Make art from something you've never seen. | David Brooks | The Art Assignment

[@fabulermo3428]

To respond to what John said about seeing a picture of something vs. seeing it in real life, it's definitely not the same. No picture of a mountain that I've ever seen can capture the raw beauty and power it exudes.

[@mycharliequinn]

I don't think he said it was the same. I think he said it was a way to see art and to show art to your kids when you can't get to a museum.

[@fabulermo3428]

He didn't say it was the same, he said it raises an interesting question of whether or not seeing a picture of something is as good as the real thing. Or something. I'd have to rewatch the video, which I am no in no state for right now

[@cks1001]

but the picture can capture something that doesn't exist in real life! which can be equally fantastic.

[@kill100578]

As a chemistry student my mind leaps immediately to electrons, chemical mechanisms and even atoms and chemical bonds that i know exist but will never be able to physically see them, only seeing the effects of the reactions and the densities of the charges.

[@ljm792]

Such a cool interpretation

[@theartassignment]

Let's see your go at articulating them!

[@wolverinenerdfighter]

That's a really cool idea. As a biomedical engineering student, sometimes I get so used to seeing cartoons of biological pathways or molecules drawn as letters connected by lines I forget that that's not actually how stuff looks. It'll be a challenge to represent them in a different way.

[@danheidel]

That's interesting since I had a very similar idea immediately pop into my head as well. Several years ago in grad school I was walking across campus on a sunny day and was suddenly struck with a mental image so powerful that it was nearly a full-on hallucination. I suddenly pictured the energy and matter flows through everything in front of me. The sunlight streaming down, being absorbed into the trees, streams of gas and water flowing in and out of living creatures, the energy fluxes of thermal energy moving like slow rivers... All the physical objects largely vanished to be replaced with glowing rivers of energy and the glass-like ghosts of all the trees and people were malestrom-like eddies of matter flowing in and out of them, twisting and mingling with the equally complex energy flows in them. I've never been able to quite see the world the same way again since. I would love to depict that image but have never been able to think of a way to do so. I've tried drawing it but that fails to capture the essence of it since so much is dependent on its dynamic and flowing nature.

[@danheidel]

wolverinenerdfighter I would highly recommend checking out David Goodsell's paintings. He's a molbio researcher that does really amazing watercolors of the molecular-level structure of cells. I guarantee it'll blow your mind. Most molecular biology illustrations are horribly innacurate. They show a couple of proteins magically floating in empty space, as if the interior of the cell were a big open void. Rather, remember that we're 60% water. That sounds like a lot at first but remember that means we're approximately 40% by volume protein solutions. That's insanely dense. The proteins are packed in tighter than commuters on a Tokyo subway. When you look at Goodsell's illustrations, you'll wonder how any biochemistry is even possible with everything packed in so densely. mgl.scripps.edu/people/goodsell/

[@doxysrox]

I find this assignment amazing because it makes me realize the inevitability of never seeing all the amazing things in the world. However, I also can't seem to pick anything without thinking, 'Well, you never know. It could happen.'

[@Dinmacil]

I love what Mr. Brooks said about how the human mind doesn't have a choice about making some concepts theoretical because they're too vast: "perhaps they don't even exist". It makes me think about how people can so easily be in denial about hugely negative things that happen in the world because they're far away or just too terrible to imagine. This may be the most thought-provoking assignment yet! My first thought on doing this assignment, though, involved KZbinrs - people I "see" 2-3 times a week, but will probably never actually meet (unless I get myself out to VidCon). Or a character in a novel that can only ever really exist in my own mind, brought to life by the words on the page and by my interpretation, which is shaped by my surroundings. I don't even know where to start with this one...I'm really looking forward to seeing others' submissions.

[@KateWells95]

Imagining things beyond one's own space... that's what I use reading for.

[@adamjenningsiam]

David has a very smiley face :) This is a great assignment.

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

These artists are all so cool. Thanks for sharing your ideas with us!

[@AmbroseReed]

I love that he's discussing Durer. :) And that disconnect/abstraction with things so big and outside of ourselves is so true.

[@thenerdshallinherittheeart8993]

Love you Hank! Love you John!!!

