Monday, February 4, 2008
Week 4
For your post this week, choose a painting (you may like the painting or dislike it) and describe it using the terms describing the media and elements of painting. Tell the title of the painting and the artist. It needs to be a painting and not photograph or sculpture. If you have seen the work in real life, great. If not, do your best to describe what the media should do for the painting.
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For my painting that I picked it was a scenery portrait.
The artist’s name is Jasper F. Cropsey (1823- 1900). The title is Dawn of Morning, Lake George. Painted in 1826, oil on canvas. It is 30 by 42 ¾ inches. It is part of the Collection of the Albany Institute of History and Art.
This painting was extremely popular in the mid to the late 1800s. The interest in these paintings started declining at the turn of the century. These paintings symbolized American strength, individualism, and patriotism. But now days these paintings are greatly appreciated for their insights and meanings to American art, history, and culture.
A main element in this painting is color. There is green, brown, yellow, orange, red, blue, gray, and white.
Starting with the top is a cloudy, blue sky with a red, yellow, and blue rainbow curving downward touching the mountains that are set on the horizon. In front of the mountains is a lake along the shore of the left corner, which is about ¼ of the picture, and flows to the right. Where an old tree branch lies up on a rock but also halfway in the water. There is a forest on the shore one tree is green and leafy, but the others are orange like fall colors. There is also a small dirt path that leads to the shore.
When I look at this picture I can close my eyes and hear the waves and water as they lap the shore.
In fact I wouldn’t mind living there. It looks so relaxing, peaceful, and serenity.
The way the painting is made it looks like it is fall season but the water looks so inviting. I think we all know how that would feel, maybe a little chilly and cool.
My parent’s house is full of paintings and pictures. Most are more recent works and deal with eagles, deer, or tractors and farms. The acrylic painting I chose is titled, “The Challengers.” Robert E. Hinton is the artist. I picked this painting because there is a lot of humor behind it.
It’s a woodsy scene where a third of the ways down you see the horizon with trees stretching beyond the top of the page. I believe it is early spring as the grass is brown with patches of snow and no leaves on the trees. The blue sky can be seen through the trees. At the edge of the trees there are two tractors facing each other. One is green and the other is red. Green and red might mix well around the holidays but not when it comes to farming equipment. On the bottom third of the picture are two six-point bucks also facing each other. It’s as if the tractors and the deer are both having their own little stand off; “challenging” each other if you will.
The main element in this painting, besides proving a point, is texture. The detail is so amazing. The brown grass leaning from the heavy snow that has recently melted and the clumps of brown representing the bark on the trees, even the fur on the deer is made up of many lines. The trees look rough; the deer hides look as though they would feel dry yet soft.
The painting I choose was Evening Frost by Terry Redlin. My parents have this painting in there living room. It is an oil painting on canvas painted in 2000 for Christmas.
I think there are 2 main elements in this painting color and composition. The whole picture is different shades of blue and then they added brown, white, and yellows. When you look at the picture it looks like you are looking through the brown trees and everything is covered in white frost and sparkling. The edges of the painting are dark blue that fade to black and as you move to the center the brighter blue the painting gets.There is the yellow moon high on the painting that is shining down on everything making the white snow and the frost the brightest points of the painting.
Starting at the top you have the dark blue sky and the branches of bare trees covered in frost. The moon is the next thing you notice as it shines down over all the surfaces on the painting. Then there is a church hiding behind a tree with smoke coming out the pipes on the roof. The painting is centered on a bridge that is light up with laterns that show the brown horse and sleigh across the blue moon shined river. As the dog safely takes the horse across to get the Christmas tree home for the holidays. You can hear the bells on the horse ringing if you listen closely. When you look at the painting everything is shadowed in blue from the moon light. Just like you you were actually looking at this scene out the window.
This painting takes place in the winter and it reminds me of those days when you wake up and everything is covered in frozen and it looks so amazing. This is in the evening though with the moon light shining on it so it is so much better.
