STEC SHS STUDY NOTE

BOOK
NAME: Ardiente, Kervin John D.

DATE: 11 / 26 / 20

YEAR/SECTION: 12 ABM- Pounds

TIME: 1:00 – 3:00

TOPIC: Writing the Reaction Paper/ Review and Critique

APPLICATION: QUARTER I MODULE 7

Surfer girl walks along a tropical beach during a brilliant red, pink, and orange sunset. This
painting reflects our primal need for beauty, warmth and nature.
Directions: With the use of four (4) techniques in writing, take a look at this painting and write a
balanced/objective critique or review. Write your output in your notebook.
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An Art Review on the Tropical Sunset Surfer Painting by Amy Scholten:
Appreciation for Beauty and Aesthetic in Nature
According to Pablo Picasso, he said that “Some painters transform the sun into a yellow

spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun.”. It is reflected back Amy Scholten’s artwork,

it showcases her incredible talent and creativity to make an aesthetic scenery masterpiece from

paint and brushes that reflects on our great admiration and unconditional need for beauty,

warmth and nature.

The artist of the magnificent painting is an alumnus of Fine Arts America, Amy Scholten.

Moreover, the painting was entitled Tropical Sunset Surfer Painting and the primary subject of

the painting is the silhouette imagery of a female surfer in the incredible detailed sunset scenery.

The overall theme in the artwork is the appreciation for beauty and aesthetic in nature. Worth

mentioning, the usage elements of art are clearly evident in the artwork. Lines are obviously

noticeable like lines that resembles the horizon for the separation of ocean and sky and lines for

the coconut trees. Along with it the textures that are noticeable, the leaves of the coconut trees

have the actual leaves texture and sky feels like the real cloud and fluffy texture. Moreover, the

vibrant colors are evidently present to give life to the painting together with it is value especially

with the lightness and darkness in the oceans and sunset.

On the other hand, the colors, lines and textures compliments each other in order to

effectively create the mood and disposition of the entire painting. Moreover, the elements that

stand out are the color and texture, solely because it gave life to the painting. Worth mentioning,

there are the principles of art, harmony in the painting because the excellent placement of the
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parts, even though it has a lot of details but it is still pleasing and cohesive as a whole. Also,

variety in the painting is evident like usage of various lines, shapes, and assorted color range in

the artwork. Moreover, emphasis and subordination is also obviously noticeable, where the

entire emphasis of the painting is the silhouette surfer and the subordination is the ocean and

sky background. Through this, it will allow the viewers to focus more on the emphasized part in

the painting.

It seems to me that the artist mirrors her artwork to our unconditional need for beauty,

warmth and nature. It is embedded in our nature as human that we easily get strong connection

with the aesthetic in our surroundings. It is supported by John Harrington’s studies. It is stated

that the human nature as a huge tendency to desire to see the beauty in our mother nature has

to offer (Harrington, 2018). Moreover, according to Earl Bakken’s thesis, that Research reveals

that beauty in nature can reduce our stress, which in turn impacts our bodies. It satisfy our need

for beauty and nature experiencing, seeing, hearing, etc (Bakken, 2015). Alongside with it, I firmly

believe that it also reflected on our sincere appreciation and admiration for beauty and aesthetic

in nature. It also serves as a motivation to take good care of our mother nature, in order to

preserve it for the next generations to come.

I undeniably love this artwork from Amy Scholten, both artistic and message-wise. First,

the artistic aspect, I love how harmonious and aesthetically pleasing the artwork as a whole, even

though she used a lot of various elements. More specially the texture and vibrant color pallet

that are present in the artwork, it really stands out to me personally because it gave life and sets

the entire mood of the artwork. Furthermore, the message-wise is clearly evident in the artwork,
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I as the viewer have the complete grasp of the message. Lastly, the criteria that influenced

my judgement in painting is the authenticity and originality of the artwork.

References
Bakken, E. (2015, July 23). Researchgate. Retrieved from UN:
https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing
Harrington, J. (2018, December 3). Researchgate. Retrieved from UNnation:
http://www.fromthelabbench.com/from-the-lab-bench-science-blog/do-you-see-
beauty-in-nature-you-may-be-more-satisfied-with-life