A Closer Look
Let’s take a closer look at Marie Joséphine Charlotte du Val d’Ognes by Marie Denise Villers. I first saw this painting at the European Masters exhibition. It was a popular painting in a room full of great art. I’ll cover: Who Painted It? Subject Light and Shadow (Value) Color Theme Edges Framing Additional Resources Key … Read more
Read MoreIn my last post, I took you on a virtual journey of the European Masterpieces exhibition that took place here in Brisbane, Australia. Someone commented that each painting is so beautiful it warrants individual study. I agree. So over the next few weeks, I’m going to be taking a closer look at a handful of … Read more
Read MoreLet’s take a closer look at Vincent van Gogh’s Grass and Butterflies. I’m always impressed at how well van Gogh was able to inject life into even the most simple subjects. There’s a sense of movement and activity about it. I’ll cover: Vibrating Colors Light and Shadow (Value) Brushwork, Movement, and Texture Key Points of … Read more
Read MoreLet’s take a look at a stunning portrait by Gordon Coutts, Waiting. I first saw this painting at the New South Wales Art Gallery. It stopped me in my tracks, despite it being a subtle painting in a dramatic room. Until that point, I had no idea who Coutts was. But it prompted me to learn … Read more
Read MoreLet’s take a look at Vincent van Gogh’s iconic Café Terrace at Night. I’ll cover: Key Facts and Ideas Striking Contrast and Color in the Night Value (Light and Shadow) Brushwork and Outlining Composition Key Takeaways Vincent Van Gogh, Café Terrace at Night, 1888 Van Gogh describes it well: “On the terrace, there are little figures … Read more
Read MoreLet’s take a closer look at Woman With a Parasol by Claude Monet. This painting embodies Impressionism and Monet’s work. A fleeting moment captured with light colors and fresh strokes. I’ll cover: Key Facts and Ideas Movement and Brushwork Color and Light Composition Key Takeaways Additional Resources Claude Monet, Woman With a Parasol, 1875 (You … Read more
Read More“A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, and some fantasy.” Edgar Degas Let’s take a closer look at Edgar Degas’ ballet dancers. It’s a large body of work, containing around 1,500 paintings, sketches, pastels, and sculptures. Degas sums them up nicely in the above quote. I cover: A Study of Movement and Life Use … Read more
Read More“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Vincent van Gogh Let’s take a closer look at Vincent van Gogh’s Irises. A beautiful display of shape and color with an illustrator-like feel. I’ll cover: Key Facts and Ideas Shape, Line, and Composition Color Value Brushwork Key Takeaways Vincent van Gogh, Irises, 1889 Key … Read more
Read MoreLet’s take a closer look at Claude Monet’s Waterloo Bridge series. A beautiful display of color and atmosphere, as you would expect from Monet. Claude Monet, Waterloo Bridge, Sun, 1903 The series includes over 40 paintings created from 1899 to 1904. Though many have since been sold to private collections, lost, or destroyed; only a … Read more
Read MoreLet’s take a closer look at Michelangelo Caravaggio’s Basket of Fruit. A delicate still life by an intense and controversial artist. It’s amazing to think Caravaggio painted this centuries ago, without the technology and state-of-the-art brushes, paints, and tools we have today. Just shows that today’s advantages are helpful but not necessary for the creation … Read more
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