My Art Class Critique Paper

  Hi Everyone!

     I just thought I would share the the paper I wrote this week for my art class, just to see what people thought, or if they had different opinions. I'll post a picture copy of the art work I critiqued. Please do not plagiarize my paper! I am posting it so that others can share their opinions with me, and discuss the painting. Thank you. Enjoy! :)

Painting:ANGELICA KAUFFMAN, Cornelia Pointing to Her Children as Her Treasures, 1785.

Oil on canvas, 40″ × 50″. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia.                                               

Shari Lazar

Professor Melodie Mackey

Art V160

28 October 2013

Art Critique

     Cornelia Pointing to Her Children as Treasure, by Angelica Kauffman, is beautiful and enlightening. This painting was created by Angelica Kauffman in the year 1785 (Lewis 346). I am assuming that this painting was created in Rome, Italy, because our text The Power of Art by Richard Lewis and Susan I. Lewis, states that Angelica eventually settled there (Lewis 346). This piece of art is rectangular, measuring 40” by 50” according to illustration 16-4 (Lewis 346).

     Cornelia Pointing to her Children as Treasures was born from neoclassicism. It conforms to neoclassicism because of its simplicity, modesty, and ability to teach a moral lesson to the viewer. It visualizes a widowed mother, Cornelia, showing her friend that she values her children more than anything else.

     The medium used for this work is oil paint on canvas. It uses warm realistic colors, which are muted by black and grey shading. Light is used to illuminate the room that the characters stand in, and shadow is used in places where light cannot touch. There is play between the two, because the light that the characters block, casts a shadow in the direction the light would be shining. I can tell that the work is balanced, because of the simplicity of the painting. If it were unbalanced, it would be harder to focus on the story that Angelica Kauffman was trying to tell. When I look at this painting, my attention isn’t drawn to a single spot. I look at the painting in its entirety so that I can understand the story it tells. It does however suggest movement. For example, Cornelia points to her children to show her friend what means most to her. In my own opinion I would say that it is organic for its naturalistic features. Angelica Kauffman used linear perspective in this work. This is because forms that seem closer appear larger than those meant to be farther from the viewer. Although this is a painting, and is only two dimensional, Angelica used line, color, and form to give Cornelia Pointing to her Children as Treasures some depth. All of these elements are configured in an asymmetrical balance to add visual weights.

     When I saw and read about this piece, I literally could feel the maternal love that the painting expresses, and it reminded me of how much I love my son, Brayden, and how special he is to me. I think it made me feel this way, because you can see the character of Cornelia surrounded by her three children. She even holds her daughter’s hand while explaining to the other woman how much her children mean to her. I think that Cornelia Pointing to her Children as Treasures is a success as an artwork, because the artist Angelica Kauffman was experienced with the neoclassical style of painting. As I said before, it adheres to the rules of neoclassical art, because of it meets the goal of teaching a moral lesson, and it uses clear line, color, and form.

The day I'll never forget: Brayden's Birth.

Hi Everyone! 

     So Brayden is three months old now, and I haven't had the time to share my birthing story. So I figured while I have some spare time, I would try to elaborate on the events of that very special day. The day before my water actually broke ( July 21st), we had gone to the Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage, because my mucus plug came out and I thought my water had broken, but it turns out that my bladder had only leaked a bit. However, while they were checking me, they told me that the mucus plug was gone, that my cervix was 100% effaced, AND that I was already 3 centimeters dilated. Mom then told me that when she was pregnant with my brother and I, she was 3 centimeters dilated for two weeks before we were born. She reassured me that I was probably still going to be waiting a little while longer for Brayden to come. So we went home after getting some breakfast from McDonald's, and carried on through the day. 

     July 22nd, Mom and I got up early to carpool to work. I was feeling achy and tired from the Braxton Hicks contractions I had been having all month. The contractions I had that morning I hardly noticed (probably because they didn't feel painful at all), and so I carried on through the typical morning at Starbucks, and was glad to be headed home when Mom had finished up in her office. Over the next few hours I started to feel very achy, and I sat in the bathroom for almost 30 mins thinking I was constipated. I gave up, and headed upstairs to watch Switched at Birth while we ate burritos and Spanish rice for dinner. (Through out the whole time since I had gotten home from work, I had been texting Brandon. He was hanging out with some friends after work, and had promised to be home before 10pm.) I had started to get agitated because it was almost 11:30pm, and Brandon still hadn't arrived at home. He texted me that he was now leaving his friend's house and was on his way. I started to think "just watch, my water is going to break one night when he is out with his friends, and my parents will have to take me to the hospital." And then.... POP "Oh sh*t, what do ya know?" I look over at mom and Ruben and tell them I just felt a pop while I was relaxing on the couch. I go into the nearby bathroom, and sure enough my pants are starting to soak. That's when I realized that I wasn't aching because I was constipated. I was aching because I was having regular contractions, and it only felt like I was constipated. Mom says to start timing my contractions. (And guess what? I used an app for that!) I sat back down and after five minutes I start saying "Ow-Ow-Ow" and start to squirm in the chair. We realized after looking at my contraction app, that we should go to hospital right away. I call Brandon and let him know that we are going to the hospital. 

