Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with art

ink query

rhoticity — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:31:03 -0800

Screenprinting class in Chicago? Anyone in Chicago know of a place I can go and take a class on the basics of screenprinting? I've googled and not come up with much... problem is it should be known to be running in the near-future (saw a couple that have offered classes in the past but don't list any future dates) and shouldn't be prohibitively expensive (the Hyde Park Art Center has one, and would be very convenient for me, but it is upwards of $200). I'm more than happy to bring in my own supplies if that lowers the price, and I'm more interested in printmaking than textile applications if that's relevant.

Cartoon and comics major programs

zainsubani — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:17:16 -0800

Are there any US colleges or universities that offer majors in comics and cartooning (the traditional 2D variety, not 3D animation)?

Magic Mirror, 2009

rokusan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:15:47 -0800

Forget "widescreen": I need a ROUND LCD or other display. I'm mulling over a specific odd requirement for a job I am consulting on: a project needs a large and round digital display (about 4 feet diameter, though specs are flexible on that) to display various data from feeds. It must be mountable flat on a wall. As a circle. And ideally, in the most annoying twist: it should be somewhat portable.

The unsatisfying solution is a large regular display masked with some custom manufactured cutout and faux-bezel, producing a circular 'window' within a square box, with the box then sunk flush into the wall and the edges all hidden, painted to match and hopefully visually vanish.

This would work, but it's non-ideal. The custom manufacturing aspects are acceptable (there's a budget) but because of the installation and disguise required, the portability is impaired, and the overall effect becomes hugely dependent on the (re)installation each time.

I realize there are software hurdles after this, with either a 'true' round display or a masked square one, but those don't worry me as much. Programming assets are abundant here, even if custom video drivers are needed, so it's a hardware question first and foremost.

(I'm aware of this, but it's two inches across and not a real product anyway.)

So in case I'm not thinking of something obvious... any clever ideas? LCD, LED, Plasma, whatever... something.

ancient chinese

colusa — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:42:50 -0800

This is an ancient chinese inscription on an antique vase... thousands of years old. Can anyone translate it or let us know what kind of dragon this is or if it realates to any story... anything would help. Thanks your help is greatly appreciated Hello,
I recently aquired a vase, which is of asian decent, which I have done intense research on and cannot find what the Japanese writing on the vase says. I would greatly appreciate input from anyone with any info on this item or opinions.

Thank You!!!!

To start, it appears to be bronze.the vase is a standard oriental vase shape that sits on a tripod base with legs that curl under. The texture on the tripod base appears to resemble the leatherlike rough skin of maybe a dragon. It covers the area of the base stopping on the third tripod leg,witch then becomes a smooth texture, maybe resembling the tail of the dragon.

Starting at the base, which sits 1 1/2" up, tenticles begin to protrude from the surface. Between the first and second tripod leg, there are two claw like tenticle shapes protruding. The first one containing 5 fingers to the claw, sitting atop four more tenticles. The second set of tenticles contains 6 curved swirly claws coming from it. Between the 2nd and third tripod legthere are two more protrusions ( sitting closer to th 2nd leg.) the first protrusion contains 6 small twirled tenticles, while the second contains 9. between the 3rd and 1st tripod legs, there is a claw with four fingers, one finger is curved under and there are 3 curved claw nails.

Now the vase begins to become intriquite and very detailed.
The 1st tripod leg is the smooth textured leg resembling a tail. above that, the tenticle that protrudes form the surface, comes out about 2 inches and works itself into the shape of a dragon. The dragon appears to have a scales texture and as it reaches higher up onto the vase, begins to develop claws with distinguished sharp nails. the first foot has 2 claws (sharp nails) the texture and protrusions then for a mass array of details and dragon like objects, that covers half of the vase.
In the objects appears to be one dragon foot with 3 claws and one dragon's foot with 2 claws. The dragon appears to be on a rocklike strructure with its head covered in spikes peering out.its scaled tail also protrudes from the vase with arow of about 15 spikes on it.
The prtrusion concludes on the right side with a big swirl, while on the left it is a rock like texture.
This protrusion sitas on the vase's side. The rest of the vase is a dimpled texture with a thick glaze like texture dripping down the vase.( appears to look like lava dripping down a volcano.

it looks like this:
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/collectableusa/100_1353.jpg

Under that is this marking:
http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/collectableusa/100E1305-1.jpg

Setting up a multi-city art exhibition

lhall — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:50:35 -0800

Quickfire art exhibition in multiple cities - how do I even begin? I am playing a game which has introduced a fictional pandemic, and I want to ask players to create artwork, photos, sculptures, etc. dealing with the disease... but I want to take it a step further and actually set up an offline, real-world exhibition of the stuff they produce. Problem is, I have no experience in that sphere beyond attending a couple of exhibitions at galleries. So how should I go about making this a reality?

