Embedded Files
YOUR THEME:
YOUR THEME:
Theme: What does this mean?
Theme: What does this mean?
To create meaningful art an artist needs to find a theme or topic with which they have a strong personal link. At this point in your IB course your theme can be broad and cover a wide range of subject matter (NATURE, MAN MADE, FASHION, BEAUTY etc) but it needs to be personally linked to you the artist. Think about what interests you. What fascinates you? What are you passionate about?
To create meaningful art an artist needs to find a theme or topic with which they have a strong personal link. At this point in your IB course your theme can be broad and cover a wide range of subject matter (NATURE, MAN MADE, FASHION, BEAUTY etc) but it needs to be personally linked to you the artist. Think about what interests you. What fascinates you? What are you passionate about?
Some examples themes/motifs that you could choose from (but you are strongly encouraged to develop your own):
Some examples themes/motifs that you could choose from (but you are strongly encouraged to develop your own):
Metamorphosis – life cycles, change, alteration, transfiguration, mutation
Metamorphosis – life cycles, change, alteration, transfiguration, mutation
Music – sound, making tone visible, music culture, what do music and art have in common?
Music – sound, making tone visible, music culture, what do music and art have in common?
Dance – movement, rhythm, repetition, physicality, meaning in gesture
Dance – movement, rhythm, repetition, physicality, meaning in gesture
Legend/mythology – ancient, primitive, modern, stories, archetypes, moral lessons, religion, ritual, social obligations
Legend/mythology – ancient, primitive, modern, stories, archetypes, moral lessons, religion, ritual, social obligations
Nature vs. Science – current issues (bioethics) technology, how do we understand the world? Our place in the universe, limits of scientific knowledge, art and science, Cubism, Futurism, Orphism, etc.
Nature vs. Science – current issues (bioethics) technology, how do we understand the world? Our place in the universe, limits of scientific knowledge, art and science, Cubism, Futurism, Orphism, etc.
Self - diary, memories, esteem, place in the world, pride, shame, family, heritage, ethnicity, self-portrait, friends, loves, enemies.
Self - diary, memories, esteem, place in the world, pride, shame, family, heritage, ethnicity, self-portrait, friends, loves, enemies.
Gender issues – male & female, role in society, in family, in evolution. Advantages/disadvantages of being one or the other. Stereotypes, cultural roles, sexuality, gender in politics, gender reversal.
Gender issues – male & female, role in society, in family, in evolution. Advantages/disadvantages of being one or the other. Stereotypes, cultural roles, sexuality, gender in politics, gender reversal.
Scale – close-up/magnified, objects blown out of proportion, large vs. miniscule, other worlds of scale, space, positive/negative, color and texture.
Scale – close-up/magnified, objects blown out of proportion, large vs. miniscule, other worlds of scale, space, positive/negative, color and texture.
Other worlds – underwater, space, extraterrestrial, microscopic, imagination, computer/virtual world.
Other worlds – underwater, space, extraterrestrial, microscopic, imagination, computer/virtual world.
Animals – other life, instinctual, life cycles of, physical/spiritual power in, ecology, animals as symbols, cultural associations with animals.
Animals – other life, instinctual, life cycles of, physical/spiritual power in, ecology, animals as symbols, cultural associations with animals.
Art and the senses – ways of knowing, art that smells, tastes, feels, etc. Art that appeals to alternative senses.
Art and the senses – ways of knowing, art that smells, tastes, feels, etc. Art that appeals to alternative senses.
Cryptography – art as code, codes in life, symbols, signs, text, sense in nonsense, order, mathematics, key to understanding.
Cryptography – art as code, codes in life, symbols, signs, text, sense in nonsense, order, mathematics, key to understanding.
God/religion – creation, destruction, judgment, what is holy? Role of religion in society, metaphysics, personal sense of god, mercy, forgiveness, justification, sin, sacrifice.
God/religion – creation, destruction, judgment, what is holy? Role of religion in society, metaphysics, personal sense of god, mercy, forgiveness, justification, sin, sacrifice.
Kitsch – what is kitsch? What is beautiful? What is not? Value, mass production, pop culture, your own personal sense of kitsch, aspects of society as revealed in its kitsch.
Kitsch – what is kitsch? What is beautiful? What is not? Value, mass production, pop culture, your own personal sense of kitsch, aspects of society as revealed in its kitsch.
Graphics – use of line, color and composition to create a graphic identity, advertising, mass media, manipulation of imagery, the (blurred) line between what reality and the graphic representation.
Graphics – use of line, color and composition to create a graphic identity, advertising, mass media, manipulation of imagery, the (blurred) line between what reality and the graphic representation.
Human anatomy – body, muscle, bone, skin, weight distribution, issues of beauty and human body, use/abuse of the body, skin (color?), aging, disease.
Human anatomy – body, muscle, bone, skin, weight distribution, issues of beauty and human body, use/abuse of the body, skin (color?), aging, disease.
Dreams – meaning, analysis, associations, truth in, the bizarre, wish-fulfillment, imagery, Surrealism, the subconscious, Sigmund Freud.
Dreams – meaning, analysis, associations, truth in, the bizarre, wish-fulfillment, imagery, Surrealism, the subconscious, Sigmund Freud.
Chance – allowing chance to dictate art, automatic drawing, the Exquisite Corpse, Surrealism, Dadaism, kinetic art, image association.
Chance – allowing chance to dictate art, automatic drawing, the Exquisite Corpse, Surrealism, Dadaism, kinetic art, image association.
