Hello you,

I’ve been meaning to make a diary entry for- how many months already?
Too long enough is the answer! Although, it’s really not something to dwell much upon as I can finally write my first entry! Thankfully. If it’s your first time visiting my page, let me fill you in on some background. You probably read the little text on the index page and now are aware of me upgrading my website. I didn’t really like the old version of this website, it looked too bland and not as colorful as the one you see now. My artstyle had changed and evolutionized a bit so if I continued on working on the last version, the art may seem inconsistent. Which is something I’m working really hard against and led to my decision to upgrade to the now version! Considering that I’m an intermediate or advanced artist, whatever you see fit best, do expect my website to have more upgrades as I advance my art skills.

On the topic of art, allow me to welcome you to my diary! Hello you and welcome! This whole diary will be dedicated to my life experiences, hobbies, art history talk, things I learned in my pursuit of a diploma and degree, and overall all things I like. You are welcome to bring topics that I covered in these entries that may interest you- outside of the diary as I wouldn’t mind engaging in some pleasant conversation. I am always open to new perspectives and opinions!

Now, getting into the meat and potatoes of this entry, paleolithic and neolithic art. Two eras of art where we see the early stages of humanity, many cultural or religious traditions undocumented in words but forever ingrained onto earth through the purest forms of creativity. Last monday was my first day of my art history course, to be honest I was very anxious as I was excited. I could feel the expanse of shoulders sink into an invisible hole forming at the middle of my collar bone as I opened up my first assignment. I feel very vulnerable when it comes to art but as I read the lecture and the sources given to me to answer the questions accompanied. I realize that I wouldn’t be suffering in this class but further strengthening my bond with art. As my professor explained on the first day of class, this class is supposed to help intune oneself with art on a spiritual plane. A little cheesy, I admit, but reading further into the sources, going on my own study to review some theories on the pieces of art that I’ll be talking about today, and seeing what my classmates have to say on animism, I do feel like I became a little bit enlightened. While we did discuss the art and its history of this era, last week's lesson was really on the philosophy of “Animism.

So before I delve into the art, “Animism” is a worldview where one believes that we, humans, aren’t the only one with a soul or a spirit, that trees, animals, and inanimate objects all have what we have.(for those interested in knowing more, see this article, https://iep.utm.edu/animism/) Our ancestors in the paleolithic and neolithic period practiced “Animism”, as evidenced in the first piece of art I’ll be sharing my knowledge on tonight, Hall of Bulls, Lascaux. A dark narrow cave filled with paintings of four legged mammals such as horses, bison, elk, and a few other ones but very obviously BULLS, wildly running in pacts or by their lonesome. The depictions of these mammals were made from crushed natural pigments. Some were colored while others were shaded by the same color of their outline. Most impressively, all mammals are presented in a twisted perspective. But what is a twisted perspective? Also known as composite view, it is when an artist depicts parts of their subject's body from different perspectives but the rest is in a frontal perspective. As said by Smarthistory for this instance, “their bodies are depicted in profile while we see the horns from a more frontal viewpoint.” It is mostly used in more informative situations and if we’re going into speculation on why these paintings were made in the first place. There is a theory that this cave was to be used as a visual aid for young hunters learning about animal migration patterns or behavior. However, the most recognized theory is that it was made for more spiritual purposes. Proposed by Henri Breuil, father Breuil believed that these caves were made as a ritual to become very prosperous in their hunts. And looking at it again, I can see where he comes from but I am inclined to agree more with the prior theory or the shaman theory. I won’t explain the shaman theory for this cave since I only know surface level information and wish not to offend, but I do encourage learning about it if it tickles your brain.

The next art I’m excited about talking about is Çatalhöyük. We are entering the neolithic era, we are no longer nomads but have settled our families into cute little- hatches? Wait, where are the doors? And why are the kitchens on the roofs? Çatalhöyük is a town without any neighborhoods and roads, think of it like an ant colony. The houses are made from mud and marl and placed tightly together, to get inside one must climb down a ladder from their roof. The roof was where the oven was and used as a communal space. Everywhere in this tightly knit town was art, on the walls were murals and jazzy designs, little wishing wards plastered into spaces of the home, and mammal remains like bull horns being used as decorations. It is extraordinary to see how well everything is preserved but what is more extraordinary is what’s underneath everything. Burials of deceased loved ones or past home owners are in the foundation of the home, clad in the remaking of their face or without their head. We consider this a macabre practice now but to them this was very normal and the reason behind is most likely due to spiritual connections and beliefs. Maybe they didn’t want to lose their link with their ancestors or saw them as house protectors. Whatever was the reason, the people who resided in Çatalhöyük weren't the only ones to do this, the people on the site of Jericho did this and believe it or not, so did the ones who made Stonehenge!

(sorry I was gonna explain the other two linked below but it's 1 am right now. I lost track of time and I need to sleep for my quiz tomorrow. I'll write the rest of this tomorrow!! sweet dreams yall.(oh I'm so excited, idk but if yall have some favorite pieces of art or wanna tell me some cool facts from these eras, please do, like I love this sm. I'm having so much fun))

The sources from the lesson minus the prof lectures.
https://smarthistory.org/stonehenge/
https://smarthistory.org/venus-of-willendorf/
https://smarthistory.org/hall-of-bulls-lascaux/
https://smarthistory.org/catalhoyuk/