[@Pearl127]

Loving this channel SO much. The assignments get better every week.

[@MaryPepperOBrien]

I WAIT ALL WEEK FOR THESE VIDEOS. THANK YOU INFINITELY! :D

[@AwesomeCrackDealer]

He`s my favorite artist so far!

[@rachelwhitlock9418]

The first thing that popped into my head was snow, since it's summer here in Australia but winter is all I hear about/see on the tv and internet. I tend to feel disconnected from depictions of snow-covered places and snowy Christmases, like they're just parts of stories and tv shows and fairytales that don't really exist, at least for me. Or even just the saying "you special snowflake". It's said a lot but really, I have no idea what's so special about snowflakes. I've never seen one and probably never will.

[@Xenolilly]

This one has truly sparked my imagination.

[@InSovietRussia151]

I always wished I could draw, but never more than now. There's so much incredible stuff out there that I've never seen that I'd very much like to, and my very limited writing skills can never capture the eye of the consumer like a gorgeous painting or an intriguing sculpture.

[@c-cubecreates4404]

What a brilliant assignment!

[@frenchw1nter]

The theme for the Art Assignment is so perky and joyful! Lends a nice air to the show itself, I feel. :)

[@deactivated-78936]

I'm so excited! Been waiting all week for this!

[@ReasonMakes]

This is so great. I think I'm going to try and complete one of these assignments as soon as I have time

[@megmotherwort]

There have been things I thought I would never see that I have been fortunate enough to see, and things I've desperately wanted to see that are now impossible. My perspective has certainly been widened by both. Now, to deliberate over what to depict...

[@convinceingvince]

This assignment is so philosophical, I love it!!!

[@glacialpace]

Artist David Brooks is extremely cool and inspiring. I will think hard about this one.

[@eXaiix]

Since I was born with one working eye, I was thinking about doing something about the thought of seeing in 3D and how it seems so foreign to me, even though i'm living in a 3D world. The only problem is how I would draw a 2D picture of something that I think is 3D without making it look like a 2D view of the world I have now. It's like a visual explanatory gap like trying to explain colors to a blind person.

[@theartassignment]

I really like this idea. And now for the challenge of executing it! Good luck.

[@the13lara13]

I think this might be my favourite one yet!

[@SomeCallMeWeird]

The possibilities are endless!

[@annwilliamson927]

Ah I am one year away from having my teacher's license and I CAN'T WAIT to be able to use these videos in my classroom! This is such a cool combination of science and art!

[@mikaylarowan5849]

Oh my GOSH. He's from Brazil, Indiana. Hometown reppin'!! No one ever talks about our little town :)

[@pernus5856]

I started watching this vid with a huge eyeroll, but I'm sorry I did that. This guy is brilliant.

[@leukocyteofdoom]

For some reason, my mind immediately jumped to _miko_ (shrine maidens). I've never seen them, and probably never will, but I can already imagine one tending to her duties against a background of cherry blossoms falling gently, and hear the sound of wind chimes hung from the shrine, the spring daze interrupted only by the clang of the _shishi-odoshi_. :-)

[@theartassignment]

Love this idea.

[@ourwishonawing]

I absolutely love the concept of this! It really is a great representation of art, perception and creativity :)

[@CandleAshes]

I've seen that rain forest installation! Awesome to "meet" the artist

[@ThatWouldBeCareless]

This is a reeeeally cool assignment - needs some thought but I may do this one.

[@mikialynn]

Love love love! Just the kinds of things I like to think about!

[@MissImogenDaisy]

I didn't understand the assignment until i saw the sculptures. Very clever indeed

[@crackedpepper2023]

This show is so good! I love seeing what all the current artists are creating and thinking about. Thanks for doing it.

[@DitzyMcGee]

Yay for Albrecht Durer!!! He was my thesis topic. We had a relationship for a year and a half (until I submitted my thesis). I love any reference to his work :)

[@KerryMurray95]

This was a seriously fascinating video...like wow

[@sarahobvzrofl]

This is such a great idea for an assignment! So interesting to think about our relationship to the visual world and how we work out the value of seeing something physically- so glad this channel exists!

