Gallery 1 Thoughts and Reflecting

Visiting Galleries

Today Saturday 5th March I visited the National Gallery in Edinburgh......
(The building alone is something to marvel)

I went into the gallery with a feeling of wonder and excitement and upon entering the building I was not disappointed,  the size of the entrance and the artworks on display were spectacular. The colour of the decor together with the art and golden frames gave a sense of excitement.

Artworks that stood out to me

Saint Christopher Carrying the Infant Christ

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/collection/artists-a-z/b/artist/orazio-borgianni

This work let me be engrossed as I viewed the ways the painter had given the illusion of light. The leg and knee area gave me a lot of appreciation, the skill that would of been needed to achieve such a life like image (not to mention the scale and size) I also enjoyed reading the story behind it. We all know what it feels like to be carrying what seems to be the world on our shoulders at times.

Simon Luttichuys 1610 -1661

Still life with Lobster - another owe inspiring painting for me, the reality of the images were something else!

only part of the painting here

I've learnt the last few days while doing photography that alot of still life photos or paintings are done in the western world show the light coming from the left. This is because we tend to read left to right and thus makes it visually easier to read.

Peter Graham 1836 -1921

Wandering Shadows

Artist attended Robert Scott Lauder at trustee Academy Edinburgh

Graham specialises in Highland landscapes and rocky coastal scenes. Working around 1878 its another has to be seen to be appreciated work.

Edgar Degas - His paintings of the girls of the ballet were beautiful. I read that Degas liked to capture the dancers rehearsing rather than the actual performance and that some paintings were done either from memory or were imaginary.

Degas study of a head oil on canvas

I think the real truth is PAINT ........If anyone wants to be a good artist you have to draw or paint and create. I could spend months if not years learning how artists work or why they felt inspired. But the fact is if I want to really see and appreciate then I must do......

My life drawing sketches (something I get a lot from)  have shown me just how much I don't see. You think your seeing but your just looking and then thats if your lucky! When you really look/see then the magic can happen.
People/friends have said to me, how can you look at a naked man/women without going shy etc... When I say that you don't see the person in any other way than shapes, contours, light or shade they don't get it. But its true and I like the change that's happening in me.
 I enjoy the moment when you achieve what you intended. I know my work is still weak and angles etc aren't correct by any means, but I also know to get better practice is a must.


David Gauld

St Agnes - 1889/90

The colour from this painting I really liked and it got me thinking about the style the artist worked in. I've never really seen examples of Art Nouveau in a painting and it raised the question if this work was a such example. I feel it is from the lines, colours and foliage etc. The background fields with the angles and the more softer curves in the middle and foreground. I like the shadow cast and it was in honest a bit of a refreshing change from the Renissance style artworks I'd been viewing.

Paul Cezanne

Montage Sainte-victoire

I was left feeling disappointed by this work... I expected something amazing from such an inspiring artist that had himself worked with and inspired the likes of Braque and Picasso. The muted colours for me indeed didn't sing for me and maybe this muted tone was what was intended?! Depth or perspective or even the time of year it was could maybe hide the answer With that said and on the contrary a bloody good work all the same. Who cares its still a Cezanne and I guess for that it shows some merit!

 Question? Is the art world ruled by the same simple factor, Its a Cezanne and for that we can up the price? If the name fits and all of that!  How can we value a painting fairly today and what deems it an investment? Questions Questions

Anyway - Overall feeling of the National Gallery Edinburgh was good and I would like to go back and see works again! Im surprised by my choice of artist today. Why? Because I thought Monet or Gogh, you know the big fellows we all know, would of wowed me! While all great my pickings were slim and my choices noted for next time.
I know if I was to visit again and to sit and look, wander and take in the atomsphere my choices would change many times.  A guided tour would be another thing I would consider if possible but for now I think I may try a still life or landscape.....To draw simple as that!

Juice Bar thoughts on photos

Juice Bar

notice how this image isn't as strong as the one with the splashes going alone the way rather that up

I like this idea of the juice behind the image going in a different direction.  It seems to take your eye along the wall.

 I like this one as I think the colour works well and it takes your eye up and also along.......

Again direction shooting up

highlights and edits add an extra egde on this image!

lemon as it is with the light behind it

I will try different ways to put these image as an idea for a wall art or picture for Juice Bar

fruit photos (P)

Today I took these photos of fruit!

I wanted to get a feel for the camera and the edits I could achieve, also could use some of the images for the Tutti Frutti juice bar

 

Painted fruit

Spray painted fruit...

 Seating design/example of textures

Charlotte Miller (P)

Today we got the opportunity to see Charlotte's portfolio.  Charlotte has been applying for colleges to progress further to becoming a professional painter.

Charlotte said her work was describled as processed led art and she was influenced by other artists, nature and emotion.

After getting together her work for an interview at an Aberdeen College Charlotte realised that her work she was producing wasn't enough and she found herself lacking...With this in mind she told us to keep every piece of work we do as we may need it later on.  Even if quote, We think its shit, keep it! I guess this is important because even bad work shows thought or example. Maybe even if  its just to reference how much you have improved.

Charlotte's influences have been :

Peter Doig - Milky Way

on display at national gallery scotland

Helen Frankenthaler -  Abstract Expressionism, Color Field Painting

Jackson Pollock - Abstract Expressionism 

Drips painting by Pollock

one of Pollocks works - naked man with knife

Charlotte was applting for a painting college so it was important she produced painted works along with other examples.  Her portfolio was clean and set out in an easy to follow way.  Her work included some photography as well some Life Drawing sketches. Her bigger canvas work was were she really began to express herself and I think came alive somewhat.

photography works

more photography

still life example

death of a dog

relationship piece

Charlottes first canvas she talked about was about being in a relationship that she knew wasn't working out. The emotion and frustration she then tried to put down on canvas. Expressionism style I guess. She had used colour to show her moods she gave a sense of time when talking about the processes she went through. She worked with  Acrylics mixing and testing the opacity of the paint when mixed with water. She had shown example of this and the translucency and depth in her sketch book .

She also showed us her very large canvasses and we discussed that if on a digital portfolio you wouldn't get sense of scale as you do in real life. This happens alot with a digital portfolio.

Overall I felt she had a good flow and following of process and thoughts. She did describe the frustration of deciding what to display in her portfolio and this is something I will consider later down the line. I do realise my books are filled full of ideas and pictures and maybe not as easy viewing as they could be or even the way I intended them to be viewed. Like my sense of learning and thought processes my books are all over the place, full but no solid ground works.

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