Someone else thinks of Don McLean's ballad when pondering Vincent as well : )
A beautiful compilation put together by user: tdifatta, September 23, 2006
Enjoy!
Other interesting facts on Vincent Van Gogh to follow ...
Post-Impressionist (simply meaning artists who followed after the intitial movement) and a forerunner of Expressionism. Vincent Van Gogh started out working for a group of art dealers, then worked briefly as a teacher, after which he "became a lay preacher in a Belgian mining district. ... He was fired when the Church became concerned with his over-zealous attempts to help the poor. Vincent had at last found his true vocation: illustrating the plight of the local peasantry."
Orginal artistic influence by Millet. Then in 1886 Van Gogh went to Paris, where his style changed dramatically ... "influenced by Impressionism ... his palatte lightened and he began to employ bold simplifications of form. Like Gauguin, he also used colours symbollically, rather than naturalistically."
With his brother's financial support, Van Gogh moved to southern France. Here he was joined briefly by Gauguin for a time, until the two had a clash ... which some speculate hastened his mental collapse. Despite his illness, Van Gogh continued to paint at a remarkable pace. Sadly, Van Gogh only sold one of his paintings during his lifetime, but the artists work "has since become the most popular and sought-after of any modern artist."
[information and quotes from: "World Art: The Essential Illustrated History", @2006 Flame Tree Publishing]
One thing that I notice about Van Gogh's work is how well he captures the essence of the people that he paints in the their eyes. There is a beautiful simplicity to his work, but Van Gogh captures and converys a depth of feeling and emotion in his recreation of the detail of his subjects' eyes. If it is true that the eyes are a mirror to the soul, then Van Gogh had a gift for seeing into the soul ... just my humble opinion. I've always had trouble with eyes ... perhaps it is because when I try to draw eyes, I am looking with my mind and not my soul. My anxiety over capturing the eyes prompts the mechanical in me to take over ... removing moving a work which may have started in the spiritual realm abruptly back into the material realm. Something to think on ...
Another point that fascinates me is the number of self-portraits done by this artist. What courage to look that deeply into oneself and reproduce what is seen. How many of us, I wonder, ever take the time or effort to analyze ourselves that closely ... that critically? Takes A LOT of courage to do the latter in my opinion ... I've never had the courage to undertake a serious self-portrait of myself. Don't know that I ever will either?
Well, I hope that perhaps I've provided you with a brief retreat from the demands of your everday existence.
Joyful day to you! God Bless!
M
Showing posts with label Impressionists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Impressionists. Show all posts
Monday, February 01, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Escape for awhile ...
Into Mother Nature's tranquil retreat, as seen through the eyes of Impressionist Painter, Alfred Sisley ...
This post is dedicated to those in Haiti who have had their own world turned upside down ... praying for you, ONE and ALL!
posted to youtube.com by rododoro15, September 15, 2008
Born of English parents, in Paris. Alfred Sisley had a conventional art education, with initial influence by Corot. In 1862 he began study under Charles Gleyre and it was here that he met Monet and Renoir. From 1874 on Sisley exhibited regularly with the Impressionists. Many believe that Sisley is the foremost painter among the Impressionists to remain true to ideal and aims of the movement.
The majority of Sisley's works are landscapes (including the Loire, Seine and Thames rivers). "Sisley revelled in the sublties of cloud formation and the effects of light, especially in the darting reflection of water. ["World Art, The Essential Illustrated History", @2006 Flame Tree Publishing]."
This post is dedicated to those in Haiti who have had their own world turned upside down ... praying for you, ONE and ALL!
posted to youtube.com by rododoro15, September 15, 2008
Born of English parents, in Paris. Alfred Sisley had a conventional art education, with initial influence by Corot. In 1862 he began study under Charles Gleyre and it was here that he met Monet and Renoir. From 1874 on Sisley exhibited regularly with the Impressionists. Many believe that Sisley is the foremost painter among the Impressionists to remain true to ideal and aims of the movement.
The majority of Sisley's works are landscapes (including the Loire, Seine and Thames rivers). "Sisley revelled in the sublties of cloud formation and the effects of light, especially in the darting reflection of water. ["World Art, The Essential Illustrated History", @2006 Flame Tree Publishing]."
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Revisiting the Impressionists ...
I've been revisitng the Impressionist painters, off and on, since the start of the new year ... as time permits. The Impressionists were the first artists that I was ever introduced to. I love the Impressionists! I love the way that these artists capture the simple beauty of the everyday ... of nature ... the play of light ... awakening the imagination ... sight ... within the viewer.
These artists, the Impressionists, were first presented to me by my French teacher ... of all teachers (?!) ... in junior high, 7th grade: Madame Halcomb. Madame Halcomb was a warm spirit and an old soul, with a zest for life. She had a gift for bringing learning to life: literally! I can still vividly see Madame Halcomb's warm smiling face, twinkling hazel eyes, and flaming red hair. She could have just taught us French, but she chose to do so much more ... she wanted to introduce us to some of the world's most famous painters ... the Impressionists ... including Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Renior, and Degas.
I have to laugh now ... I probably learned more about art that semester than the French language itself ... but it is precisely because of the art that I happen to remember Madame Halcomb with such fondness. I wonder if she is still with us today? If Madame Halcomb's firey spirit and tenaciousness are any indication of her inclination toward longevity: she probably is still with us. I can easily see Madame Halcomb being a centurian.
