"Bellelli Family" 1859 by Degas

This painting is called "Bellelli Family" and was done by Degas in 1859. Degas way of painting this family portrait is unorthodox compared to most family portraits painted back then. Unlike other paintings, most of the family is not looking towards the spectator. The husband is sitting of a chair with his back towards us, He seems inferior compared to the Wife with her head held high and her up straight posture. The daughter next to her seems to be very obedient child and is favored by the mother. The girl in the center of the painting is sitting on a chair with one leg up and her hands on her waist looking else where seems to show that she is the rebellious child that doesn't listen.
This painting can relate to the 21st century today because in reality families aren't always perfect as you see in other paintings. Families are dis functional like this family. Every family has their problems. In my case I can relate to this painting as myself being the rebellious girl in the center. I don't always listen or act the way my mom would want like my older sister does. I think my sister would be the obedient favored one standing next to the mother. Families aren't perfect just like this painting shows.

November 4th Election

I spent all last night reading all the propositions and making sure i didn't mess up with the arrows. Today after school i went to turn in my voting ballot. It was really fast. A man there was going to turn in my ballot for me but I said I wanted to put it in the box myself. After that they gave me a sticker and that was it. Then I went to go get my free Starbucks. I feel proud of myself because it was my first time voting. I HOPE OBAMA WINS!!

"The Painters Studio" 1855 by Courbet

This picture is called "The Painters Studio" by Courbet. Courbet himself is actually the main focus in this picture. He is painting a landscape while a nude woman is watching him on his right side, and a small boy is watching him paint on his left side. The nude woman represents inspiration, the definition of the French academy. The little boy represents inocence, looking at the world and art with fresh new eyes. The people on the left side represent the people of Ornans, where he's from, and the people on the right side represent the people of paris where he's also from. Courbet is torn from trying to balance both sides of where he's from. He's also trying to balance of how he should paint, the way he's sees art, or the way the French Academy views art.

This painting can relate to the 21st century today. Everybody at least at one point of their life has felt insecure of who they really are. Mainly many teenagers as they're becoming adults struggle to try and figure out their own identity. Just like Courbet felt pressured by the French academy, many people can feel peer pressured by their friends or other people into doing things thinking in a certain way even though they don't agree with it. The important thing to do is to be yourself no matter what. Sure you can try out new things and be open to new ideas but in the end you'll know if thats right for you.

"Slave Ship" 1840's by JMW Turner

This painting is called the "Slave Ship" by JMW Turner. JMW Turner drew many landscapes. In this landscape the image isn't clear. But from the strokes and colors you can make out that there's an ocean and a sky. When you first look at the painting your eyes are directed to the sunset in the center of the picture that's reflecting the ocean. It looks so pretty. If you look closer you can see a ship a little to the left side. Once you really pay attention however, you realize that in the ocean there arms and legs sticking out from the bodies of slaves that were thrown of the ship to die.

In the 21st century today, many people are oblivious to what is actually going on around them. We focus on whats we see at first glance; work, school, eating out, partying, etc. We forget to look or don't care to think of the cruelty going on in the world. We've been in a war w Iraq for years now in everybody seems to be doing the usual; work and party. We don't really stop to think about soldiers being bombed and shot at, and the civilians who are hurt emotionally and physically even though they had nothing to do with it, especially the children.

"Pity the Sorrows of the Old Man" 1820 by Gericault

This lithograph is called "Pity the Sorrows of the Old Man" by Gericault. This lithograph show a homeless old man in the corner of a street. His clothes make it seem as if he use to be rich although they are torn up. He looks like he has given up on life. He's seems to be leaning against a bakery. On the right side there's people passing by walking down the street going on with their life as if everything were fine. The in front of him seems to be the only one who cares about the homesless old man.
This lithograph can relate to the 21st century today. Just like the man shown here, there are many homeless people living in the streets, especially San Francisco. Yet, instead of taking pity on the homeless person, people usually just pass right by the person as if they weren't there. People try not make eye contact with the homeless so they don't have to think about how much that person is suffering. It sad to think that dogs are more understanding and sweet to people than we are to eachother.

