What is Visual Art What is Visual Art Phenomenon?Phenomenon?

The Phenomenological GroupThe Phenomenological Group

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J699edhfT0o

Visual Art?Visual Art?

Marcel Duchamp, “Fountain” 1917

Burnett Newman “Voice of Fire”(1989)

AestheticsAesthetics

Emmanuel Kant Emmanuel Kant (1724-(1724-1804)1804)

““An aesthetic An aesthetic judgment, in Kant's judgment, in Kant's usage, is a usage, is a judgment which is judgment which is based on feeling, based on feeling, and in particular on and in particular on the feeling of the feeling of pleasure or pleasure or displeasuredispleasure.”(.”(Stanford Stanford

Encyclopedia of philosophyEncyclopedia of philosophy))

The idea of visual art as The idea of visual art as human producthuman product

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Friedrich HegelHegel (1770-1831) (1770-1831)

Art is a product of Art is a product of human thinking, and this human thinking, and this gives it its spiritual (or, gives it its spiritual (or, put another way, put another way, mindly) quality. Insofar mindly) quality. Insofar as art is itself a product as art is itself a product of mind, it is actually of mind, it is actually closer to us (more real in closer to us (more real in a sense) than what we a sense) than what we ordinarily describe as ordinarily describe as ‘nature’.‘nature’. (The 10 (The 10thth Guild) Guild)

Art as an experienceArt as an experience

Could art be an Could art be an experience?experience?

To better appreciate To better appreciate the aesthetic art the aesthetic art practice one must practice one must first be associated first be associated with itwith it

I will now take 4 I will now take 4 suggestions for suggestions for images to represent images to represent in gestural format.in gestural format.

Gestural Drawing ExerciseGestural Drawing Exercise

Exercise in preconceptions of Exercise in preconceptions of drawing and imagerydrawing and imageryYou will be timedYou will be timedYou will not be allowed to look at You will not be allowed to look at

your hands or paper until completeyour hands or paper until completeYou will not be allowed to lift your You will not be allowed to lift your

pencil from the paper when drawingpencil from the paper when drawingEveryone must participate Everyone must participate

[excluding myself][excluding myself]

Discussion of exerciseDiscussion of exercise

What was your thoughts going into What was your thoughts going into this exercise?this exercise?

Is your final rendering recognizable?Is your final rendering recognizable?

Did anyone cheat during the exercise?Did anyone cheat during the exercise?

How does this relate to How does this relate to phenomenology?phenomenology?

““Bracketing”Bracketing”

To remove all biases when rendering To remove all biases when rendering phenomenological research.phenomenological research.

Uses an objective approach to understanding Uses an objective approach to understanding the phenomena being studiedthe phenomena being studied

Allows the researcher to move about the Allows the researcher to move about the research unobstructed with familiarityresearch unobstructed with familiarity

Gives the subjects free reign of expression Gives the subjects free reign of expression without a quantitative interferencewithout a quantitative interference

Water ColorWater ColorWatercolor is a painting method. Watercolor is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork, in which the paints are made of artwork, in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water soluble vehicle. pigments suspended in a water soluble vehicle. The traditional and most common support The traditional and most common support for watercolor paintings is paper; other for watercolor paintings is paper; other supports include papyrus, bark papers, supports include papyrus, bark papers, plastics, vellum or leather, fabric, wood, and plastics, vellum or leather, fabric, wood, and canvas. canvas. For our purpose it will be on paper.For our purpose it will be on paper.

Water Colour TechniquesWater Colour Techniques

There are many ways to render a water colour paintings, and theThere are many ways to render a water colour paintings, and the

following are examples:following are examples:

1.1. Wet on Wet (Wet in Wet)Wet on Wet (Wet in Wet)

2.2. Lost and Found (Hard and Soft Edges)Lost and Found (Hard and Soft Edges)

3.3. Dry Brush Technique (concentrated colour)Dry Brush Technique (concentrated colour)

4.4. Negative Painting (paint the space around it)Negative Painting (paint the space around it)# 1 (Wet on Wet)

# 2 (Hard and Soft)# 3 (Dry Brush) # 4 (Negative Space)

Water Colour ExerciseWater Colour Exercise

1.1. You will tape the paper you have been You will tape the paper you have been given into 4 sectionsgiven into 4 sections

2.2. In each section you will demonstrate the In each section you will demonstrate the 4 techniques of water colour use in this 4 techniques of water colour use in this presentation using any colour you want.presentation using any colour you want.

