This piece of surf art is titled "sunset sessions" and was created by Drew Brophy. He has a unique style which is made possible by using a  method which uses oil based pens that he created. This is a very abstract piece of art that utilizes the bright colors and cartoony images to catch the eye. The large scale wave and the crazy sunrays really grab my attention. i believe the iconogrophy of this piece and of  majority of his works are based around perfect days to simply enjoy.

Abstract Paintings

 

When an individual looks at art, they may see something completely different then what others perceive.  This particular artwork is an abstract painting done an a two dimensional format.  This painting is abstract because of its alterations with color, shape, and size.  When one looks at the painting, they can interpret it to be whatever they want it to be.  Personally, I see many abstract flowers, but someone else may see something else.  I believe that this artwork is non-objective because you are not able to identify what it is actually representing and you are able to use your own imagination to create your own thoughts. 

-Dana-Lynn

tired

 This painting is made by a talented artist named Rob Hefferan. This is a realistic 2D oil painting and has nothing abstract in it since everything is identifiable. It's content is not complex, representing an exhausted and maybe even sad female.  The texture and the details in this painting are phenomenal, whether its the sheets or what shes wearing, and even the covers and pillows. He uses very neutral color. This painting is very calming to the eye and although contains many details, it is not overpowering. This painting contains no symmetry. 

End of the Day

The painting I chose is one that was made in the Philippines. I believe that it is an oil painting. This is a painting of the Boracray Islands, which is a part of the context. The form of this painting is very interesting. The painting is very realistic. It looks as if the man is a native of the area returning at the end of a day on the water. I believe that the person in the painting does not have a specific face so that much more people are able to relate to the painting. There is a multitude of colors that are displayed and they are very beautiful.

-Sam

Iceberg

The image that is shown is a realistic representational image because it shows the realism in an iceberg. The fact that you can see the bottom of the iceberg is a little abstract, however it is still realistic due to the fact that it is a real thing and the only reason the artist is showing the bottom is to be informative and show the viewer that there is more to be seen then just what meets the eye. The form of this image seems to be a large iceberg directly centered to add to the pictures effect that the iceberg is large. The image almost seems as though its a photograph however it has been edited because there is no way you could see the bottom of the iceberg through the frozen water. The blue in the iceberg really adds to the pictures form as well because everything in the picture is blue from the sky, to the water, to the actual iceberg itself. The context of this work tells me that this image must have been made sometime in recent history because a long time ago they did not have the digital technology to make this iceberg appear the way it is. This image truly interests me because it shows something that most people will never know in their entire lives unless a true artist shows them such as in this picture. 

The Shipwreck

The Shipwreck is a 2D oil painting. This painting can be considered to be realistic and representational because the photo is not far from being what the actual scene would look like. In the painting you see three boats that seem to be taken over by harsh storms and rough waters they are traveling on. The colors are realistic and the textures of the water and the people are all realistic. I chose this photo because it is simple, but is very real looking. Also the simple blasts of color from the peoples clothing catches your eye. Great, simple painting that conveys a very realistic message.

Gorge near Amalfi

Gorge near Amalfi by Carl Blechen is a 2D work of art.  It is an oil painting on canvas.  The painting is realistic and representational because the artist shows how this scene would look like in real life.  He shows the shadowing as it would be in real life because there is a mountain on the left side of the painting preventing the light to shine on it.  The work shows a scene from nature and three men cutting down a tree.  There also looks to be a house or some type of building that produces smoke or heat.  The men cutting down the tree could be gathering fire wood as it looks like that is how the building is heated as illustrated by the smoke.  The men probably got to the tree by the bridge crossing over the water. 

Love and War.

The image shown is a photograph taken by the famous photography duo known as "Petrovsky and Ramone", that portrays a collaboration of Love and War. The composition and content of this photograph displays the word "LOVE", centered, created by the arrangement of bullets and/or bullet shell casings. I think the iconography of this image represents the events that are taking place in our world today as far as the war in Iraq. I also believe this photograph art work gives off the message that love can be expressed in many ways, including war.

