Melanie Williams's Blog

2007-04-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a logo I made in class using Adobe Illustrator

Broken Windows

2007-03-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Broken Windows Graffiti NYC

I found this great book in the library “Called Broken Windows Graffiti NYC” by James and Karla Murray , the book goes behind the scenes and talks to different crews and street artists to gain their perspective and to learn about the specificity behind graffiti. One artist states “Today, it’s amazing. You can use anything from a cheap brand of paint to a very well-known brand because what’s going on today is not just putting solid colors on top of solid colors. Sometimes you use transparent paint because you want that look of a cast shadow or something on there...” SEEN.

The book has a very pleasing asthetic and I would reccomend to anyone to look at it.

More pictures and info on James and Karla Murray
Interview with pictures about the book

Here is another article about street art emergning onto the scene: NYC Graffiti 1994, Kevin Walker. This article provides a first hand view of living in NYC and experiencing graffiti first hand.

Driving your own studies and the benefits of research.

2007-02-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

It is so important as a young artist, in college, to be actively involved with research in subjects of your field. It helps to broaden your knowledge and understanding of what you are interested in and also can lead to new interests that you have not tapped into yet. For example, when I was thinking of a topic to research I chose to do something with realism. I did this because it is what I know and I really like. But now as I am doing more and more research on other types of art I am realizing that there is more out there for me to explore.

Cave Painting: Ancestor to Graffiti

2007-02-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

Is Graffiti a relative of Cave Painting?

Why is cave painting revered as a beautiful look into the history of art, and graffiti seen as illegal ugly vandalism?

Well David Fickling and Professor Dale Guthrie (a paleobiologist from the University of Alaska Fairbanks) are on a path to disprove this theory. Or at least disproving that pre-historic cave painters are “pioneers of creativity who left a rich legacy of artistic expression.” But rather they were bored teenage boys obsessed with sex and most cave paintings were intended as an act of vadalism and fun.

Guthrie determined that the majority of cave paintings were done by teenage males (just as most graffiti is done today) by studying the hand sizes of over 1,000 photocopied hands of men, women, children, teenage boys and girls and comparing them to the hand markings left in the caves.

"'Lots of the wild animals in the caves have spears in them and blood coming out of their mouths and everything that a hunter would be familiar with,' Guthrie told LiveScience. "These were the Ferraris and football games of their time. They painted what was on their minds."

Sources:
Fickling, David: Cave Paintings are graffiti by prehistoric yobs
Carey, Bjourn: Ancient Cave Art Full of Teenage Graffiti

Beautiful Crime: Recognizing Street as Art.

2007-02-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Crime
a wonderful site on Street art.

"Beautiful Crime" is such an appropriate name for this site. Have you ever walked down a city street and been struck by graffiti? Even if it wasn't a Picasso or Rembrandt there is something intriguing about it. The colors, the excitement, the fact that it is not supposed to be there is almost a rush and it gives personality to a city block.

The first picture is "Killer Rabbits" by Pure evil

"Twisted pop gothic artist Pure Evil conjures a visual narrative featuring his signature vampire bunnies let loose in New York on growth hormones." - Beautiful Crime

The second image is "Satan Wins!" By Neckface

" Neckface whispers urban myths and dark secrets in curious places, lost in the public gaze of our cities. He is currently the most prolific and idiosyncratic street artist in New York." - Beautiful Crime

By clicking on the links you can view more information on Exhibitions, art work and other information regaurding these artists, and you can explore many many more!

Street art

2007-02-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

"Richard Pryor" by Pure Evil
http://www.beautifulcrime.com/public/art/view.asp?ID=436&bounceBack=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebeautifulcrime%2Ecom%2Fpublic%2Fart%2Findex%2Easp%3FP%3D2%26T%3D0%26TA%3D0%26

this painting struck me because of its "pop art"/ grafiti style. It is done on canvas with acrylic and spray paint.

Research Topic

2007-02-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

I am using this blog to communicate a research project I am doing at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia.

I am exploring:

Evolution of Art

I am researching classical styles of creating art and how they have been translated into modern times, along with that I will be looking at the evolution of materials and techniques of creating.

My interest in this subject actually comes from a bias that I have. That classical styles and realism are more impressive than other types of art. I will be using my own experiences from classes and research to show the evolution of art, and the importance of all of the different branches.