I would describe the figures in this painting as geometric and abstract. The shape of each body consists of several straight lines that make some features look pointed. Each woman's face is what stands out to me about their appearance. The faces look disoriented and un-proportional.

The emotion or mood that I feel when looking at this painting is confused and distracted. The content contributes to these feelings because the art itself is confusing. It is difficult for me to discern what is going on in the artwork and the connection between the faces, bodies, or background.

Before Drawing: Before I started the drawing assignment inspired by Picasso, I was nervous and worried. When it comes to drawing, I am very much a perfectionist, so it especially stresses me out knowing that the work I have to draw is complex and abstract. In specific, I was nervous to locate a starting point and put the first line on the page because that would set the stage for the rest of the drawing. My concerns were that I would not be able to achieve the correct proportions or line placement of the original artwork. Before drawing, my expectations were low considering my nerves and OCD when it comes to drawing. However, once I started, my nerves calmed a little and I was able to allow myself to make mistakes and correct them.

After Drawing: The process of finding the center as a guide definitely helped me to place my lines in the correct area. Without a guide it is very difficult to figure out where to start, however, by knowing the center, I was able to start there and work around it. Having a grid on both the picture of the Picasso artwork and my paper made it easier to reference where certain lines and shapes belonged. Also, simplifying lines and shapes helped me to think of the reference photo as a map, planning on where each figure would belong on my paper. Furthermore, my initial hesitation did change once I drew more because I was able to get into a routine of how I placed my lines. After placing the first line on the page, I began to follow my grid and constantly reference the Picasso photo. Once the figures started coming together, it made it easier to continue drawing because I had a middle reference figure to base my other lines off of in terms of spacing and location.

The principles of design that I could use to describe Jackson Pollock's painting Blue Poles are unity, pattern, emphasis and rhythm. There is unity in the repetition of the navy blue colored lines that cover over the white, orange, yellow, and green colors in the background. These lines create a sense of harmony within the artwork, showing connectedness. There is pattern through the repeated design of the bolded navy lines. This pattern is made by line and color coming together to make the abstract art. Emphasis is placed on these blue lines because they are significantly darker than the background. There is also rhythm in the sense that my eyes move throughout the composition and follow the blue lines from left to right.

I do not like Jackson Pollock's drip painting. While it is abstract and leaves a lot of room for interpretation, it looks as if anyone could create this work of art. The paint looks random and splashed, portraying a chaotic and confusing image to the eye.

As I drew from the Leger painting, I think the subject matter is the bright white/yellow shape that resembles a light. I think the image represents a chaotic city life full of movement. While the painting is abstract, it is evident that the work includes dark human figures at the bottom, staircases, tall buildings, and references to the night life of a city. For instance, in the painting there is a target for darts, a card that may allude to gambling, and elements of a theater such as stage lights and a costume. Overall, the multiple elements of this painting represent the craziness of a city, and the feeling of movement portrays the idea that the city is always moving and never sleeps.

One term from the Elements of Art that I would use to analyze this painting is line. This painting is very geometric and consists of lines of all shape, direction, and thickness. Every point is connected to a second point that is moving in space. Within the painting, the use of curved, straight, horizontal and vertical lines creates an interesting perspective. For instance, every line is connected to another and many overlap, showing how chaotic the city is, with something always piled on top of something else. The use of bold and light lines also creates dimension. One term from the Principles of Design that I would use to analyze this painting is pattern. The repeated design of rectangles and line is seen throughout the artwork. While the painting is abstract, the pattern of line groups similar figures into a category. For instance, the pattern of line is used to create building structures, so the viewer can identify that there is multiple buildings in the scene.

Other than their use of hieroglyphics and mummification, I do not know much about the Ancient Egyptians. I am only aware that it is a kingdom in the ancient word that worshiped a vast array of gods and goddess. Some of these gods and goddesses were a mixture of human and animal forms.

In the scene from the "Egyptian Book of the Dead," I would describe the figures as powerful, versatile, and mythical. In specific, the figure on the right looks like an animal head on a human body, and is portrayed in a large scale. The other figures on the left seem to be entrapped in his aura, following his rule and all locking their eyes upon him. In the sense of versatility, some figures are more human like, some portray a dog like appearance, while others mimic a bird.

My understanding of the role of an artist has evolved throughout the semester by learning about different mediums, the elements of arts, principles of design, and the various perspectives and styles of multiple artists. Prior to taking this class, I had taken a few art courses in high school. However, these courses were solely hands on creating art, not learning about its history of the art produced by different artists throughout time. This class has therefore expanded my understanding of the role of an artist and how art can truly be anything, ranging from something abstract, to something concrete, to even a book on a table with an apple. Artists have endless freedom and imagination that they can incorporate into their artwork. I have also learned about the evolution of artists. For instance, I now understand how artists had evolved from the prehistoric times in caves to present day, and the influences that different cultures, religions, values, and time periods had on the artist’s productions.

Personally, I really enjoyed the drawing assignments we completed in class. Initially I was hesitant because drawing under a time constraint causes me stress and I am very much of a perfectionist, thus I become frustrated if my work does not look identical to the image. However, in this class I was able to take a step back and take my time, as I really appreciated that the professor put more of an emphasis on trying rather than perfection. I have personally progressed in my drawings since the beginning of the semester in my technique. I now understand how to draw proportions and angles and utilize line and value, allowing me to create more accurate drawings. I also have progressed in my ability to draw from images and still life, something I previously struggled heavily with because I was never taught the correct technique of how to approach such work.

The most significant lessons or insights I gained from this class have been about the elements of art, principles of design, and styles of art. Learning about these elements allowed me to better understand artwork and look at it in terms of its several elements. Previously, I was never aware of the different styles of art, such as expressionism, surrealism, or non-objective art. Thus, this class has given me the ability to look at artwork more analytically and be able to understand its background and meaning. Overall, my perspective on art has thoroughly been broadened, as I can now appreciate the different elements of arts used, and understand the origin and underlying messages of several works.