Emotion – human feelings, expression, knowledge through emotion, emotional situations, culture and emotions, controlled/uncontrolled emotions, conveying emotion, color, line and shape and emotions, Expressionism, Fauvism, Abstraction.
Emotion – human feelings, expression, knowledge through emotion, emotional situations, culture and emotions, controlled/uncontrolled emotions, conveying emotion, color, line and shape and emotions, Expressionism, Fauvism, Abstraction.
Collection/series – repetition, repeated objects, objects in a series, objects that share something in common, distant vs. close relationships between objects, association.
Collection/series – repetition, repeated objects, objects in a series, objects that share something in common, distant vs. close relationships between objects, association.
Beauty/ugliness – what defines these? What constitutes the appealing or the repulsive? Manipulating materials so that they take on appealing/repulsive qualities.
Beauty/ugliness – what defines these? What constitutes the appealing or the repulsive? Manipulating materials so that they take on appealing/repulsive qualities.
“The Wedding”- from the engagement ring to the sealing kiss
“The Wedding”- from the engagement ring to the sealing kiss
Architectural renderings- showing (exploring) the interior and exterior space with a strong focus on light, perspective and structure
Architectural renderings- showing (exploring) the interior and exterior space with a strong focus on light, perspective and structure
Exploration- using realistic and non-objective animals (stipple technique….a series of black and white ink drawings moving into color)
Exploration- using realistic and non-objective animals (stipple technique….a series of black and white ink drawings moving into color)
Other ways to explore your theme could include:
Other ways to explore your theme could include:
Portraits and the human form
Portraits and the human form
Monkeys or primates
Monkeys or primates
Junk yard still life
Junk yard still life
Tomatoes, from seed to fruit
Tomatoes, from seed to fruit
Fantasy characters – gargoyles, fairies, dragons, etc. – convincingly rendered
Fantasy characters – gargoyles, fairies, dragons, etc. – convincingly rendered
My ancestry
My ancestry
Crime and punishment
Crime and punishment
Women in feminine roles
Women in feminine roles
Historical events
Historical events
Reflections of images wherein the reflections are an emotional exploration (of literal reflections)
Reflections of images wherein the reflections are an emotional exploration (of literal reflections)
Instruments that make music
Instruments that make music
Iconography
Iconography
Strength of women (Cindy Sherman, Barbara Krueger)
Strength of women (Cindy Sherman, Barbara Krueger)
Dreams and dream images (Chagall, Dali)
Dreams and dream images (Chagall, Dali)
Dance images (Degas)
Dance images (Degas)
Struggle to find one’s self (identity)
Struggle to find one’s self (identity)
Figure studies in strong lights/darks
Figure studies in strong lights/darks
Car interiors
Car interiors
Abstract portraits
Abstract portraits
Illustrate a classical character or story in a new or modern way (superemofriends)
Illustrate a classical character or story in a new or modern way (superemofriends)
Childhood memories and feelings
Childhood memories and feelings
Evolution of an item as it deteriorates or decomposes
Evolution of an item as it deteriorates or decomposes
Portrait/figure distortions in color/shapes (Ed Paschke)
Portrait/figure distortions in color/shapes (Ed Paschke)
Personal or social issues
Personal or social issues
Cultural diversity – social issues (Diego Rivera)
Cultural diversity – social issues (Diego Rivera)
Visual puns/hybrids (Magritte)
Visual puns/hybrids (Magritte)
Note that all the above consist of topics/motifs that can and should be EXTENSIVELY researched experimented with and reflected upon.
Note that all the above consist of topics/motifs that can and should be EXTENSIVELY researched experimented with and reflected upon.
Your theme, whatever it is that you choose, should likewise be extensively researched and explored from as many angles as possible.
Your theme, whatever it is that you choose, should likewise be extensively researched and explored from as many angles as possible.
Filters
Filters
Approach your theme through a different “filter” – a way of considering your theme which can help you develop new ideas regarding your overall theme. Pick from the list below or create your own.
Approach your theme through a different “filter” – a way of considering your theme which can help you develop new ideas regarding your overall theme. Pick from the list below or create your own.
Self (you, your identity, self image, self-esteem) or dark self (see C.G. Jung)
Self (you, your identity, self image, self-esteem) or dark self (see C.G. Jung)
Family or ethnic group (not necessarily yours)
Family or ethnic group (not necessarily yours)
Science & Technology
Science & Technology
Dreams/the surreal world,/alternate reality/questioning reality
Dreams/the surreal world,/alternate reality/questioning reality
Society/Public vs. Private
Society/Public vs. Private
Gender issues/ Sexual politics
Gender issues/ Sexual politics
Capitalism/ (Free)Trade/Economic equality/Globalism
Capitalism/ (Free)Trade/Economic equality/Globalism
Epistemology (ie. how we know what we know)/TOK
Epistemology (ie. how we know what we know)/TOK
Conflict/resolution/war/peace
Conflict/resolution/war/peace
Art/History/Art History/Interpretation
Art/History/Art History/Interpretation
Origins/Beginnings/Endings/divisions in time
Origins/Beginnings/Endings/divisions in time
Age/Adolescence/Biological growth/evolution
Age/Adolescence/Biological growth/evolution
Location
Location
Power
Power
Symbols/Systems of Meaning/Codes
Symbols/Systems of Meaning/Codes
Kitsch/Taste/Fashion
Kitsch/Taste/Fashion
Story/Narrative
Story/Narrative
Humor/dark humor/
Humor/dark humor/
Shock/Horror/Ugliness
Shock/Horror/Ugliness
Any other suitable filter you might want to consider
Any other suitable filter you might want to consider
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