In response to Mschimek I think this painting would be awesome to see. I love wildlife paintings and the way you describe the texture it seem really cool. You really bring the picture to live
in responce to aschwartz
I really liked your post. I am a huge fan of Terry Redlin (along with Thomas Kinkade). He seems to be very talented in bringing things to life in a very odd, yet attractive way. His colors are very beautiful and draw the viewer in. I think I have seen the painting that you described - very cool.
For my painting, I chose Warner Stallman’s, Christ at Heart’s Door. I did extensive research (30 minutes worth) on this painting, but was unable to turn up any information as to what kind of media Stallman used in this painting. My guess is that it is oil, but that’s just the opinion of someone that is unlearned in the processes of examining art!
In this painting, I believe that the main basic elements are color, texture, and composition. The painting is a mixture of numerous pale colors varying from light brown, green, white and purple. These arrays of pastel colors, along with a soft, smooth texture, make this piece a gentle, pleasing, easy to look at painting.
As you look at the composition of this piece, your eye is immediately drawn to the person of Jesus, standing in the center of the painting. In stark contrast to his surroundings, his cloak is a brilliant white, illuminating him and his surroundings; softly fading as it reaches the corners of the painting. Around him on either side are bushes of thorns intermingled with pale violet and white flowers, offset by dark green leaves. As its title eludes, this painting portrays Jesus standing gracefully outside a door… the door to our hearts. It is not a large, majestic door, but, rather, a small, cottage-like door. There are two very beautiful things depicted in this piece. The first is the fact that this simple door is a door without a doorknob with which to get in. After all, it is us that must invite Jesus in. The second brilliant, yet simple, idea illustrated in Stallman’s depiction is that if you look closely at this piece, you will notice a faint heart surrounding Jesus; enclosing him in a sense. This heart is framed by both a mantle above the door, as well as the fading of Jesus’ illuminating light. Both of these elements beautifully depict the fact that Jesus is indeed standing outside the door to our hearts and is waiting for us to invite him in… if only we would open the door.
In effect, Stallman’s painting prompts a certain amount of quiet reflection. It is not busy like other paintings, but, rather, it is still. It gives you a sense of peace and calm.
I chose 'The Scream', 1893, by Edvard Munch(1863-1944). The medium is Casein/waxed crayon and tempera on paper (cardboard).
It is 83.5 x 66 cm (35 7/8" x 29")in dimension and is located at the Nasjonalgalleriet (National Gallery), in Oslo, Norway.
'The Scream' displays a lone emaciated figure halted on a bridge clutching his ears, his eyes and mouth open wide in a scream of anguish. Behind him a couple are walking together in the opposite direction. Barely discernible in the swirling motion of a red-blood sunset and deep blue-black water, are tiny boats at sea.
The composition(positioning the stunned man at the lower center of the painting), colors (reds, blacks, blues), the curves of the landscape and hollow figure scream alienation and anxiety.
in response to mschimek
i have always liked nature art work. we have alot of that in our house also. it very nice to look at right before we go to sleep to it is so relaxing and peaceful just to clsoe my eyes and picture myself in that setting.
The painting that I picked is an art print called Sleigh Bells by Bill Breedon. I think that this is a really good painting. It has a lot of detail, and a lot of different things going on in the painting. When looking at the painting you see from the point of view of the rider of the sleigh. At the bottom middle of the painting you see the rear view of a white horse, the horse that is pulling the sleigh. In the distances you see a lot of white, the ground is covered in a blanket of white snow and all the houses around are white. There is one red building in the distance that you can see. There are about of dozen people walking around on the streets, they are all going about their own ways and doing their own things. The sky in this painting looks like the sun is just about to set. There are many different colors in the sky including a light purple, yellow, and an orange. In the background you see a dark hillside and dark trees which really bring out the bright colors in the sky. I think I really like this painting because it is a small town around Christmas time, with people just enjoying life and enjoying the season.
For my painting i picked Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of a New Man, 1943 by Salvador Dali. I was unable to find out distinct information on it such as what kind of painting but it looks like a canvas oil painting but i may be wrong.
I have seen this painting many times and never knew what it ment so after researching it I find that this was painted lived in America and symbolizes his rebirth to the new world.