The little 'Girl With a Watering Can', By Renoir is probably one the most vivid images that comes to mind when I recall the Impressionists. This painting is still one of my absolute favorite paintings to this very day. Degas's ballerinas and Monet's beautiful gardens (would love to visit the Gardens at Giverny ... need to add that to my Bucket List as well!) are vivid images as well.
'Women with a Parasol' is another favorite from long ago ... and probably because these are the very first artists that I was ever introduced to: this artistic style, these paintings, and the Impressionists themselves will always hold a very special place in my heart. Of course, the fact that these artists were rebels, going against the established norms of their times might just have a little bit to do with why I love the Impressionists so very very much. : )
And Madame Halcomb, you would be happy to know that it was the French language ( not German ... not Spanish...) that I went on to pursue in high school and college ... and I am now trying to teach my daughters as well. God's Peace, Light and Blessings to you ... wherever you may happen to be. And now I'm off on a journey to pick up where you left off and explore Morisot, Sisely, Pissarro, Cezanne and more ... even some of the American Impressionist ... Ah, the joys of Art!
More links and paintings to come ...
1/13/2010 All of this exploring art has inspired me ... I'm tempted to reach beyond my comfort zone and perhaps try going beyond pencil and charcoal sketches to explore some new mediums. I've never thought I had talent, but you never know ... might just be loads of fun and give me an even greater appreciation for all of treasures that I've been so privileged to come to know as of late. : )
Sending peace and joyful thoughts your way! God Bless!
M
These artists, the Impressionists, were first presented to me by my French teacher ... of all teachers (?!) ... in junior high, 7th grade: Madame Halcomb. Madame Halcomb was a warm spirit and an old soul, with a zest for life. She had a gift for bringing learning to life: literally! I can still vividly see Madame Halcomb's warm smiling face, twinkling hazel eyes, and flaming red hair. She could have just taught us French, but she chose to do so much more ... she wanted to introduce us to some of the world's most famous painters ... the Impressionists ... including Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Renior, and Degas.
I have to laugh now ... I probably learned more about art that semester than the French language itself ... but it is precisely because of the art that I happen to remember Madame Halcomb with such fondness. I wonder if she is still with us today? If Madame Halcomb's firey spirit and tenaciousness are any indication of her inclination toward longevity: she probably is still with us. I can easily see Madame Halcomb being a centurian.
'Girl with a Watering Can', Auguste Renoir
The little 'Girl With a Watering Can', By Renoir is probably one the most vivid images that comes to mind when I recall the Impressionists. This painting is still one of my absolute favorite paintings to this very day. Degas's ballerinas and Monet's beautiful gardens (would love to visit the Gardens at Giverny ... need to add that to my Bucket List as well!) are vivid images as well.
'Women with a Parasol' is another favorite from long ago ... and probably because these are the very first artists that I was ever introduced to: this artistic style, these paintings, and the Impressionists themselves will always hold a very special place in my heart. Of course, the fact that these artists were rebels, going against the established norms of their times might just have a little bit to do with why I love the Impressionists so very very much. : )
'Woman with a Parasol', Claud Monet
'La Classe de Danse', Edgar Degas
'Waiting in the Wings', Edgar Degas
'Water Lillies', Claud Monet
'Woman in a Garden, Sainte Adresse', Claud Monet
'Poppies Blooming', Claud Monet
[Love poppies ... recall running through glorious fields of poppies in Northern California. Poppies became known as the 'flower of rememberance' after WWII]
'The Waterlily Pond', Claud Monet
'Canale Grande and Sanat Marie della Salute', Claud Monet
[I have an actual photograph from my trip to Italy, Venice, that is almost the same shot ... angle and perspective ... as this painting. Need to go back to Italy ... LOVE Italy ... absolutely everything about it! : )]
'The Grand Canal', Edouard Manet
[Venice is just packed with hidden treasures!]
'Berthe Moriset, In Black Hat', Edouard Manet
[Moriset was also an Impressionist artist herself. She worked with Manet and later married his brother.]
'The Japanese Bridge', Claud Monet
'Stary Night', Vincent VanGogh
[This is one of my absolute favorite pictures of the night ... I hear Don McLean's ballad 'Vincent' in my head everytime I view this captivating painting. : )]
[ Viewing art is reawakening the music in me : ) ]
And Madame Halcomb, you would be happy to know that it was the French language ( not German ... not Spanish...) that I went on to pursue in high school and college ... and I am now trying to teach my daughters as well. God's Peace, Light and Blessings to you ... wherever you may happen to be. And now I'm off on a journey to pick up where you left off and explore Morisot, Sisely, Pissarro, Cezanne and more ... even some of the American Impressionist ... Ah, the joys of Art!
More links and paintings to come ...
1/13/2010 All of this exploring art has inspired me ... I'm tempted to reach beyond my comfort zone and perhaps try going beyond pencil and charcoal sketches to explore some new mediums. I've never thought I had talent, but you never know ... might just be loads of fun and give me an even greater appreciation for all of treasures that I've been so privileged to come to know as of late. : )
Sending peace and joyful thoughts your way! God Bless!
M
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