"Saturn Devouring one of his sons" 1820 by Goya

This creepy painting was done by Francisco Goya. Goya uses dark intense colors to  capture the inhumane cannibolism going on in this scene. This painting is depicting the story of a prophecy told to Saturn that his sons were going to kill him. So in fear of that coming true, Saturn decides to kill his sons first. In this scene Saturn is eating one of his sons in a savage like manner. His body is deformed which makes him look more like a monster. Yet despite his cruel unjustifiable behavior, in his eyes you can see fear. It's as if in that moment he realizes what he is doing is wrong which makes him seem like a human again.
I think everybody from the 21st century can relate to this painting. Though I'm pretty sure nobody has ate a human much less their child, everybody has done something that was completely wrong. People do bad things and don't care if its wrong. But sooner or later whether its during the deed or after, you realize that what you did was wrong, and your conscious can make you feel guilty. Another words this painting from the 1820's and the 21st century today can relate in the fact that everybody has a conscious no matter if they're good or bad which makes us human.

"Napoleon Crossing the Alps" 1800 by David

This photo is called " Napoleon Crossing the Alps" by Jacques-Louis David. Napolen Bonaparte is portrayed very powerful in this painting on a sturdy horse crossing the alps into Italy in 1800. Napoleon seem in control of everything even the direction of the wind. His horse even seems to be afraid of him. The way his posing, his arm is directing forward. It's like he's pointing to his goal and whatever he sets his mine to he accomplishes it/ conquers it. He's looks like a true leader.

Now in real life Napoleon crossed the Alps on a donkey. David however painted Napoleon on a horse. He used this as a propaganda to make the people see Napoleon as the ideal leader, as a powerful, brave, conquering hero. This painting can be related to the 21st century today. Right now Obama and McCain are running for President, and you see a lot of propaganda in commercials. Either the propaganda is promoting the candidate by saying good things about him/ her, or it's promoting the candidate by making the other candidate look bad. Propaganda has always been trick, and apparently an effective strategy.

"The Meeting" 1771 by Fragonard

This painting is called "The Meeting" by Jean Honore Fragonard 1771.
Fragonard uses vibrant colors to show the passion going on in the moment he's capturing. This painting shows a man and a woman meeting in secret. It's obviously a forbidden love. The woman is holding a letter which probably sent from her lover telling when and where to meet. She is hurrying to go meet him in a secret spot and both the woman and the man are looking anxiously to see if the woman was seen or followed. It seems like at any point something drastic is going to happen.

This painting from the eighteenth century can also relate to the 21st century today. Forbidden love still exist in our modern society. Obstacles that forbid two couples to be with
other: whether it's the parents who don't think the suitor is good enough for the child, or friends that advise and critisize to not date outside their social status, or a love triangle still happen in the 21st century just as it did in the 18th century. However, just like in this painting, no matter what the obstacles may be, u can't stop them from meeting each other even if it has to be in secret, hence the forbidden love.

Me.

This is my dad. He lives in LA so I don't get to see him that often. He tries to visit me and my sister whenever he can. When he does come to visit it's fun. It's even more fun when me my sister and my dad travel. We've been to LA, Hawaii, and quite a few times to Las Vegas. I love my dad a lot. You could say i'm a little bit of a daddy's girl.


This is me and my mom . We dont always agree with each other, actually we never really agree but i still love her n she's always been there for me and always gives me encouragement to succeed . When I tell her I want to major in television she supports me.


This is my sister Lillian, everyone calls her Lilly though. She just graduated from UC Berkeley. I always talk to her about..everything pretty much. We give each other advice. She's an alright sister, however she likes to act like a mom a lot which can get annoying. She helps me with school so it's o.k. My sister loves to travel just like me. She's been to more places than me already. I plan to catch up soon though!





I think art is anything you have a passion for. Ever since i was little I've always loved to draw. When i was in elementary school i would write different stories and draw pictures and staple the pages together to make it look like a book. When i got a little older, i didn't make books anymore but i still loved drawing. I would random pictures i saw. This drawing is from an old calender my mom had. I think i was pretty good at drawing and i'm getting better=]




I don't know much about cars but i like seeing different styles and designs on them. I love butterfly doors on cars. When i get a good job that makes good money i plan to get a nice tricked out car w butterfly doors and nice rims with tinted windows and a design on the car that just represents me.





I think makeup is an art . I usually just wear eyeliner and maybe one eye shadow. When i go out somewhere with friends they usually put make up on me. There's certain styles and steps you could say to do it. Putting on make up is like painting too. If you're good at it, it comes out perfect. I don't know how to do it as good as my friends do but i still like buying different colored eye shadows.






My goal in life is to graduate from a UC and get a job in television and travel alot! There's so many things i want to do in life i need to get started=].