Thursday, January 31, 2013
Turner vs The Elements
While the german artist Casper David Friedrich was painting his landscapes with figure silhouettes against the forces of nature, in Britain there was another artist captivated by the forces of nature and its elements, namely the sea. This was JMW Turner (1775 - 1851). In my opinion he probably is the only other artist, apart from Leonardo da Vinci, who had a deep desire to discover the elemental power of nature and water in it's truest form, although Leonardo's was true in reproducing it scientifically, Turner's was true in capturing it emotionally.
In Turner's earlier works he mainly deals with pretty landscapes touching on the surface of nature's elements, but in his later works he drowns himself in the elements literally, as can be seen in his famous painting Snowstorm (1842).
It is a painting of a steamboat off a harbour's mouth, making signals in shallow water in the middle of a storm. The fascinating thing is that Turner was on the boat at the time, as he is quoted as saying
"I only painted it because I wished to show what such a scene was like; I got sailors to lash me to the mast to observe it; I was lashed for four hours and did not expect to escape, but I felt bound to record it if I did. No one has any business to like it."
This painting is the essence of Turner through and through, probably his finest seascape in my opinion. The massive vortex of nature's elements rain, sea, water spray, snow mist, and steam all swirling around almost as if it's swallowing up the boat like a tornado. In a similar way, the viewer gets sucked into this complex vortex of chaotic nothingness. It is painted with such raw energy, that Turner gives the viewer a real perception of what being in the middle of a storm must truly feel like.
Up until Turner, people were used to seeing landscape paintings framed with a sense of superficiality filled with balance and order, so when Turner presented Snowstorm to the world, he truly caused a new unrest in the art world, for this painting was one with no boundaries, no constraints. It was an epitome of the true spirit of nature in all its disruption, something that I don't think any artist had ever captured.
In Turner's earlier works he mainly deals with pretty landscapes touching on the surface of nature's elements, but in his later works he drowns himself in the elements literally, as can be seen in his famous painting Snowstorm (1842).
It is a painting of a steamboat off a harbour's mouth, making signals in shallow water in the middle of a storm. The fascinating thing is that Turner was on the boat at the time, as he is quoted as saying
"I only painted it because I wished to show what such a scene was like; I got sailors to lash me to the mast to observe it; I was lashed for four hours and did not expect to escape, but I felt bound to record it if I did. No one has any business to like it."
This painting is the essence of Turner through and through, probably his finest seascape in my opinion. The massive vortex of nature's elements rain, sea, water spray, snow mist, and steam all swirling around almost as if it's swallowing up the boat like a tornado. In a similar way, the viewer gets sucked into this complex vortex of chaotic nothingness. It is painted with such raw energy, that Turner gives the viewer a real perception of what being in the middle of a storm must truly feel like.
Up until Turner, people were used to seeing landscape paintings framed with a sense of superficiality filled with balance and order, so when Turner presented Snowstorm to the world, he truly caused a new unrest in the art world, for this painting was one with no boundaries, no constraints. It was an epitome of the true spirit of nature in all its disruption, something that I don't think any artist had ever captured.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Water in Watercolour
I'm used to painting mainly in acrylics and oils, always having shyed away from watercolours - never quite managed to get the right feel of them. But this summer I decided to have a go especially because they're great for doing quick live sketches when you're out and about.
My first attempt was on the beach with my friend and her little one. I called it Mother and child.
The second painting is looking over at the sea on Dingli Cliffs.
This is a great place for peaceful walks and just to sit peacefully and look out to sea or watch the sunset. Sitting up high on Dingli cliffs and looking out to the immense volume of sea and sky below you, always helps put alot into perspective - it reminds you of how small we all are in comparison to the enormity of the world – in a way it intensifies the concept of how mighty and daunting the world is against humanity. Such a concept is captured through the work of German artist Casper David Friedrich who is well known for painting landscapes mostly with figure silhouettes against the forces of nature. He seeks to convey the spiritual experiences of life and one can see this in his famous painting The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (1818). The painting shows loneliness and individualism, a feeling of one against the world, against the unknown, making the viewer think 'what is beyond?'
My first attempt was on the beach with my friend and her little one. I called it Mother and child.
The second painting is looking over at the sea on Dingli Cliffs.
This is a great place for peaceful walks and just to sit peacefully and look out to sea or watch the sunset. Sitting up high on Dingli cliffs and looking out to the immense volume of sea and sky below you, always helps put alot into perspective - it reminds you of how small we all are in comparison to the enormity of the world – in a way it intensifies the concept of how mighty and daunting the world is against humanity. Such a concept is captured through the work of German artist Casper David Friedrich who is well known for painting landscapes mostly with figure silhouettes against the forces of nature. He seeks to convey the spiritual experiences of life and one can see this in his famous painting The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (1818). The painting shows loneliness and individualism, a feeling of one against the world, against the unknown, making the viewer think 'what is beyond?'
The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (1818) by Casper David Friedrich
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Follow the River to the Sea
Been playing this song over and over again lately...think it's very hypnotising and has a calming effect, just like water... enjoy Emili Sandé's 'River'.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Water is the driver of Nature
The study of water in art has been represented throughout the ages, from as far back as ancient Egypt we know water was displayed on tomb walls as zigzag lines (hieroglyphic signs).
Generally water has been used in landscape paintings, conveying the water, either in motion, or as a still lake, or calm sea, or flowing rivers, with each representation creating a particular mood to enhance the artist's painting and expression.
A number of artists were enthralled with the concept of water, one in particular being Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519). He submerged himself into the subject so much, that he wanted to portray water in its most realistic form. In order to do this, he analysed water thoroughly to the point where he even engineered and built machine's to learn how to control it.
He was so fascinated with water and it's power, that he believed it to be, for the earth and mankind, like blood is to the human body – it's life line!
Text: Copyright Helen Torreggiani
Generally water has been used in landscape paintings, conveying the water, either in motion, or as a still lake, or calm sea, or flowing rivers, with each representation creating a particular mood to enhance the artist's painting and expression.
A number of artists were enthralled with the concept of water, one in particular being Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519). He submerged himself into the subject so much, that he wanted to portray water in its most realistic form. In order to do this, he analysed water thoroughly to the point where he even engineered and built machine's to learn how to control it.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)