The painting is of a man merging out of an egg that represents the world. It kinda look like the globe but the egg is off white and the other countries are gold. THe egg is sitting on a blanket and at the bottum of the crack on the egg is a small stream of blood. Off to the side the is a woman pointing to the hatching egg with a child holding on to her legs watching what it going on. Kind of like he is interested in the new happenings.
The color on the painting is mainly gold and different shades of browns. The only bright color would be the little blood and off in the distance it looks to be another person in red.
I choose this painting as i always had an interest in it. Now knowing the true meaning of it, i can understand it better and kind of relate to how he may feel. I have moved several times to other states not a new world but you do feel like you are breaking out of a new shell when you move. I really enjoyed this painting.
In response to aschwartz
That sounds like a wonderful painting. The way you described it sounds like something we would like to see out our windows during our nice long winter months :) I really enjoyed reading your post.
In response to Zachary,
I have seen the painting you described of Jesus at the door. It is a very interesting painting. I can say that when I saw it I was drawn into it. I would like to see it again, because I don't remember the heart around Jesus that you described. I'm sure it is there, I just didn't see it. I think the detail of this painting also speaks of the detailed interest Jesus has in us.
I was able to find some information on it at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Light_of_the_World
It's a different painting, but it is where the idea came from. Also check out this site: http://www.anderson.edu/sallman/heartsdoor.html It talks more about Warner Sallman, the author of the newer painting.
in response to Audpod
Wow!!! your description of "Scream" sounded really interesting. I took a second and looked it up. I was rather surprised with all of the "swirl - ness" of it. I always find it amazing the way that artists choose to portray certain things such as the scream. Cool painting!
There is a local artist that paints murals that are very intriguing. His name is Chase Lundgren. Some of the stores in town have murals painted by him. He also will do custom murals in homes. I really like a painting of a wine cellar that he did. It is a trompe l’oeil or illusion. The medium is the wall surface, and he uses oils and acrylics in most of his work. I’m not sure exactly what was used in this one, but I think it was acrylics. It is a closed line painting and because it is painted on the wall of a wine cellar, the colors are mostly browns and grays. The painting is a picture of a cellar door way with double doors. The left door is open revealing an endless hallway leading into the cellar. Barrels can be seen lining the left side of the hallway. The hall continues into the darkness. Lighting plays a key part in depicting the three dimensional and realistic aspects of the painting. The painting was done on one wall of an actual wine cellar to give the impression that the cellar is much bigger than it is. He included many details including a funnel and hose hanging on the door and a wine bottle sitting on the floor in the open doorway. A stone archway makes up the frame for the doorway, and the archway is duplicated several times as you look through the door, but it gets smaller and smaller the farther you “look” down the hallway into the cellar. I have not gotten to see the painting in person, but I am sure it would make the room feel much bigger, and I would have to resist the temptation to go over to the wall and touch it to make sure it isn’t real!
Dan J.
The painting I am going to discuss is a piece is an oil painting done by Terry Redlin, titled “Winter Wonderland”. This painting kind of has some special meaning to my mother. After my parents got married my dad bought my mom this painting for a Christmas they had together and told her this would be their future, ‘having kids play in the yard during the holidays and snowball fights, with the house all lit up” my mom still has this painting proudly mounted in her living room and enjoys it all year round. The thing about this painting I love the most his is use of colors the blacks, blues, browns, yellows, purples, oranges, and whites. His paintings really give you a sense that you might have or could experience any of his scenes. I love the white horse pulling the couple in the sleigh down the lane it seems so romantic, and the children playing in the snow making snowmen, with their dog. I love his use of dark colors that I see a lot of in the few pieces I have thus far. Dark colors tend to, in my eyes anyway make paintings dark and dreary, but his never have that feel. Terry’s paintings tend to deal out nature or outdoorsy scenes, and he does an amazing job at his paintings. My love loves his pieces so much that I’m even thinking of purchasing another from his collection so my mom will have a complimenting second piece from the children she loves. If I was to choose which one I would buy it would probably come from his Christmas collection. I love all of those pieces because each scene is something you could expect to actually witness. But, my other favorite of Terry’s would have to be his beautiful ‘Spring Fever’.
in response to ASchwartz: I loved your post I too really like that painting. My parents are also big terry redlin fans. My mom proudly has one mounted in her living room, and hope to one day add another.
