Brownie Points - Surviving Picasso

Cheyenne Rhoney Art Appreciation-A41 (25FA) Brownie Points Surviving Picasso After watching *Surviving Picasso*I had mixed feelings about the film. It was really interesting to see the life of Pablo Picasso from a more personal point of view rather than just focusing on his artwork. I didn’t know much about his personal relationships before watching this, and it was surprising how complicated and intense they were. The movie shows Picasso as a very passionate and creative person, but also as someone who could be very selfish and controlling, especially with the women in his life. Anthony Hopkins did a great job portraying him in a way that felt very real and sometimes even uncomfortable. One thing I learned from the film is how much Picasso’s personal life influenced his art. The way he treated the people close to him seemed to directly affect his creative process. It reminded me of what we read in the textbook about how the creative process isn’t always neat or easy—it can be emotional and messy. Overall, I thought the movie was worth watching, even if it was a little slow at times. It gave me a better understanding of Picasso not just as an artist, but as a complex person with flaws. Jean-Michelle Basquiat: The Radiant Child After watching Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, I was really struck by how complex and talented Basquiat was, not only as an artist but as a person. The film gave me a much deeper understanding of his life and how quickly he rose to fame in the art world. I knew about Basquiat’s work before, but I didn’t realize how much of his identity, including his struggles with race, fame, and inner conflict, were deeply tied to his art. The documentary did a great job of showing how he navigated a world that didn’t always understand him, even while celebrating him. One thing that stood out to me was how isolated Basquiat seemed, despite all his success. Even though he was surrounded by other artists, celebrities, and gallery owners, there was a real sense of loneliness in his story. It made me think about how fame can be both a gift and a curse. I also learned a lot about how the art world works and how hard it can be for artists of color to get the same recognition and respect. Overall, I thought the film was powerful and eye-opening, and it made me appreciate Basquiat not just as a cultural icon, but as a human being with a unique and lasting voice. Vincent And Theo Watching Vincent and Theo gave me a more emotional and personal look at Vincent van Gogh than I expected. Instead of just focusing on his art or his mental illness, the movie really dives into the relationship between Vincent and his brother Theo, which I didn’t know much about before. It made me realize how important Theo was in Vincent’s life, not just financially, but emotionally. Their letters to each other showed how deeply connected they were, even though they both struggled in different ways. What I found most powerful was how the film showed the contrast between the two brothers. Vincent was unstable, passionate, and driven by something he couldn’t always control, while Theo was more grounded but still trapped by the pressures of the art world and society. It made me think about how genius and suffering are often linked, and how lonely the path of an artist can be. The movie was pretty slow in parts, but overall I thought it was intense and thought-provoking. It helped me see van Gogh not just as a tragic figure or famous painter, but as someone who was desperately trying to express himself in a world that didn’t really understand him. Cheyenne Rhoney Art Appreciation-A41 (25FA) Brownie Points Pollock Watching Pollock gave me a much clearer picture of who Jackson Pollock really was and not just the artist, but the man behind the work. I had always seen his paintings as kind of random or chaotic, but the film helped me understand the emotion and intensity behind his drip style. Ed Harris did an amazing job showing Pollock’s inner struggles, especially his battle with alcoholism and his unpredictable personality. It became clear that his art wasn’t just about technique, it was an outlet for everything he was dealing with internally. What stood out most to me was how Pollock’s personal life was so closely tied to his art. His wife, Lee Krasner, played a huge role in supporting him, both emotionally and professionally, even when things got really difficult. The film also highlighted how fame didn’t really fix anything for him; it actually seemed to make things worse. I walked away from the movie with a better appreciation for abstract expressionism and for how difficult it can be to live with creative genius. It wasn’t always an easy film to watch, but it felt very real and powerful Sky Ladder Watching Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang was honestly really eye-opening. I didn’t know anything about him before, but his use of gunpowder to create art was super unique and not something I’ve seen before. At first, it just looked like fireworks, but as the film went on, I realized how much thought and emotion he puts into each piece. He’s not just trying to impress people, his work is full of meaning, especially around his culture and personal life. The part that stuck with me most was when he finally completed the Sky Ladder for his grandmother. It was really touching, and you could tell how much it meant to him. I also learned how hard it can be for artists in China to express themselves freely, and how he finds a way to stay true to his vision anyway. Overall, the movie made me think about how art isn’t just about what it looks like but it’s about the message behind it. Girl With a Pearl Earring I didn’t think I’d like Girl with a Pearl Earring at first, but it was actually pretty cool. It’s super quiet and slow, but the way it was filmed made everything look really nice, like a painting. Griet doesn’t say much, but you can tell she sees things differently, and that’s why Vermeer notices her. It made me think about how artists look at the world in their own way. The whole thing between Griet and Vermeer was kinda intense, but not in a romantic movie way—it was more about the connection they had through art. You could tell there was something between them, even if they never said it out loud. Griet had a tough time, always trying to stay out of trouble but also just be herself. Overall, it was way more interesting than I thought, and it stuck with me after it ended. Cheyenne Rhoney Art Appreciation-A41 (25FA) Brownie Points The agony and the ecstacy The Agony and the Ecstasy was actually kind of intense but in a cool way. It’s about Michelangelo and how hard it was for him to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. I didn’t realize how much pain and struggle went into making something so famous. The movie showed how stubborn and passionate Michelangelo was, and how he kept pushing through even when everyone else was doubting him or bossing him around. What I thought was interesting was how the movie didn’t just focus on the art, but also on the drama between Michelangelo and the pope. They had this complicated relationship—sometimes they clashed, but they also respected each other a lot. It made me realize that making great art isn’t just about talent; it’s also about dealing with people and politics. Overall, the movie made me appreciate how much work and emotion go into masterpieces like the Sistine Chapel.