Similar in one way to the "Baby Tapes" series reviewed above, the "Becoming an Artist" series is also on a subject well-represented and, in many instances, more professionally done in the home video market. In "Learning the Basic Skills," Lori Keeldillen, a former student of Sante Fe, NM artist M.A. Nibbelink, demonstrates both her mentor's ideas and her complete unfamiliarity with being in front of a camera. Her motions have an exaggerated quality, heightened by the fact that the narration is voiceover. (one keeps waiting for the narrator to say: "and behind door number 1 we have..."). The program covers four basic areas: drawing, composition, value, and color. While the instruction in these areas is pretty straightforward--voiceover narration accompanied by an overhead view of Keeldillen demonstrating concepts on paper--the program occasionally veers off into strange claims. Most of us are familiar with primary and secondary colors, and how complementary colors are matched on a color wheel, but did you know that "green" is a "sad" color? I didn't. I don't think Cezanne was aware of it either. There is a second program in the series also available for $159. There are better, less expensive options out there. Not recommended. (See JAZZ: WHAT IT IS! for availability.)
Becoming An Artist Series, Part 1: Learning The Basic Skills
(1988) 30 m. $159. Chip Taylor Communications. Public performance rights included. Vol. 5, Issue 8
Becoming An Artist Series, Part 1: Learning The Basic Skills
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
