Inside Out Portraits

In class critiques. Today we are going to take a look at everyone's 1st round of portraits and see how we are doing.
After we look at a few successful images, we are going to take turn to scan the top three negatives from the first shoot and post to the ning site.
Visit your ning buddies and view their portraits tell them which portrait you like the best and why or why you wouldn't choose it. Be constructive with your advice. Please don't just say I like this... cool

As you know, the Oreo® is a cookie with two chocolate wafers on the outside and light, creamy filling on the inside. When you’re critiquing someone’s art or photogaph, think of the chocolate wafers (the parts that hold the whole together) as praise. The fluffy stuff in the center is where you can offer room for improvement
For example . . .
a) Chocolate wafer (praise): I really like your use of complementary colors in the composition. They make the image “pop.”
b) Fluffy stuff (room for improvement): I’m wondering, though, if it might be better without that tree on the left. Or perhaps toning down the green would allow me to focus better on the center.
c) End with another chocolate wafer (praise): Your depth if field works really well to emphasize the subject...

Criticism should be honest, and constructive. Nobody wins if the discussion is simply an exchange of warm fuzzies. The goal of every critique is to discover how to make a design better, not win a gold star for perfection.

LFAS InsideOut Portrait Project

• The models can either hold something that relates to their art, or not.
• Models should wear a similar outfit (simple white t-shirt).
• Models should be expressive with body language.
• The portrait expressions should be expressive of their art, enthusiastic, fun, and candid.
• The models should be framed from the waist up.
• The portraits will be cut out when presented on the wall, but make sure the background is simple when you photograph them.
• The lighting should be even, from the front, minimal shadows.

Camera Functions

Try this camera quiz
Camera Function PDF

Camera Talk

Lots of students are asking for advice to buy cameras. So here are a few suggestions:
Nikon FM or FM2, Pentax K1000, Canon AE-1

Ken Lum



 Mirror Maze with 12 Signs of Depression,  2002

Ken Lum was born in 1956 in the east side of Vancouver. His parents wanted him to become a scientist, and his art teacher in high school told him that he had no compositional sense. So he went to SFU for a BSc where he took an Art History class with Jeff Wall that changed everything. After graduating from SFU, he continued his education at NYU and UBC for his Masters in Fine Arts. He currently lives in Vancouver and teaches at  UBC.

Lum is a conceptual artist, who works with a variety of materials and mediums to communicate his ideas. Using signs, furniture, photos and text and mirrors and text, his works often explore race, vulture, laguage, class, race and identity. Born into a Chinese Canadian famile living in East Vancouver his background has influenced his work. He is often associated with the "Vancouver School", of artists (photographers) who work in photo-conceptualism an explore and deliberately blurr the boundaries between the worlds of art and commerce. He likes making art that confuses art with non-art, he says in the end, he is an artist who makes art.

As an internationally respected artist, has taught in Canada, Paris, Munich, SanFransisco, and Hangzhou. His works have been exhibited throughout the world in North America, Europe and China. He has had more than 100 solo exhibits in major museums is Shanghai, Johannesburg, Istanbul, Liverpool, SaoPaolo, and Sydney to name a few.

Find our more about Ken Lum here Vancouver Art Gallery- Ken Lum 
A blog about a few of his works

STEVE, 1986


Ken Lum Assignment
Select one of Ken Lum's works from the Vancouver Exhibition below (you can also find or "Google" a different one, but clear it with the Usher first).

1. Describe the piece.
2. What do you think Ken Lum is trying to communicate?
3. How does it explore race, culture, language, class, and/or identity?
4. Define "conceptual art", how is this work a conceptual art piece?

 

Melly Shum Hate her Job, 1990



Sandhu's Maple Leaf, 2002

 


Rorschach Shopkeeper Signs

 



Red Circle, 1986





Ken Lum: Monument of East Vancouver



Ken Lum: Monument of East Vancouver  the making on YouTube

Article Controversy Copyright of EAST VAN Sign by Ken Lum

Lunatic Fringe Photography Sharing Site

Today we are going to start "Ning-ing". We have an on-line photo sharing site called Lunatic Fringe. This is where we share images and ideas, critique each other's work, give encouragement and offer advice. I will be giving at least one critique assignment per month. The first excersize will be assigned today. You will have some time to set up, or update your space. I will help with details.
Don't forget about the field trip on Thursday. Bring your forms.

Welcome to Photography 2011/2012

Arts Matter at LFAS. This year, you will notice some extra energy around the arts with the Arts Matter lecture series where artists from all across Canada will share experiences, and ideas to divulge why the "Arts Matter" to them.

First we are going to start the year with an "Arts Matter" Portrait project to communicate why the Arts matter to us by taking photos of fellow classmates. Then we are going to take photos of friends to practice expressive portraits to get an idea how to direct people and decide what we are looking for- to best express why the Arts Matter. And finally we will invite select students from all grades and arts areas in the whole school community .



JR on TED talks
InsideOut Project
JR's Site