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Thursday 17 April 2014

Bringing Mathematics Into Art Schools

By Michael Robert Peterson


It goes without saying that, as far as schools that include art are concerned, there is something of a shift in the way that the creative process is done. Technology seems to be taking more of a role, as methods like CGI have become more rampant. However, there are instances where the less conventional methods are utilized and the drawings of Rafael Araujo have proven this. However, the fact that mathematics have been integrated into his works only make them that much more interesting to behold.

According to an article on CNN.com, Rafael Araujo has created work that managed to bring both drawing and mathematical tools in a surprisingly graceful hybrid. Instead of a computer being utilized in order to create his illustration, he would use tools like a ruler and protractor. While this method may not exactly be archaic, it is certainly a method that deviates from the norm. What surprised me, after reading this article, was just how advanced the final projects from the efforts that Araujo put forth were.

The article made mention of the way that Araujo created a picture depicting butterflies going along a certain path, which was made with geometry put into place. It goes without saying that there is a level of challenge to see here, especially when geometry is not exact common in art schools, at least not when compared to other methods. Not only did Araujo create his projects with precision intact but he said that his experience was gained early on, stating that he, ""began drawing perspective almost out of the blue."

I am not the kind of person who remembers much from math class, so it's tough for me to determine how accurate Araujo's methods are. However, the work that he has created is hard to overstate, especially when even drawing the perfect circle without a protractor is a process that very few can grasp. The fact that he was able to utilize mathematics in order to make his art even better is tremendous, to say the least. No matter how taxing his efforts might be, I have to believe that they paid off for Araujo.

In addition, keep in mind the presence of color, which is another aspect of art entirely. Yes, the base image may be created but it the idea of incorporating certain hues is an entirely different monster. While one challenge may be conquered in the realm of art, one can be certain that another one will be residing in the distance. Rafael Araujo has the potential to overcome all of them, if the work that he produced with help from analytical practices is any indication.




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