Art has a fascinating ability to influence, develop and transform individuals. Artistic tactics used in various works of art, including paintings, film, sculptures and drawings have the potential to connect ideas and traditions to individuals around the world. A study of art culture and history, art criticism, studio aesthetics, all uniquely contribute to cognitive development by providing individuals with opportunities for multiple ways of learning, and means for self-expression. A particular piece that effectively portrays complex ideas by the use of creative methods is Morning Light, which is the last component of a seven piece series (The Killing Cycle). Alfred Leslie, the artist of this oil on canvas, 72 x 192 inch work of art, is a renowned artist of the Abstract Expressionist Era. This era was especially prevalent during the mid 20th-century that keenly focused on emotional expression.
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Alfred Leslie strategically uses size, color, scenery, and text in his piece Morning Light to effectively convey how the moralistic choices each individual makes determines the road of life they travel on, and consequently these choices progressively form moral landscapes. The most obvious artistic element observed when looking at Morning Light is the enormous size of the canvas. Creating a piece that is over six feet tall is not an accident; Leslie intentionally did so as a mechanism to highlight the drastic affects our moralistic choices have on our lives. The largeness of the painting represents the reality that each choice we make, whether it is what to eat for breakfast or whether or not to attend college, is equally significant because they make our lives what it is. In addition, the size plays another role in the emotional response of the viewer. When initially looking at the painting, an immediate sense of being overwhelmed engulfs the viewer. There are various colors, complex symbolism, and text included in Morning Light. All of these components are extremely important in the analysis of the piece, but it is a lot for the observer to comprehend at a first glance. In contrast, if Leslie chose to paint Morning Light on a smaller canvas, less than six feet, the significance of the size would not be as great. The value put on the choices made by people would not be depicted as important as it is when displayed on a large canvas. After digesting the art’s intricacy for a while, it becomes discovered that the artist is comparing the enormous size, and the emotions that come hand-in-hand with it, to the similar obstacles of life. Often times, individuals encounter situations that are complex, messy, or perhaps overwhelming. At first, one may be flustered by the events occurring, the different people and issues involved, but once a person reflects and contemplates the problems and solutions, the stress can be diminished. Reflection allows individuals to evaluate what has happened, and how to make future choices that better represent their morals. This is apparent in the painting as after reflecting on the seemingly overwhelming piece, the purpose and the artistic tactics used become clear. The size of artwork coincides with the colors applied. The colors found in Morning Light are diverse ranging from light, pastel colors to bold, dark colors. While taking a quick glance, the main color emphasized is a heavy, dark grey. The dark colors are spread across the entire six-foot canvas. The purpose of this strategic method is to accentuate the dominance of unfortunate, negative, or evil situations that occur in individuals’ lives, and how they can be more emotionally consuming than positive events. Simply the element of the unknown can cause the emotions of fear and mystery, which is another lesson the painting depicts. The vastness of the darkness symbolizes that negativity and fear are heavily consuming, but it is up to each individual to determine how consumed they will allow themselves to be. The colors that are subtly observed are light and pastel-like. The use of the light colors symbolizes the beacon of hope most everyone searches for. The light in the painting is more difficult to locate than the
Alfred Leslie strategically uses size, color, scenery, and text in his piece Morning Light to effectively convey how the moralistic choices each individual makes determines the road of life they travel on, and consequently these choices progressively form moral landscapes. The most obvious artistic element observed when looking at Morning Light is the enormous size of the canvas. Creating a piece that is over six feet tall is not an accident; Leslie intentionally did so as a mechanism to highlight the drastic affects our moralistic choices have on our lives. The largeness of the painting represents the reality that each choice we make, whether it is what to eat for breakfast or whether or not to attend college, is equally significant because they make our lives what it is. In addition, the size plays another role in the emotional response of the viewer. When initially looking at the painting, an immediate sense of being overwhelmed engulfs the viewer. There are various colors, complex symbolism, and text included in Morning Light. All of these components are extremely important in the analysis of the piece, but it is a lot for the observer to comprehend at a first glance. In contrast, if Leslie chose to paint Morning Light on a smaller canvas, less than six feet, the significance of the size would not be as great. The value put on the choices made by people would not be depicted as important as it is when displayed on a large canvas. After digesting the art’s intricacy for a while, it becomes discovered that the artist is comparing the enormous size, and the emotions that come hand-in-hand with it, to the similar obstacles of life. Often times, individuals encounter situations that are complex, messy, or perhaps overwhelming. At first, one may be flustered by the events occurring, the different people and issues involved, but once a person reflects and contemplates the problems and solutions, the stress can be diminished. Reflection allows individuals to evaluate what has happened, and how to make future choices that better represent their morals. This is apparent in the painting as after reflecting on the seemingly overwhelming piece, the purpose and the artistic tactics used become clear. The size of artwork coincides with the colors applied. The colors found in Morning Light are diverse ranging from light, pastel colors to bold, dark colors. While taking a quick glance, the main color emphasized is a heavy, dark grey. The dark colors are spread across the entire six-foot canvas. The purpose of this strategic method is to accentuate the dominance of unfortunate, negative, or evil situations that occur in individuals’ lives, and how they can be more emotionally consuming than positive events. Simply the element of the unknown can cause the emotions of fear and mystery, which is another lesson the painting depicts. The vastness of the darkness symbolizes that negativity and fear are heavily consuming, but it is up to each individual to determine how consumed they will allow themselves to be. The colors that are subtly observed are light and pastel-like. The use of the light colors symbolizes the beacon of hope most everyone searches for. The light in the painting is more difficult to locate than the