I have no budget so I know I'll have to rely on the kindness of gallery space owners. Are there any resources or messageboards where I could post to see if anyone's interested? (Specifically I'd like to display things in San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas or Austin, and NYC, because I have friends there who can help me coordinate stuff...but any cities are fine.)

What's a reasonable timeline from request -> artwork sending/arriving -> show? (I have about six weeks but I would like to do this in about a month, if that isn't totally crazy. I am considering having different art in each city, with the showing on the same night, to keep things within the timeframe.)

What steps am I woefully ignorant of/totally leaving out?

Thanks in advance for tips and advice!

The value of an Arts Institutes diploma.

Snyder — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:42:04 -0800

What do people know about the Art Institutes? Specifically, people who have attended and left or attended and graduated, as well as employers and their opinions of Art Institutes degrees, people who have worked there, or anyone who has any knowledge about such things.

Also, what value is a BA in Fashion Marketing from AI?

Thanks.

beginner in a life drawing class?

Not Supplied — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:27:35 -0800

Would it be viewed as strange to go to a life drawing class if I can't draw very well? I've recently been getting into drawing, and noticed a local free 'life drawing' class. I told them I would come, thinking that it was the same thing as 'still life'

On reflection, and checking 'life drawing' will probably involve a nude model.

Normally, I wouldn't be overly embarrassed by this sort of thing. However, I am still a real beginner at drawing. I feel like people there might think that it's a bit suspect that I came, and it could turn into a socially anxious loop in my head that would make me awkward, and thus make me seem more suspect etc.

Backing out wouldn't be a problem, but I would actually like to practise doing anatomical drawings for various reasons, and would quite like to go.

If you've done this kind of drawing, what is your feeling about the situation? Would it seem odd if someone turned up and produced some beginner sketches?

Help me find this audio experiment.

TheCoug — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:17:04 -0800

I read about and heard an experiment about acoustic resonance. A guy made a tape in a room of his voice, then made many generations of recordings of the original recording. At the end all that was left on tape were the fundamental frequencies of the room. I can't find it anywhere. Ring any bells?

Zombie "L'Origine du monde?"

klangklangston — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:15:07 -0800

Beardo Halloween: I would kinda like to go as Gustave Courbet, but fear a) trying to come up with a good costume that reads as Courbet, and b) having to explain who Gustave Courbet is over and over. I do look like him, but what else might there be? So, other cheeky ideas of how to be Gustave Courbet (or Zombie Gustave Courbet), or other chubby beardo Halloween costumes that will work better.

And yes, I've already gone as Rasputin. Even in full evil cassock, I had to explain who he was about a thousand goddamn times.

Art shopping in Austin

woodway — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:31:25 -0800

Where in Austin could I go this weekend to purchase a cool piece of art as a wedding present for my sister and her fiancé? I'd like to give them a small piece of art instead of something meh from a chain store. They have modern furniture but fairly conservative tastes: I'm thinking of purchasing a photograph, a line drawing, maybe a watercolor. Unframed is preferable. I'd go to the Torpedo Factory if I still lived in the DC area. Any suggestions of similar places I could go in Austin, with limited time and a limited budget (~$300)? Thanks!

MacCanvas? Material recommendation for use on a white macbook?

SECONDHANDSMOTE — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:30:34 -0800

What materials would you recommend for customizing a white macbook? I've been living with a stock macbook design, i.e. none, and I want to shake things up with some illustration or design on the white case top. What materials (inks, paints, ???) has anyone had success with applying to the case?

Where did artist Elizabeth Peyton go to high school?

abirae — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:57:26 -0800

Where did Elizabeth Peyton go to high school? This week's New Yorker had an excellent profile on the artist Elizabeth Peyton. They mention that she was her high school senior class president, but they didn't mention where she went to high school. I'm curious... and my google fu didn't bring up much. Does the hive mind know the answer?

who came up with words like physicality?

sponge — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:17:13 -0800

whats the origin of words ending in -ality that are used specifically in the discussion of art? such as theatricality, aurality, physicality, etc. where/with whom did this trend begin? i just think they are very curious.

