My Explorations in Art

Under the Mango Tree Best known for his paintings of the Filipino countryside, Fernando Amorsolo, or "The Grand Old Man of Philippine Art," is one of the most important artists in Philippine history (GMA, 2024). What I enjoy most about his painting, “Under the Mango Tree,” is how it visually shows two values that define Filipino culture: family and diligence. The painting depicts a family resting under the shade, and behind the mango tree is a field with workers. His portrayal of the Filipino farmers emphasizes their connection with the land more than the hardships they face in reality (Pranjal, 2024). This painting reminds me of the hot summer days at my grandma’s bukid. I recall the muddy area where the crops would sit, and the narrow bamboo board that I would fall off of when I would try to walk on it. When I stare at this painting, I can almost feel the warmth of the sun on my skin and the breeze that would flow in my direction. This piece makes me feel at home, almost li...

Activism Through Art Activism has been represented through several forms of media; it can be done through protests, performances, and music genres, but what I find to be the most profound form of activism is through art. The reason why I think this way is because of how memorable an image is to me. I believe that when a piece of artwork conveys a certain message, it transcends through history. Art tells us about the political, economic, and social state of the world. When this occurs, art becomes a memory within an image, it’s personal, and it speaks to you. The artists that I will be discussing are individuals who have not only inspired my creativity, but also educated me on issues that needed to be addressed. Norman Rockwell Rockwell, N. (1943) ‘ Rosie the Riveter ’ (Left). Stockbridge, MA: Norman Rockwell Museum Rockwell, N. (1965) ‘ Murder in Mississippi ’ (Right). Stockbridge, MA: Norman Rockwell Museum I’ve always considered Norman Rockwell's artwork to be one of the best ar...

War through the Eyes of an Artist I decided to pick something different for my blog. If you've followed a few of my posts, you might have noticed that I tend to lean more toward painterly styles. To be honest, I tend to feel uncomfortable with analyzing “rougher” mediums such as watercolor, charcoal, and graphite since I believe the texture that you can achieve with them allows more intense emotion. The pieces I've collected for this post were done by combat artists who were assigned to cover the horrors of war (Wade, 2014). Some scenes depict tragedy, while some depict peaceful moments between comrades. Nonetheless, these pieces capture moments in history directly through the eyes of those who have experienced them. Harvey, D. (1918) ' The Harvest Moon '. Marne, France: Dunn The mixed media painting by Captain Harvey Dunn depicts dead German soldiers across a field as the moon shines over the harvest. Behind the field is a town, destroyed and left burning (Wade, 2014)....