[@meridithcooper3175]

This is definitely my favorite art assignment so far. Gonna try and do it some time this week.

[@ReadHeadPat]

I bet Emily Graslie is going to love this episode!

[@nope.13]

06:13 strange to think that I have never seen the Petra which exists in my country not far from Amman (the city where I live) while I have traveled as far as Virginia (where I am right now)...when I first heard the assignment I was like "I'm 21, I'll probably make sure to see everything before I die" for me to realize I haven't seen something people travel to my country to see... I think I agree with Sarah when she said this makes you think of how short your life really is and to come to the realization that you will not see everything throughout this short time... Scary!

[@megmotherwort]

Just finished this one! Thank you so much for such great inspiration, Mr. Brooks! The Art Assignment #4: Never Seen Never Will

[@ellock1998]

I am doing the Archaeamphora plant... yes it did exist. It is now extinct and I covered up the picture before I could see them on wikipedia and I am going to paint it based on the description wiki gives me. After I finish school of course :O...

[@theartassignment]

Great idea. Looking forward to seeing it when your time allows.

[@radishraccoon3657]

This is such a great concept for an assignment.

[@Cuix]

4:15 The actual art assignment. Although I was interested and engaged by what he had to say, it seems perfectly reasonable to want to get straight to the meat of things. I figured I'd just make that easier for whoever is looking to do that.

[@ashleyness683]

Ooh, another really interesting assignment- I have a few ideas already- music related. I want to post my gif from the last assignment first, though- still working on my description. Looking forward to trying this one as well!

[@Zepheriah]

David is my old teacher from MICA! Hello!!

[@Libya4LY]

David brooks seems like smart guy!

[@lesliefoundhergrail]

This is interesting because whatever my response is, life is gonna laugh at me and put it in my face 21 years later like "BOOM EXPAND YOUR SCOPE AND SELF EXPECTATIONS YO"

[@xdanishcarrot]

This is so interesting and for some reason the video made me really emotional.. my brain just exploded with ideas and thoughts, and yeah.. I'll do this assignment :)

[@justob244]

Love the series. Also, I always love when it's made obvious how fast vloggers talk in videos hahaha

[@TheCucho96]

I love this channel, its so innovative and unique, and yes, i'm definitely doing this assignment, it inspired me a lot :D

[@jodfrut771]

Omg best crossover episode ever

[@haichikou]

Such an awesome idea! I'm gonna go draw Gallifrey now...

[@meyermichele]

1) I haven't done an Art Assignment yet but I'm excited about trying to figure something out for this one. It intrigues me. 2) Every time John Green calls out the patriarchy, the tiny cartoon cheerleader who lives in my heart does a celebratory backflip. She may or may not resemble Buffy Summers.

[@empresspip]

The Art Assignment is amazing! So sad I'm late to the party, but I'm definitely subscribing!

[@OracleAnne]

Shout out from Terre Haute, just next door to Brazil, IN!

[@LucieTvrznikova]

The Art Assignment Karl May wrote series of books about Winnetou, a chief of an Apache tribe, in the 1870's without ever visiting the places he described - it seems very similar to the rhino example you mentioned. His books are very popular in the Czech Republic and Germany!

[@emilymacdougall184]

I'm really tempted to do something with the music video for Wrecking Ball... I hate the song so I never looked up the music video (and also why would I want to see that?) but I've seen tons of parodies and heard about it.

[@bugoftheleaves]

any time i've read a story that includes details of a room or the layout of the house itself (whether specifically mentioned or just vague indicators) i always had trouble picturing not my own house even though i knew that many houses are set up differently. always bugged me and i would stop and just try to do nothing but imagine a different house layout. not sure if this is where they're going with it, but that's where i took it.

[@theartassignment]

Really dig this interpretation.

[@SeaChelsters]

Brilliant! I'm excited to do this assignment :D

[@EccentricKait]

This one is going to be a lot of fun I think! :)

[@margorothspiegelman6026]

Cant wait to do this

[@ofwanderlust]

So great! There are so many things I want to depict though

[@RydiaRoads]

all i can think of right now is wanting to depict my dad, who died when i was 4. he existed, but i will never see him, or know him.