- Alfonso Robles

Art by Emily Hoy

This piece is by one of my favorite contemporary artists Emily Hoy. Although I greatly appreciate representational art, I am fascinated by the abstract types of art that defy reality. Emily Hoy undoubtably has a certain style that is shown throughout all of her work. She always uses many bright colors, text, and geometric shapes. In addition, lips seem to always make their way into her pieces. As a viewer, I see the subject matter of this work of art to be how women can be seen as objects. On the top, there are two girls with just their bodies being shown, and their faces covered with lips. Also, the lipstick and words "flash" and "pump"reveal stereotypes about women. The large image of the tiger in the center may mean that women are stronger than they are perceived to be.

- Melissa Mastrorilli

John Marchetti

This painting is called "Fishing boats on the beach at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer", by Vincent van Gogh. It's was created using oil paints. You can see from the brush strokes in the sky and water. It's composition is interesting because at first you would just think its another ordinary picture of boats on the beach, but van Gogh made the land and sky almost identical in size to each other, making the boats pop out. The boats are placed off center so we can see the beauty of the ocean as well. This painting is representational because it looks like the real thing. Its content is pretty simple; it is the beauty of the sea and its calming/relaxing atmosphere. There isn't anything subjective in this piece. Van Gogh made this after visiting the Mediterranean sea, showing that it struck a lasting memory/feeling in him.

John Marchetti

Starry Night

Starry Night is an oil on canvas painting by Vincent Van Gogh. Though its current location is in New York City, it is greatly admired by many around the world. Most would agree that this is a peaceful and calming work of art. This is an example of a representational piece. You are able to see things such as the moon, houses on hills and the colors relating to the typical night sky. The composition of this picture plays around with swirls and the contrast of the colors blue and yellow. This allows for people to see movement of the sky even in a still picture.
-Michelle Ketcham

Ballerina People.

This photograph represents a dancer or part or feeling in a theatrical work.  The medium used here is clearly photography; and although simple, it says so many words.  As for the composition of the photograph, she is placed in the center but the shape of her dress and lines of her body move the eye throughout the entire piece of art.  Clearly the subject matter is the dancer and she tells her story through her movements and interpretive dance; however, the photograph does not give a hint to what specific story is being told. 

Emily

American Virtue

This painting, (American Gothic) was created by Grant Wood in 1930. It is a portrayal of the American Dream, marriage, hard work, and something to show for it. By the time line and the expressions on their faces, this couple is struggling through the great depression, as most if not all Americans went through. Observing the shadows on their faces and on the house, the detailed wrinkles, and just the scenery alone this painting was made to be representational. You can see the struggle in the man's eyes, but also the sense that he is not willing to give up, as you can see by the clenched fist around the tool of his hard labor. On the other hand, with the wife's expressionless stare away from you, she seems to have given up.

Death of Socrates

This painting by Jacques-Louis David is an oil painting.  It is a representational painting in that it records an event that took place several thousand years earlier.  The content is not at all complex.  The subject matter tells you that a person's death has occurred.  The message relays that this is no ordinary death.  The iconography is that it is horrific because a great leader has died.  This painting ultimately serves as a medium for putting the death of Socrates in perspective.

Mike Rizzi

The Two Sisters

This is the painting "The Two Sisters" by Jean Baptiste Claude Richard in 1770. This is a representational painting and I'm not entirely sure about which kind of paint it is but I think it's oil. It is obviously representational because it shows these two girls much like they would look in the real world. As for the content, it looks like two French, wealthy little girls who are playing with their toys. There is some sort of horse on wheels they are both leaning on and underneath that, there is a doll. The further back one looks like she is telling her sister something but the sister is looking straight at whoever is painting them. There is also light shining on the girls, the front one in particular, making them the focus of the painting. I could see this painting being interpreted as symmetrical because there is some sort of protruding shape on either side with the girls heads in the middle. It has a very innocent and carefree feel to it, possibly reflecting the feelings of the children.