Rachelle Mae Ragasa

4ARTAPP 4231: AE-303

PRELIM EXAM OUTPUT

See, Think, Wonder: IMAGINE THE UNIVERSE

“Center of the Universe”

Captured in James Clarke’s work titled “Center of the Universe”, thus, concluding that

conceivably, the artist associated it with the idea of a spiral galaxy where stars and gas clouds are

mainly concentrated in a spiral direction. It is unfathomable art that a viewer would come to

consider at a first glance with the continuous circular illusion of pattern between shades and

figures being fully accentuated and depicted. The artist’s well-chosen hues of bright red copper

with minty teal are very visible in the painting that making an ombre effect by blending the two

colors. The painting is appealing considering its contrasting colors that created a pattern. Heart

and circle figures are drawn within the measures of the artwork, all of which differ in dimensions

are evident in the painting, they can be easily distinguished by anyone who catches a glimpse of

the artwork. Those are geometrical in shapes and are also used to control the viewer on how they
perceive a composition. The painting itself was achieved with the presence of lines, curved lines

that made a shape, and a huge impact on the totality of the painting that gave a sense of depth

and structure. The texture has a grain, soft and blurry effect which makes the artwork a bit flat

yet appealing to the eyes. The mood of the artwork was most noticeable as tranquility. It is a sort

of artwork that may make you feel relaxed and serene after viewing it.

The principle of art used is a mixture of radial symmetry and flowing rhythm. The shapes

spread evenly across the artwork. Spiral lines extend out from the central point in a calm and

flowing movement towards the four sides of the painting. Although the spiral is not perfect, you

can still feel the feeling of balance and motion. The element of art used in the painting is the line,

curved lines to be exact. The arrangement of the lines modifies the mood of the artwork

significantly. If it is a typical spiral, the mood will undoubtedly shift towards a more energetic

and quick movement rather than a smooth but intricate flow movement. The artist obtained the

calm effect by combining delicate, faded textures with intricate shape organization. The choice

of only two main colors contributed significantly to the overall mood of the artwork. The shapes

are drawn in an echo-like pattern as they progress from small to larger shapes, beginning with

the central point. Shapes, colors, placement, and the utilization of the lighting effect and light

values regarding the lights and shades are applied to accentuate the spiral lines as the artwork's

focal point. The universe and galaxies are exactly what the artist is aiming to express in his

artwork. Galaxies are vast, luminous spiral regions filled with stars, clouds, and stardust. Aside

from being ethereally breathtaking, galaxies are as intricate as they are fascinating. This is what

the artist wishes to convey, which is why, even though galaxies are widely considered to be

colorful and shining, he utilized a different tone in creating this artwork to show that galaxies

and the universe may be perplexing, dull-like, and calm. Artistically, the artist demonstrated a
new aspect and interpretation of the universe. Nonetheless, he maintained a similar color palette

and kept the spiral-motion pattern of the galaxy, but he changed it into something different and

unexpected. The overall quality of the work is impressive, and the message behind the artwork is

likely distinctive, making it one-of-a-kind. However, the artist may add additional depth and

complexity to the forms and incorporate darker tones and shadows to emphasize the movement

and flow of the spiral patterns. However, the artist's interpretation and presentation of the

artwork continue to fascinate me, and how he was able to set a different mood that is distinct

from the real meaning.

During my early years in college, I studied the Big History and the universe, and it never

ceases to amaze and astound me. When I saw and evaluated the artwork, it caught my attention

and made me wonder about the universe as a whole. Perhaps it is purposely designed to be vast

and intricate so that we, as simple humans, cannot grasp it. As a result, it piqued my interest and

fueled my desire to discover more about the universe. The fact that the artist didn’t leave any

explanations for his painting as to why he had claimed it to be the center of the universe, left me

with questions; Why did he use such colors and shapes in his artwork? Why did he give that title

to his painting? How does he relate the painting to the title itself? Coming to an end, the artwork

itself is an example of how an artist creates something wonderful that can make a lot of people’s

thoughts withdraw something from something else.