[@megmotherwort]

what a beautiful interpretation. I hope you do it.

[@theartassignment]

I agree with Meg wholeheartedly.

[@rollingstar2221]

Regardless of what kind of family you find yourself in (with your birth family, adopted,from a sperm donor,etc.), we all have something in common: we'll never know who our "siblings" would've been. Of the thousands of eggs your birth mother has or the sprem your father has, the people you grow up with could be so different. They just were never made. It's crazy! I want to find some way to represent that!

[@CaitlinEileenRose]

Brooklyn representin'!!

[@ReadHeadPat]

I think this is a really cool episode!

[@randyarmstrong9181]

Can you add links so we can skip straight to the assignment?

[@FlyKiwi]

Taking a leap from the deep sea dive, I filmed my submission today using a game in which Person A describes a picture in sign language to Person B and B must then draw what they interpret from A's description. Tomorrow's task is captioning ready for upload on Tuesday! (Monday US time)

[@georgewatson9834]

This sounds so intriguing! I feel like this one will probably be the hardest for me... Love it, though! And something else entirely: I don't know why but I still really like the intro music:P

[@ragnkja]

I was wondering what to depict for a long time. Then my gaze fell on my periodic table, and my decision was made: element 117 fits it all. (Or maybe I should choose Fr instead? It's smaller, occurs naturally, but is pretty much equally inaccessible.)

[@theartassignment]

Yes, great! Either or both!

[@elisabethrae415]

Finished the assignment! It's on my channel.

[@returnofswampthing]

This reminds me of the overstuffed walrus at London's Horniman museum. Basically a walrus was hunted in the wild and sent back to England to add to their collection. The taxidermist had never seen a walrus before, in pictures or in the flesh, and so didn't realise that it has a lot of loose skin which meant they overstuffed the walrus, completely filling out the skin. The animal is still on display and is a fantastic example of interpreting information the best you can, however misguided it may turn out to be.

[@gferrarir]

So what do you mean by seen? is it seen in pictures films or in real life? also, can we interpret seen as experienced? for example I have adhd and I know there are normal minds, that don't run at 4000mph, and I see those minds in action everyday yet can't ever experience what it feels to have one of those. Could I base my assignment on that?

[@kcasaurus]

I think that is a fantastic idea. I'm pretty sure I will be submitting something similar; I suffer from nearly crippling depression, and I can't remember the last time I was truly carefree and happy. Trying to depict a concept rather than a physical thing could be very interesting.

[@SecretlyHobbit]

Please do this!

[@gferrarir]

So, I did it. I'm really unsure if I should do this and puff levels are bound to rise. But you can see it here adhdexperiences.tumblr.com/post/80927323684/adhd-vs-normals

[@jokiaragon]

wow love this artist

[@OneUpdateataTime]

*strokes beard* this is a cool idea. I really love it and might even participate.

[@angela0i]

This reminds me a lot of this painter I learned about in grade school. He did these amazing rainforest paintings without having ever gone. He based all of the plants off of what he say at the royal gardens or a some place like that. I don't know why but that idea stuck with me....Also, I am freaking out because I can't remember the name. Someone please help me.

[@angela0i]

And more literally the time in sex ed where we were told to draw a penis. {headdesk} We were all so young

[@maggieedna]

Are you perhaps thinking of Henri Rousseau?

[@angela0i]

maggieedna yes!

[@matamoney]

Was the octopus changing color to what it saw on the screen intentional?

[@romantheflash]

I think my interpretation will be very metaphorical, but I like the idea of it....So I shall do it.

[@Blakekss]

It seems hard to choose something I've never seen - most things I know I have learned through pictures or real life - maybe I have never "seen" New York, but I know what it looks like.

[@seleri9458]

My parents are scientists, my brother is a mathematician (kind of person).... And there's me :) the arty/creative/musical contrast...

[@bugoftheleaves]

holy crap! brazil, indiana a neighboring town to me. suddenly it all became relatable....or something. :)

[@jo_gaojian]

haha I was actually looking up pictures of narwhals to draw and then he said not to necessarily depict something so exotic like a narwhal. I'm excited to try my first art assignment though!