3.3. Using water and very little paint work Using water and very little paint work from light to darkfrom light to dark

4.4. When completed remove the tape and When completed remove the tape and sign it.sign it.

* Please remind me to put slide show to the techniques slide if I * Please remind me to put slide show to the techniques slide if I haven’t done so already*haven’t done so already*

Discussion of ExperienceDiscussion of Experience

1.1. How did you feel about doing the How did you feel about doing the painting?painting?

2.2. Is there a difference from drawing to Is there a difference from drawing to painting in your opinion?painting in your opinion?

3.3. What colors did you choose to represent What colors did you choose to represent each technique? (Red, blue, yellow, etc…)each technique? (Red, blue, yellow, etc…)

4.4. Is Phenomenology a credible research Is Phenomenology a credible research methodology for visual arts practices, in methodology for visual arts practices, in your opinion?your opinion?

ExamplesExamples

Carl Larsson (1897) Albrecht Durer (1502)

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1802)

Carl Larsson (1904-05)

Visual art as ThematicVisual art as Thematic Using the micro-project portion of this course I put into practice a Using the micro-project portion of this course I put into practice a

phenomenological study of First Nations identity in a Regina high school.phenomenological study of First Nations identity in a Regina high school. During the study, the issue of First Nation non involvement was evident in the During the study, the issue of First Nation non involvement was evident in the

attendance…the class went from having 5 First Nations to just 1 within the span attendance…the class went from having 5 First Nations to just 1 within the span of the initial first 4 weeks.of the initial first 4 weeks.

This negated the concept of using a theory based on First Nations identityThis negated the concept of using a theory based on First Nations identity Coincidently the themes of identity began to emerge in how it is acquiredCoincidently the themes of identity began to emerge in how it is acquired By utilizing the remaining students the theory moved to “How do students in By utilizing the remaining students the theory moved to “How do students in

grade 11 eleven describe identity in a visual format? How do they relate their grade 11 eleven describe identity in a visual format? How do they relate their identity their present circumstance?”identity their present circumstance?”

The results were based in themes:The results were based in themes:1.1. Students who were able to relate meaningful visual representations suffered Students who were able to relate meaningful visual representations suffered

a traumatic event in childhood, thus instigating a traumatic event in childhood, thus instigating

2.2. Students who could not relate a meaningful visual description of their Students who could not relate a meaningful visual description of their identity relied on their social grouping to define who they were.identity relied on their social grouping to define who they were.

Student examplesStudent examples

In a simulation of the In a simulation of the Mayan Codices Students Mayan Codices Students were asked to represent their were asked to represent their identities.identities.

This is one finished product This is one finished product using the medium of clayusing the medium of clay

When philosophizing about When philosophizing about the concept of identity the concept of identity certain students expressed certain students expressed more than expected in their more than expected in their journals as to what the journals as to what the symbols meant to them.symbols meant to them.

More ExamplesMore Examples

ConclusionsConclusionsVisual arts Education as Visual arts Education as

phenomenaphenomena The essence of experience The essence of experience

can only be represented with can only be represented with a shared experience.a shared experience.

Themes in visual art occur Themes in visual art occur when there is a common when there is a common objective.objective.

Visual Arts phenomena Visual Arts phenomena occur on an individual basis.occur on an individual basis.

Visual art as an effective Visual art as an effective methodmethod

End products of the method End products of the method display thematic display thematic occurrencesoccurrences

Collective artworks are still Collective artworks are still individually possessive individually possessive (subjects take the research (subjects take the research home)home)

Color usage allows for Color usage allows for individual expression.individual expression.

Suggested ReadingSuggested Reading

O’Leary, Zina. O’Leary, Zina. The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. Los Los Angeles, Sage. 2010Angeles, Sage. 2010. . PrintPrint

Somekh, B. & Lewin, C. Somekh, B. & Lewin, C. Theory and Methods in Social Research. Theory and Methods in Social Research. Los Los Angeles, Sage. 2011. PrintAngeles, Sage. 2011. Print

Laverty, S. Laverty, S. Hermeneutic Phenomenology and Phenomenology: a Comparison Hermeneutic Phenomenology and Phenomenology: a Comparison of Historical and Methodological Considerations. of Historical and Methodological Considerations. International Journal of International Journal of Qualitative Methods 2(3). September 2003. Retrieved on February 16, Qualitative Methods 2(3). September 2003. Retrieved on February 16, 20122012