Short but Sweet: The Golden Ratio

The Golden Ratio isn't hard to find, it is natures favorite pattern, found in the human face, a flower, a hurricane, insects, the branches of a tree, DNA molecules, galaxies far, far away... just about any painting or sculpture by Renaissance artists. 

Come back next week for a Short but Sweet on the East Village Art scene of the 70's and 80's.

Short but Sweet: Graphite Pencils

Who would have thought a simple pencil would have such a fascinating history? Carrie tells us all about the first pencils and where they came from.

Graphite in its natural form

The softer the graphite the darker the stroke. 

Graphite pencils used to be flat not round like we use today.

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Short But Sweet: Fresco

Johanna explains wet and dry fresco and the differences between them.

Giotto, Lamentation, 1305-06
Example of Dry or Fresco Secco

 Note that fresco secco is much brighter than buon fresco. Also you will notice the patchy aspect of the blue sky in Giotto's, Lamentation. This patchiness happens because the paint dries faster than it can be applied. Also, the color is fading and/or chipping off. This is a negative aspect of fresco secco. Neither of these problems happen in buon fresco because of the wet lime plaster.

Michelangelo, Portion of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling, 1508-12
Example of wet or Buon Fresco

Tune in next week for another Arts and Facts Short but Sweet! Have a great week everyone!

Short But Sweet: Japanese Prints

Japanese woodblock prints greatly influenced the Impressionist and Post-Impressionists and are still a great influence for artists today.

Utamaro Kitagawa

Utamaro Kitagawa

Hokausi Katsushika, The Great Wave, c. 1829-32

Hiroshige

Hiroshige

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Short But Sweet: Vanitas

Megan Flox-Lambert discusses Vanitas, some of it's symbolism and what it is meant to convey.

Jacopo Ligozzi, Vanitas, ca.1550-1627

Rachel Ruysch, Vanitas

St Francis of Assisi, Artist unknown

Georges de La Tour,The Magdalen with the Smoking Flame, c. 1638–1640

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Short But Sweet: Wedgwood

A bought of smallpox changed Josiah Wedgwood's life. He would have been a potter, but instead he became a business man who grew his family business into a global brand that we recognize today.

Josiah Wedgwood

Portland Vase, Roman Cameo Glass Vase, ca. 5-25 AD

Wedgwood's famous blue and white Jasperware

Wedgwood Jasperware pitcher

Wedgwoods' Abolitionist pendant 

Charles Darwin, grandson of Josiah Wedgwood

 Tune in next week for another Short But Sweet! We hope everyone is having a great summer!

Short But Sweet: Contrapposto

Chloe explains contrapposto.

Tune in next week for another Short But Sweet!