When I first looked at this blog, I had no idea what I was going to write about. I must admit I do not know very much about paintings. I do by chance have a few favorite artists that I have learned about through history and theology classes. One of those artists is Michelangelo, and of course the painting that I wish to discuss is one of the most popular painting of his time- the Sistine Chapel. While I believe that I can do it not do it justice, for never seeing it with my own eyes; still I am very fascinated about it. It is not just a painting- but a masterpiece that lies not on a single piece of canvas, but a ceiling. Its media is a Fresco painting, and when looking at all different parts of the painting- it really shows through that this is in fact a painting from the middle ages. It tells the story of that time period, when Christianity in Rome was just born and in a way unfamiliar. There is a certain flow, which appears warm and inviting, yet strong and makes you feel a sense of concern. The colors are bold, catching you eyes and the way that the bodies of the people are placed makes you keep turning your head following each limb to the next. I guess in a way, there is a romance that not grabs my attention, but engulfs my entire mental being. My sister has in fact seen this wonder. When we sat down to discuss it, and admire the painting, she said that it is truly breath taking. She told me that there are not enough words to explain, how it looks, and makes one feel. Each individual takes it in differently. She believes that this was what Michelangelo wished to achieve. It is how we observe it, should it just be observed for its artist beauty, or is it much deeper then that?
In response to aschwartz. I must admit that I too am a fan of Terry Redlin. My parents house is full of his paintings. All of his paintings make you feel that you are observing what is going on in the paintings. In so many of his paintings, the color in one part is bright, warm colors, and then in the other part it can flow into cool colors. Many of his winter paintings are like this. I also love the fact that most of his paintings include some type of wildlife in them- it makes it very midwest.
In response to krolfes
Your painting sounds so warming, even though the scene is in the winter. Your description led me to easily visualize it as if I were looking directly at it.
In respones to McKenzieB, your painting sounds beautiful. I love winter and Chritmas painting. I look at them and instantly feel happy, I think it is because of the feeling of the season of the holiday. I love that you have it up year round.
I picked ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo circa 1511. The size of this painting is 189 x 90.6 in. , and it is located in the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City. It illustrates the biblical story from the book of Genesis in which God breathes life into Adam. It was the fourth panel to be completed. And it is arguably the most famous.
In this painting God is depicted as an elderly man wrapped in cloth. His left arm is wrapped around a woman, who is interpreted to be Eve. The painting is obviously artistic and not literal, as Adam is capable of reaching out to God before he has actually even been given ‘life’.
If you look at the painting closely the position of God and Adam’s right leg are almost identical. Some say that this could reflect the bible, in Genesis 1:27, God created man in his own image.
This painting is made with paint and took three to four years to complete.
In response to mandi20.
I too chose this piece of art, it truly seems amazing. I think that each and everyone looks at this ceiling, and see's something different then the next guy. In my post, I wrote about the "most common" depiction of this painting. I feel that 'The creation of Adam' should be taken for more, and everyone will always take something new away from their experience from seeing this work of art.
Response to dolhoff:
Stallmen's painting is very calm. My grandparents have this picture in their house. I don't know who painted it (if it is an orginal) but after reafing your explaination of the picture I j=knew it was the ine that hangs to the right of the couch in the living room. I gazed into the picture so many times and it's relaxing and really make a person think. I enjoy this peice of art. I was very interested to learn anout it because I seen it hanging since I was a little girl.
