of the universe, the microcosm of nature, and in the psyche of man. The circle has been used throughout the world in image and architecture as a sacred symbol since the beginning of …
Undone, Julie J. Johnson
Undone, Julie J. Johnson
Theses and Dissertations
My art has become rooted in a process of layering. I layer materials to explore technique and to express the concept of inside versus outside. The evidence of multiple layers of materials is symbolically connected to what is happening within my own life. I want the viewer to see an indication of deeper layers of process and materials rather than just the polished surface of an artwork. This layering process can also be seen as a metaphor for human nature, what we see on the outside is not always what is on the inside.
The Oldest Well, Saul Benjamin Becker
The Oldest Well, Saul Benjamin Becker
Theses and Dissertations
This body of work, representing the past two years, is focused on the idea of the composite landscape. This reconfiguring of the elements from the external world combined with invented places is a way for me to articulate the subtle transactions between the interior psyche and the external world. The way this new conglomerate space is represented is a result of my inquiry into the relationship between nature, culture, and the sublime. The place where the private acts of the studio meet the shared exterior world is where I find my intellect, fantasy, and sense of reality collaborating in chorus.
Tinged With Fire, Margo J. Nolan
Tinged With Fire, Margo J. Nolan
Theses and Dissertations
I have created art that has evolved from my own personal experiences. Life is capricious, and with the changes wrought by age, joy, and grief, I have found this self-referential work inevitable. Here, I have documented the journey that has brought me through personal wars, battles, and truces. I have come to believe that although my individual experiences may be unique, my responses to them are not. Loss and victory are universal.