[@katieapot]

Oooh I think I'm gonna gooooo for it :D

[@fancynancyketchup]

Oooh, I might actually do this one. :)

[@megmotherwort]

Do it, Nancy! I wanna see!

[@MegaJasper666]

Does the thing have to be physically real or can it be a concept?

[@89taklung]

now this sounds interesting! One question, does it have to be, like, an object or could it be something more abstract? Like an emotion or ideology? After all I might learn about certain religions or beliefs but never actually grasp them for what they are... Also just wondering if a certain medium is supposed to be used here, the artist does sculptures but would painting or even just using words to describe something also be an option?

[@Jade-pt6ke]

Could we do something like a mythological creature? For instance, in Harry Potter, they mention so many creatures like bowtruckles and hinkypunks but we never see what they look like

[@Albusowner]

Just finished the assignment on my channel :)

[@megmotherwort]

Me too! High five!

[@Kram1032]

I'm REALLY curious what kinds of works will come in from this one.

[@halahb4995]

Maybe I'll submit a blank piece of paper with the description saying that I bought a piece of paper to creat the most amazing masterpiece but I didn't so now, we will never see it.

[@theworldeatswithyou]

So much stuff in his house, CPG would be furious.

[@ragnkja]

I'm not sure he would be furious, but he definitely wouldn't want to live there.

[@alexella9689]

So if I have seen pictures, does it count? What if I try to get it from a unique angle I have never seen in a picture?

[@saikoujikan]

That could be an interesting interpretation of the task, choose a picture of something and then depict the parts the picture doesn't show.

[@Emmyhorstkamp-storeytarris]

I liked his sculptures and using the weight of the animals. When you mentioned taxidermy I was a little worried that the artwork would be a still life of cats playing poker.

[@maggieedna]

I wish there was like 70% less john green in these videos. not because I dislike him or whatever, but because I think these should exist outside of the green brothers media empire , and I feel like I've hit the point of john green supersaturation in my internets.

[@maggieedna]

unpopular opinion.

[@moongirl26]

Yea. I get that. I mean, I like that he's there a bit to help me access the 'art' aspect of it (as in, if I didn't have the 'everyman' view point of the art, it'd feel too inaccessible.. i hope that makes sense). But, it is a bit jarring to have him there as well, i can't quite articulate it the way I'd like.

[@fabulermo3428]

I've never thought of it as an empire, but now that you say it... They really do have one, don't they?

[@thebeckydodd]

moongirl26 Well, I can understand what you're talking about but from a business/marketing point of view, taking him out of these videos would be a huge mistake in terms of marketing, potential audience, and establishing an initial audience. Personally, I think they're doing a good job of balancing the amount of "John Green" in the videos and delivering a intriguing, educational, and informative art lecture while still having enough of him their in a way that's supportive to keep their viewership that initially came because of him content.

[@danheidel]

It's weird since I love all the stuff the Green brothers do but I agree with this. I do love the intellectual interplay between Sarah and John and wouldn't want to see that go but John's natural screen presence and charisma tends to overwhelm Sarah a bit. I'm sure it's not intentional on his part but I sometimes watch the episode and struggle to remember what Sarah said. If I were to make a suggestion, it would be to double the amount of screen time Sarah gets. I really like her viewpoints and would like to get more of her voice in these videos.

[@sgfrenchtutor]

what if i see it online? or via photographs?

[@emelinhernandez86]

So, should I do a John Green statue or painting?

[@DrinkCoffeeRun]

Not to disregard the content, but I really like your coat, John Green.

[@araluciavideo]

Dang, I wish I had time to do this, but I'm under deadline to finish my book. If I did, I would depict my brain or some aspect of my brain. Thanks for the opportunity to consider the idea.

[@Regenschirmtier]

Ara Lucia Ashburne You can still do it after you've finished your book. Sarah said, you can do it, whenever you want, that there isn't any deadline. (:

[@ragnkja]

Fortunately, there is no deadline for The Art Assignment, so you may happily postpone this until the stress of finishing your book is over.

[@araluciavideo]

Nillie Thank you for reminding me about that!