I chose a painting by Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452-1519). The Last Supper (1495-98). Leonardo used tempera and mixed media on plaster. The painting is 15 X 29 feet and covers an entire wall. The original mural is on a wall of the refectory (dining hall) in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. Leonardo began working on it in 1495, and finished Last Supper in 1498. This is worth noting, as Leonardo was a known procrastinator with a marked tendency to leave projects unfinished. I was drawn to this painting because the disciples are all displaying very human, identifiable emotions. "The Last Supper" had certainly been painted before. Leonardo's version, though, was the first to depict real people acting like real people. The technical perspective in Last Supper is incredible! You can see that every single element of the painting directs one's attention straight to the midpoint of the composition, Christ's head. Leonardo thought he'd give using dry plaster a whirl. His experiment resulted in a more varied palette, which was Leonardo's intent. What he hadn't taken into account (because, who knew?) was that this method wasn't at all durable. The painted plaster began to flake off the wall almost immediately, and people have been attempting to restore it ever since. I’ve always enjoyed this painting for many different reasons.
The painting that I picked for this week is San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk, by Claude Monet, it was painted in 1908 in Venice. The original size was 65 x 92cm, the medium is oil on canvas. Monet (1840-1926) was considered one of the first French Impressionist painters. Color and light were the main components of the Impressionist search to capture personal responses to nature and put it on canvas.
In this painting, as with all or most of Monet’s work, the paintings do not have fine detailing, the colors are used reflect the light at the time of day the painting was created. The painting is a view of Monastery Island of San Giorgio, painted from the south-eastern end of Venice. On the right are the faintly visible dome of Santa Maria Salute and the mouth of the Grand Canal.
This painting was painted at dusk, the water and the sky seem to mirror each other with beautiful shades of red, yellows, oranges and pinks. The church is the main point of this painting, the outline is shaded in purple, dark reds and green fill the innermost part of the church. The only reflection in the water is the high steeple of the church which is surrounded by streaks of blue, yellows and oranges. The rest of the landscape seems to fade into the colorful sky. It gives off a feeling of peace and serenity that comes with the sunset at the end of the day.
As far as the impressionist part of this painting, I really do get the feeling Monet had when he painted this piece. The colors that are used and how they are used to reflect the light makes all the difference in the impressionist paintings. What are some of the feelings you get when you look at these paintings?
In response to Zachary's post:
I have always wondered what the name of that painting was. My grandma had it hanging in the hall upstairs in the old farm house. As a child I would always look at that picture and have a feeling of comfort. I was never sure why, but now I know! Jesus wants us to let him in to our hearts. I did not realize the the bushes around him made the shape of a heart, that is remarkable! It' a subliminal message, the feelings of peace and calm are what I experience as I look at this picture too! Would you consider this a representational painting?
The painting I am writing about is done by a local artist named Jack Sholund. He does watercolors of landscapes and wildlife and lives in Bigfork MN. This painting is of a butterfly landing on yellow flowers. I love this painting and have had it for years. The butterfly is gorgeous and very life like. The colors he uses are bold and vivid. The butterfly seems to have just landed on the flower and hasn't even opened his wings yet. The butterfly is dark black, yellow, blue and cream. There are many flowers in the painting and the background is colorful as well with yellow, blue, pink and green blur. It looks as if you focused in on the small scene of the butterfly on the flower and everything else faded away.
We have had this painting since it was painted in 1985; I purchased it at his gallery showing. The interesting thing about this painting is not only how astoundingly beautiful and natural it is but is the man behind the painting. Jack has a degenerative disease. At the time of painting this one he could paint with his right hand. But not long ago he was only able to paint with his teeth. A struggle of adapting and trying to make it work did not stop him from producing new paintings. His new work is not only as good as it was before but even better. It is amazing that he could keep his style and skill so high through all of his challenges.
Mckensieb-
I really liked your story about the painting in your house. It is pretty romantic that on their first Christmas together, your parents had the goal of having a winter like the one in the photograph. I know with my husband and children we have a lot of fond memories like that one. There is this one painting my husband loves that we do not own right now but hope to in the future. It is titled, "Christmas give or take a week" and is a Bev Doolittle. This painting is beautiful and is a huge tree that is hollow and a man huddled around a fire inside. The inside of the tree is warm tones of red and orange and the outside of the tree looks cold with colors like white and blue. It conveys a similar feeling of the painting you are discussing, warmth, hearth, home.
Great post!