     Right before we passed Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, Mom realized that there was no way we were going to make it out to Anchorage with how fast my contractions were coming and going. So Ruben takes us to the ER doors at Mat-Su Regional, and Mom and I get out of the car and go in. The nurse at the counter starts asking me how close my contractions are, and as I start to answer, another contraction hits me hard. The nurse calls someone to get a wheel chair after my Mom finishes my answer for me, and they wheel me towards the Birthing Center while my Mom fills checks me in.

     It's now just after midnight, about 30 minutes after my water had broken. The nurse has me in a special area where they can monitor my contractions, and vitals. They had me change into a hospital gown, and were hooking me up to a monitor as Brandon and the rest of the family joined me in our area. Another nurse comes and checks my cervix and confirms that my water has broken. She also told us that I was 5 centimeters dilated. At this point the contractions start coming every minute and I start losing track of the time. The pain starts to become to much to handle and some point I started screaming. After that the nurses showed us to my room, where I would be laboring, and then delivering. If I'm remembering correctly, Mom and Brandon had to support my walking to my room in before the next contraction started.
     The room was very nice, and it had it's own bathroom which had a very large bathtub/ shower. Mom turned the shower on so it was nice and hot. I got in and tried to breathe and relax with the contractions. I remember standing and moving my legs and hips a lot with the water hitting my back. It helped for a few minutes, but then the pain became so unbearable that I couldn't stand anymore. Mom helped me dry off, and get into the bed. From that point on I kept screaming, squirming, all while Brandon stayed by my side and held my hand. Mom keeps telling me to breathe through it, but I couldn't help but scream and cry. This is when I really lose track of time. Meanwhile, while I had been getting out of the shower, the doctor or nurse had told my mom that the anesthesiologist was in surgery and wouldn't be available for 30 mins. Before 2 am someone finally puts some kind of drug in my IV. Right afterwards, I realize that "oh wait a minute, my body has been trying to tell me that I need to push" and at the moment I kind of look at my Mom and say "I need to push." 
     Around this time I start getting loopy from the drugs and it becomes hard to focus. The doctor comes in and starts working her magic, and we start pushing with each contraction. The whole room is filled with anticipation. Brayden starts to crown. Then finally the doctor says to stop pushing and she slides him out. They immediately put him on my chest, and I swear it was the most serene moment I had ever experienced. The pain immediately stopped. Brandon cut the cord, and after that it's a bit of a blur because the drugs finally completely kicked in. 
     The nurses did everything they needed to do with him in the room, and when they gave him back to me, they had me start breastfeeding him. Once everything settled down it was just the family and I in the room with little Brayden. Once the drugs wore off, Mom told me something funny. Apparently, the first time I pushed, I peed on the doctor. I had had no idea until she told me! And I can honestly say that I'm not embarrassed at all. In fact to this day I still think it's hilarious. 
     Anyways, Brayden was born at 2:02am Alaska time on July 23rd. He weighed 6lbs and 14oz, and was 20.25 inches from head to toe. Here are some pictures from his first day of life on earth!

     Brayden is 3 months old now, and is a very social baby. He's also very vocal when he plays. I hope you enjoyed my story, and I'd love to hear about yours if you have one! Ta-ta!

I'm praying that I can see my family soon...

Hey everyone, I just thought I might share this "GoFundMe" page I made. I'll be thankful to anyone whose willing to lend a hand....

http://www.gofundme.com/Trip-to-see-Family

This is what I wrote about my goal.

"Hi I'm Scarlett. I am trying to scrape up enough to go see my Great Grandparents in California, along with other relatives. I haven't seen any of these amazing people since 2008, and I miss them so much. I recently gave birth to my son this past July, and since have been wanting to take him to California so that my Great Grandpa and Grandma can meet their great-great grandson before it's too late. (My Great Grandmother's health has fallen dramatically in the past few years.) Unfortunately, I only make close to minimum wage, and I can only work part time because I have to be home with my baby boy while his father is also working. It may take a long time to save up enough money to make a round trip to California, especially since I still have to pay bills before paying for anything else. I've been feeling desperate to see my Grandparents for over a year now, and every time I start saving up money, I end up having to use it for something I wasn't expecting to pay for. This is the first time I've ever used GoFundMe, and I will be very grateful for anyone who lends me a hand and contributes to my hopes of going to California. Thank you."

So much for posting everyday right?

Hi everyone! 

Long time no blog!

     So I had made it my goal to blog everyday when I started using blogger, but that goal kind of went out the window, since at the time I was pregnant, working full time and attending two college classes. Now I'm back (well kind of). Brayden arrived a week and a half early in July rather than August, and I have ever since been very happy! Oh and tired ( what new parent isn't?) Brayden is now 3 months old if you can believe it! I certainly can't, considering that my only sense of time is dependent of looking at my iPhone when I can't remember what day it is. 

     My story of Brayden's birth is certainly entertaining, but I'm going to have to save it for another time. For now I'll leave you guys with a cute video of Brayden's first social smiles! Ta-ta for now!