First Draft

Born Milton Ernest Rauschenberg, later name changed to Robert,  in 1925, in Port Arthur, Texas, Rauschenberg first started out studying pharmaceutics at the University of Texas. After being drafted into the military service Robert began studying at the Kansas City Art Institute and the Academy Julian in Paris.This great American artist began transforming art in the twentieth century. Robert Rauschenberg gave new meaning to art. Cited as an important forerunner of the American Pop Art, Robert was a painter, photographer, print maker, choreographer, onstage performer, set designer and even an composer. Robert Rauschenberg pushed American art on to Abstract Expressionism and was known as one of the greatest artist to create print making and silk screening, among Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

In the year 1949 to 1952, Robert studied at the Arts Students League in New York., where he first started his “white” and “black paintings”. In 1952 Rauschenberg started his series of “Black Paintings” and “Red Paintings”, these paintings consisted of a collage, or as Robert called it “combines” that were then painted over. Rauschneberg immediately took this concept a step farther by attaching objects to the canvas, adding a three dimensional feel to his works. Robert’s first and most famous combine was “Monogram”, it contained a stuffed goat, a tire, a police barrier, the heel of a shoe, a tennis ball and paint. This combing sparked the beginning of the Pop Art movement. “Canyon”, another example of an combined painting. It included oil, pencil, paper, wood, metal, buttons, photographs and fabric on a canvas. Then attached to the bottom of the canvas was a stuffed eagle, a pillow and a string. This painting was a remake of Rembrandt’s “ The Rape of Ganymede’ “ (1635), that depicted an young boy being abducted by an bald eagle. The pillow in Rauschenerg’s painting represents the young boys buttocks. Robert believed this piece bought out independence of the use of random materials. Robert then turned his attention back to two dimensional painting, using magazine photographs of current events.         

By the end of 1962, Robert Rauschenberg paintings included images that were transported from a photograph onto to a canvas, known as silk screening. Rauschenberg continued experimenting printmaking, but onto new surfaces such as clothes, plexiglass and aluminum. During this period, Robert also worked on costumes and on stage designs. In the 1970’s Rauschenberg built the graphic workshop “Untitled Press, Inc. that showcased his works.Throughout the 1980’s to the 1990’s Robert constantly thought of new ways to transfer photographs. Later a Foundation was founded for Robert Rauschenberg and he was later honored with a host of prizes for his artworks and social commitment. Exhibitions were held all over the world that showed the works of The great Robert Rauschenberg.  

Andy Warhol, known as the the “Prince of Pop”,  born in 1928, was famous for painting objects of mass production such as Campbell soup cans and coke bottles. After a successful career as a commercial illustrator, in 1962, Andy started making silk screen paintings of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Although Andy Warhol was a great artist he wasn’t as creative as Robert Rauschenberg, Andy kept his paintings two dimensional never stepping out of his box. Steinberg, from the Chicago University Press reports Jasper John as saying that: “Rauschenberg was the man who in this century had invented the most since Picasso”.

Jackson Pollock, born in 1912, was an influential American painter and major figure in Abstract Expressionism. Jackson was known for his “drip and splash” style. Instead of the traditional easel usage, Pollock placed his canvas to the floor and dripped paint from a can, rather than using an brush, Pollock used sticks and knives. Pollock’s sense of painting was rather different from most, he had an all-over style painting that avoided points of emphasis. In the 1960’s Pollock was named one of the most important figures of the important movement in American painting, but to a movement that was already established. Robert Rauschenberg created his own movement during his time of painting, he was considered a pioneer for developing new ideas.

Another great artist, Willem de Kooning, born in 1904, a Dutch/ American of Abstract Expressionism, was known for his large and vibrant paintings. In 1926, Willem worked as a commercial artist, window dresser, sign painter and carpenter. Through 1935 and 1939, de Kooning worked for the Federal Art Project where he painted murals. In the mid 1950’s he started the Woman series which made him famous, The Woman series was a collection of paintings that portrayed naked Woman. Once again Rauschenberg stood out by “creating the analogy between the colleagued information and human subjectivity or consciousness was an “invention” indeed, one into Picasso himself had not entered”. Chicago University Press, 2007 (1972), pg 84.