Response to Zachrey,
Your post about the painting Christ at Hearts Door described the scene depicted so well that I had to do a search and find it online. When I found the picture it was as you said in your writing, beautiful with the ability to instil peace and calm. I didn't originally notice the heart shape illuminated in the light and door frame. I had to go back and reread your post and view the painting again. I wonder if people who are not participants of the christian religion feel the same wonder when they look at the picture?
I am writing about a painting in my family home, the one I grew up in. It is quite a large painting which has always been above the fireplace, hung gently above the mantle. The frame is orinate and gold. It does not match the picture in my opinion. The dimensions of the painting are 3 feet by 4 feet. It is over fourty years old. As a child I spent many, many hours staring at the painting. I didn't like it. I didn't understand it but I was drawn to it. The media I beleive is acrylic. I believe the lines are a mixture of closed and open. The backgrounds are softer but the main images are sharp. The color hues are vibrant. There are no muted pastels in the painting. The reds are red, the black is black, the greens are a deep green etc. The texture is quite rough. I laughed when I read the chapter regarding texture. When it stated "heaven forbid you wer to run your fingers over these paintings...". I recalled the many times I climbed up on the wood box and rubbed the surface of the painting. It is a painting of shapes. After my many hours of staring at the picture I beleive it is a scene on the border of a river possibly in a large city Italy. There are representations of a gondola and the waterways and sidewalk cafes are busy. The images are not painted in an actual representation. The peoples heads are triangels like banners or flages. Much of the picture is shapes placed in orders to repersent people, buildings boats etc. I think that is why I didn't like the painting as a child, because the artist didn't paint the "picture". But even as a child it held my attention until I interpretated the scene. Unfortunately I am no able to read the artists name and the painting is not titled.
in response to Heidi
Yes - I truly love this painting. Stallman truly had a gift when it came to painting and conveying emotions to the viewer. I too did not notice the heart immediately - it takes a bit of careful looking, but when you see it, it becomes very clear. I also thought it really cool that there was no doorknob with which Jesus could get in. I mean - that is a perfect way to convey the idea that he cannot simply enter... he must be invited.
I am not sure how non Christians would view this painting. Perhaps being that it doesn't hold the same profound meaning as it does for Christians, they'd view it entirely different. Either way, I'm sure that anyone (Christian or not) would be able to see the beauty and mastery of this painting.
I saw an artist at the Minneapolis Institute of Art I saw some of Michael Mazur's work. I really liked what he did and so I started looking online at more of his paintings. My favorite one is entitled, "Illumination IV (Heat)." The medium he works with is usually acrylic on canvas. I think acrylic is interesting because mistakes aren't as easily corrected so the artist has to envision things a little and have less room for error. The painting itself is interesting because it has a hazy purple background. The background also had lighter rosey shades but as you got to the bottom, it because more purple and the lighter shades weren't seen. I don't really like purpule but my eyes were fixed on the center point. In the center there was a weird cuvry snake mostly made up by a bright orange, white, and some red and yellow. Incorporated into this winding thing (for lack of a better word) were black dots which almost looked like bubbles in an ocean. They were faded out of the "thing" but also were chucked into it and didn't overlap it. The purple was an interesting choice but it really made the center piece stand out. The texture felt very soft (not actually but it looked soft)and the shaped fit in very well even though he was working with a very curvy structure. Here is a link...it's one of those things you just need to see in order to understand and appreciate it. http://66.116.207.210/mazurpaintings.html
In response to Aupod
I immediately knew what painting you were talking about. I remember seeing this in grade school during our art class. My teacher brought it in and all the kids loved it. Since then, it was one of the paintings that I will remember the name and artist! The cool thing about this painting is all the colors and how they don’t make sense but make perfect sense to form a beautiful painting. Besides it being well studied, I love this picture because it has so much emotion. I have heard rumors that this was based on his agoraphobia but I don’t know if that’s true. I guess the reason why I like this the most is because it’s emotion or being scared or overwhelmed is great because to sometimes it helps just to scream! I always wondered about the two people in the background. What was there purpose? And why, did the screamer, decide to scream with those to people approaching him. I guess I’ll have to look into that one day.
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