What is the name for this style of art?

relucent — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:33:37 -0800

Is there a name for this style of digital art? Characteristics: vector-based; floral; one-color silhouettes on colorful backgrounds

Seems like it was a lot more popular around 2005-2006. Searching for "floral" brings up a lot of them, so that may be the best descriptor, but is there an official name for it?

Bonus points if you know of any designers or clothing companies that design primarily in this style, and do it well.

Know an artist named Arthur Seller?

horsemuth — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:50:09 -0800

Does anyone know anything about an artist named Arthur Seller? I saw a print (titled "The Boat" or "The Sailboat") while working at an insurance company in Hartford years ago that I liked very much, and all subsequent searches have not yielded much. An example of his work can be found on this site (second item down) and I currently see a print on ebay, though I don't believe that it is a print done by the artist. Does anyone have any biographical info or know of this artist?

Where to buy cool posters?

jhscott — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:53:14 -0800

What are the threadless-ish equivalent websites for posters, art objects, etc? I have an office and a new apartment to put my own stamp on. I'm looking mainly for posters and perhaps a few other things to make these places less antiseptic. I've already hit up thinkgeek, but movie/music posters aren't quite my style. I do generally like the threadless aesthetic (their prints are too expensive though!) -- also, stuff with a science(-fiction)/technology bent would be cool.

Any thoughts on where to find stuff?

What is good long-term storage for pencil-and-ink illustration work?

cadge — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:11:20 -0800

I've been drawing a lot lately (pencil and ink on Bristol board, 13x18" max). What are good solutions for storing all of this art for the long term? I'm concerned about archival quality and protection from fire/water damage. I'm working on establishing myself as an illustrator, and it bugs me that I don't have any proper storage system for all of the art I'm creating.

The artwork is all pencil and ink on Bristol board. The size ranges from 8.5x11" to about 13x18". These are pages of comics, so I often end up with 10 or more new pages per project.

What kind of storage options are out there for keeping this stuff well into the future? I'm concerned mainly about some kind of container that won't affect the art (archival quality). I'm also concerned about preventing fire and water damage, but the archival issues are higher. I'm looking for some kind of containers that I can keep in my office.

identify this art style

swbarrett — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:25:17 -0800

What is this style of art called? a freind and i are trying to identify this style of painting: JC KUGLER

i would also appriciate some other examples from similar artists

The ideas are all around, floating away...

reenum — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:43:13 -0800

I feel the need to be creative, but can't figure out what sort of outlet is the best to get my ideas out. How do I figure out what sort of creativity I have? All my life, I've had lots of ideas, but I've never found an appropriate way to bring them to life.

I tried to write and got a novel done in NaNoWriMo last year, but I can never get the motivation to actually write a story. I've tried poetry, but it all comes out as maudlin and ridiculous. I established early on in my life that I can't draw. I feel like I have a lot of ideas, but nowhere to go with them.

My question is: How can I figure out what type of creativity most suits me? Any websites, books, or personal anecdotes would be much appreciated.

Whither the Stenbergs?

mykescipark — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:33:40 -0800

Where can one get prints/reproductions of Russian Constructivist film posters in Los Angeles?

What does it say on the back of my painting?

iconomy — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:56:58 -0800

Could you tell me what's written on the back of my painting? The canvas is stretched and stapled onto wood, and there are some characters on it which I can't read. It's partially pen and partially marker. pen marker whole back

Tracking down a style of painting.

kristin — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 10:01:22 -0800

Animal head, human body: what is this style of painting called? Often done in oils, had a huge surge of popularity a long time ago, these paintings are very realistic looking human scenes (people in court robes, playing croquet, etc), but instead of having human heads, they have animal heads. I know this style of art has a name - I am looking for it, or barring that, names of artists that painted in this style.

A very modern example can be found here - this is a photoshop job, but the look is sort of the same. What is this style of portrait called?

iTunes cover art for 45s?

entropicamericana — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:40:11 -0800

A while back, I came across a site that would generate artwork suitable for use in iTunes for those odd old singles you have on MP3. The artwork resembled an old 45 RPM record and I think could be customized with the track and artist name. Ring any bells? I can't find it in my bookmarks.

What's the kitsch?

plexi — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:38:23 -0800

Is Jeff Koons a fraud? I am simply unable to take Koons, a former commodities trader, as anything more than a con. Am I not getting something?

Cool things to hang in my cubicle?

shotgunbooty — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:31:08 -0800

What is the most awesome, smile inducing, envy inspiring thing I can hang on my cubicle wall? Looking for anything from awesome calendars to favorite comic strips to specific pictures I can rasterbate .

I don't want to limit any suggestions except they have to be safe for work.