Undecided :-(

I know that by now I should have a topic and thesis set on what it is that I am going to write about, but right now all my ideas are up in the air. I understand that the base topic that I choose was too broad and I needed  to simplify it more, but now I'm stuck. First I started out with "Communication Through Art:, then I jumped to "Renaissance Art" and now I'm thinking about just writing about a specific artist, Robert Rauschenberg., but now I feel like its too late to change my mind. I want my paper to be more focused rather all over the place. Hmmm... decisions decisions

But Robert Raunschenberg is looking like a go for me....also because Ms. McCormick said she loved him :-)

Blog #4

Renaissance Art
During the 1400’s and 1500’s in mainly Italy, then later spreading to Europe in the 1600’s, there was a major change that took place, The Renaissance. The Renaissance was a movement that expanded cultural ideas. the church was the center of attention, thus explaining the reason why most paintings included images of Jesus. In the period of time, artist created images of they depicted the world around them. Italian Renaissance were divided into three major groups, Early, High and Late Renaissance.

The Early Renaissance was led by sculptors, architects and painters, who began the development of new ways in producing art. It was also the launch of ones career. There was a debate between Humanist and Pious believers. Humanist believed that the art of drawing images of Jesus posed a challenge on the faith of the Church, this thought caused an unexpected rise in Humanists. Florence, capital city of Italy, established themselves as philosophers and attracted Pious believers, which allowed artist to freely express their ideas. This opened the door for many of the important artists that we know of today, who were able to create nude art, portraits and even landscapes.

The High Renaissance changed the style of art, no longer focused on sculptors, but now on physical presence and balance. Artist studied the poses of figures from live models, who were mostly naked. The birth of anatomy came into play, artist started created more lifelike works. Artist had new tools, technology and training. Artist began to scatter out, not only in Florence, but now in Milan and mostly in Rome. During the High Renaissance, the discover of three great artist emerged, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti and Raffaello “Raphael” Sanzio.

By the time the Late Renaissance arrived, artist have experimented with a variety of techniques from using oil-based based paints to mixing powered pigments with linseed oil. These techniques allowed paint to dry slower, so that artist can edit their work over a period of time. They also began to think through exactly what is it that they were going to draw. This type of preparing went back into the Early Renaissance, where the Church was the center of the attention, and usually surrounded by beautiful monuments that were carefully thought out as well. Artist were taking their skills of building and sculpting to paper and paint creating an transition of art, one that people were able to appreciate more because that could purchase such items and bring them back home with them. Sadly the Late Renaissance had to come to an end, based upon radical arguments on the Church, the Church didn’t agree and soon ended all Renaissance movements.


OUTLINE:

Paragraph 1: Intro on what is been discussed

Paragraph 2: Early Renaissance

Paragraph 3: High Renaissance

Paragraph 4: Late Renaissance


**NOTE: More information will be added into the paragraphs, further research is required.**

Sample Introduction

Art is a form of expression, and for many years it has been know as a way of communication. The communication between the artist and the viewer itself. What drives an artist to make a painting? What was the artist thinking when they created this piece? A lot of questions come to mind when first viewing a painting. Many often feel confused and start to doubt their inner artist. Whatever the artist presented in a painting is your perception. You can never be wrong for your view on things, but then there is the question of “What is considered art?” Art holds a mixture of emotions to telling a story.

Annotated Bibliography

So far I have three sources listed to work with and thinking of much more sources to use with my research paper.

Frank, Patrick.  Prebel’s Artform.  ninth edition 2005

This book is a good source because it can give me some background information on art history, explaining where it all began and where different type of art works originated. This source can also describe the different techniques in which artist use and why they use them on specific works.

<http://www.metmuseum.org/toah>

This website makes a good source because it explains all the Metropolitan’s publications which also provide a link for further research on various themes.

Solomon, Deborah. “Art Appreciation: Seeking A Cure For Art Anxiety.”  The New York Times
23 Apr. 2003

This article is listed as a source because it describes the confusion of people when they first look at art and how they may become anger with themselves for not being to understand the concept. The purpose of the article is to let people know that it is okay to be unsure when first viewing something new, but don’t become anger enough that you throw your embarrassment of confusion in front of actually getting a change to take the time to understand.